“No, you won’t. You’ll go running to the cops thefirst chance you get. But they won’t help youbecause,guess what, I own them, too.”
I tried to break away from him then, forcing my headin the other direction, but it didn’t make a bit of a difference. Iwasn’t going anywhere, not without his permission. It didn’tsurprise me that he had the cops in his pocket, but it only put asmall damper on my plans to escape. At least now I knew who I couldtrust outside these gates. No one.
“Face it, Jaden. No matter what you do or where yougo, I will always find you and bring you right back to me … whereyou belong.”
“I don’t belong here and I never will! Now, getoff!”
“Let me give you a little reality check here,sweetheart. You ran from me and I caught you just like I told you Iwould,” he seethed. “You’re minenow, Jaden, and there will be no more denying it. Whatever life youhad before is over. Your future is with me now.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I spat.
“Oh no, little girl.” Hisvoice was liquidvenom in my ears as he glowered down atme. “That’s your job now. But first,” he said dragging me up by mythroat andontomy feet, “I’mgoing to show you just how pointless running from me is.”
Still keeping a tight grip on my neck, Darrendragged me back into the woods, and I knew instantly he was takingme past the perimeter. I fought and kicked against him, but I hadalready tired myself out from the chase. Once I felt the sharp tickat the back of my head, I could tell Darren had felt it, too, andthen he threw me as hard as he could into the woods, and I stumbledand rolled on the ground. I knew I only had about five seconds, andDarren wasn’t going to let me back into the safe zone. I stayed lowon the ground, knowing once the volts hit me I was going to crash.Better to alreadybe lowthan tofall from standing up.
And then I felt it.
Thesharp currentcut through my veins like shards of glass, and I screamed in totalagony as it felt like my body was being ripped apart. I writhed inpain, thinking that my head was going to split open as my musclesand limbs convulsed under the current. It was, without a doubt, themost painful thing I had ever experienced, and my body quickly shutdown, needing only a few seconds to welcome the numb blackness thatclaimed me.
***
I woke up still lying on the ground, face first inthe dirt, with my limbs limp at my sides. My body felt likespaghetti as I made a small moan still remembering the shock thathad rocked my entire being. I could sense Darren standing over me,and I didn’t have the strength or the energy to fight him anymore.I felt paralyzed and numb.
He reached down, picked me up, and swung me over hisshoulder like the rag doll I was. I was nothing but dead weight asmy arms and legs hung lifelessly down his body. He kept a firm handon the back of my legs to keep me secure as he walked back to thehouse. Before I knew it, he settled me back onto my bed, took offmy shoes, and actually tucked me in.
But then his hand wenttomy jaw, taking my entire face in his palm and grippingit tight. He lowered his mouth to my ear and whisperedmenacingly.
“Don’t you ever fucking run from me or this houseagain. And I especially don’t ever want to see you fling yourselfover the balcony of those stairs ever again.You’re not going anywhere, Jaden, so accept italready.You try that shit again, and I promise you, yournext punishment will be far worse than you could ever imagine.”With that, he got up and headed for the door. “Oh, and Jaden.” Iturned my eyes to acknowledge him. “Don’t you dare be late forbreakfast tomorrow.” He then shut my door quietly, and all thestrength I had used to stay awake dissolved as I fell back intodarkness.
Chapter Eight
GameOn
I felt the morning sunshine on my face as I rolledover in the blankets, the soreness in my limbs from last night’selectrocution essentially diminished. I slowly raised my stillheavy lids to notice the clock on the nightstand beside my bed. Itread 8:28 a.m.
Quicker than I ever had before, I shot out of bedand rantothe bathroom. I hadthirty minutes to get my ass ready or shit would hit the fan. Ishowered my body quickly, washing my hair as fast as I could beforebrushing my teeth. I toweled myself off and braided my wet hairover my shoulder, not having nearly enough time to dry and styleit. I threw on some quick mascara and eyeliner and raced to thecloset to put on the first thing I touched. It happened to be afrilly light pink sundress. I immediately regretted the choice, butI would have to gripe about that later. After changing into amatching pink bra and thong, I slipped on a pair of nude flats andran out the door, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Looked likeI wouldn’t beneedingcoffee thismorning.
I stopped at the spiral staircase and attempted toregain my composure before slowly and gracefully descending thestairs. I noticed the two guards standing outside the house besidethe door as I came into the foyer. They wore dark sunglasses andthe same military get-up as the other guards I had seen before. Nosneaking out the front door anymore.
As I entered the dining room, the grandfather clockI had not noticed in the foyer chimed, almost practicallyannouncing my entrance. I found Darren sitting at the head of thetable as he had yesterday, dressed in another impeccablethree-piecesuit. His light bluedress shirt brought out the color of his eyes perfectly; the goldand blue tie and matching vest was a nice complement to his hairand skin tone.
What the fuck? Why did I care? Sure, he wasbeautiful, but I still fucking hated him.
“Morning, princess. Sleep well?” he asked me, hiseyes taking me in and making me extremely uncomfortablealready.
I immediately scowled at that.
Princess? Bitch, please.
I sauntered over to my assigned seat and satdown.
“I slept fine, thank you,” I replied bitterly. Butmy mood improved a fraction as I noticed a small cut on his lipfrom where my elbow made contact last night. Fucking good.
“Good. Then you should have no trouble explaining tome why thefuckyour hair is still wet,” he practicallygrowled.
I felt my stomachbackflipand land in a puddled mess, but I wouldn’t letit show.
I shrugged. “I accidentally overslept. I must havebeen that comfortable.”
