She tosses her books in the back. “About as good as it could be, I think. We just worked on knowing the different kinds of knives today and how to clean the kitchen. I don’t know when we’re going to get into cooking anything, so it might be awhile before you’re having homecooked meals.”
Does that mean she’s thinking about staying, then?
I swallow hard and pull away from the curb, heading toward home. “I’ve been thinking about the fact that you believe you’re being held captive?—”
“Because I am.” She leans back in the seat, her gaze burning a hole in the side of my head. “If this is going to keep going like it is, then we may as well call it what it is too.”
“Fine. While you’re in captivity, as you like to call it, I was thinking that you should be able to bring a friend back to the house if you’d like.”
“Why? You don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you, so why the hell would you let me bring someone over?” Suspicion is clear in her voice.
“Because I want you to be happy.” Telling her the truth can’t be that bad.
She scoffs at that. “If you wanted me to be happy, I don’t think you would be ordering me around like this.”
I pull up to a red light and turn to look at her for a moment. “Well, I let you sneak out at lunchtime to go see Haven, didn’t I? I could’ve put an end to that if I wanted to.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I want you to be happy,” I repeat, wishing that she could see the honesty.
I might have mixed feelings about holding her hostage and all that goes with it, but at the end of the day, I do want her to be happy.
However, that happiness has to be with me. I know that I’m the only one who’s going to encourage her to follow her dreams and be happy. She makes me happy too.
Or at least, as close to happy as I can be.
If letting Haven come over is going to be the one thing that keeps Jade in my life, then I’m more than happy to allow her over on a trial basis.
Jade presses her lips together. “Well, thank you. I guess. I’ve been missing having her around, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to.”
Excitement crackles through the air, rolling off her in waves. She’s downplaying it right now, but with my fight schedule picking up, I know Jade is going to be lonely.
“Have her over all you want. It’s our home.” I put my hand on her thigh, picking up the way her legs press closer together. “But if either of you step out of line or bring the Lyndes to my door, I’ll kill Haven. And I’ll make you watch.”
Jade’s eyes get big and watery as she stares at me.
The light turns green, and I take off again, letting the threat hang in the air between us.
I might not have killed Jade like I threatened to do, but I have no attachment to her friend.
And if watching me murder her friend is what it’s going to take to finally get Jade in line with my vision for our future, then I’ll happily do it. I’ll make it slow too, just to remind Jade who she’s fucking with.
By the time I was done, there would be nothing left of Haven, and Jade wouldn’t think about crossing me again.
But as long as Jade behaves, we shouldn’t have to get to that point.
Eventually, she’ll learn that every action she takes has a consequence.
Chapter Fifteen
JADE
I whip openthe door and pull Haven into a tight hug, but there’s a part of me that can’t believe she’s standing here in front of me.
Looking past her into the hall, I wait for someone to pop out around the corner and kill her. Maybe Ezra didn’t go to his fight, and he’s just waiting to sedate her and then hold her hostage like he’s been holding me.
Maybe this is all one big trick, and I was wrong to trust him when he said that she could come over.
