Survival

less, but that really doesn’t concernyou.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I said so,” he said harshly.
Well, that subjectwas off-limits for a while.
“Okay, so … where are we exactly?” I asked, hopingto God that he would answer me.
“That doesn’t concern you, either. For now."
I raised an eyebrow at him. Why the fuck didn’t hewant me to know where he lived?
“You don’t think I deserve to know where I’m beingheld captive?”
He narrowed in on me then, leaning forward from hischair, an obvious warning blazing from his cold blue eyes. “When Iwant you to know something, I will tell you.”
“Fine.” I shrugged, paying no attention to hisattempt at intimidating me. “But it will only be a matter of timebefore I find out myself, and I’ve already gathered enoughinformation for a well-educatedguess.”
This was his family’s home, he went to Stanford, theweather is hot as fuck, and therewere palm trees everywhere. My stomach dropped at theassumption that I was now potentially living all the way on theother side of the country … in California. Maybe.
“I wouldn’t fight me on this, Jaden.”
“I’m not fighting you on anything. You said youwanted honesty, and I’m just telling you I will find outeventually.”
“Would you prefer to spend your first night here ina cage in the dark?” he asked sternly.
I instantly glared at him. What the fuck? He wasthreatening me with a cage? I had just spent several days in a dogcage. Like hell, I was going backinto one.
I backed off then and sat back in my chair feelingdefeated and pissed off.
“I didn’t think so,” he seethed.
We sat in silence for about thirty tense secondsbefore a young man who looked to be in his late teens finallybrought out what appeared to be our dinner. He carried a longsilver tray containing two plates. As he set my plate down beforeme, his eyes found mine, and I quickly sent him a subtle butpleading look for help. He quickly glanced away as he set Darren’sdown and stood back up to right himself. When my eyes suddenlycaught a glimpse at Darren, my stomach did a back flip from thelook he was currently giving me.
I felt hope drain out of me like a leaky faucet asthe kid turned and walked away, my eyes following his every step ashe left me alone with this monster and disappeared quickly behindthe door.
Faster than lightning, Darren’s hand instantly clutched my lower jaw and roughlypulled me to him. My stomach clenched and my heart skipped severalbeats as I was met with dark and dangerous eyes burning withanger.
“What did I tell you about looking at other men?” hegrowled at me. “Have you forgotten my rules already?”
“I’m sorry,” I grunted through clenched teeth, myhands clutching his wrist. “I was just acknowledging anotherperson. Old habit.”
God, would I never get to look at another man again?That seemed a little unreasonable.
“Acknowledging is one thing. Blatantly staring isanother and I won’t have it. I told you I’m a jealous andpossessive man, Jaden. I wouldn’t test that boundary if I wereyou,” he fumed.
“Got it,” I replied harshly.
“Good,” he said, releasing me and relaxing back intohis chair. “For your sake, I hope that you do.”
Flexing my now aching jaw, I looked away from hispenetrating glare to stare down at the food placed down in front ofme. Unfortunately, the delicious scent had the opposite effect onmy stomach as it just made the knots slowly turning inside twisteven tighter. I looked down at the grilled salmon, mashed potatoes,and green beans, and even though it all looked amazing, I didn’tthink I could stomach a single bite, not to mention the portionswere way too big. I had never been a heavy eater. I sipped on theglass of water instead.
“I suggest you eat, Jaden. I don’t like wastedfood.”
“Not much of an appetite,” I shot back. “Plusthere’s way too much food on this plate anyway.”
“That’s too much for you?” he asked surprised.
I held up my fist for him to see. “My stomach isliterally only slightly bigger than my fist.” I pointed at my hand.“And right now, half of it is filled with stress and murderousrage. Not much room for anything else.”
He chuckled a little as he took a sip of hiswine.
“Jaden, I expect that entire plate to be cleanedwithin the next fifteen minutes.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, but the glare I receivedback told me he was actually serious.
“Can’t we compromise on at least half?”
Oh, now I was already willing to compromise??? Whatthe actual fuck, Jaden?
Pussy.
“If you stop talking and start eating, maybe I’llconsider it,” he said agitated, scowling at me.
Now, I was getting pissed, and his demand just madeeverything worse. Listening to Darren was going to be a lot harderthan I thought, and it took so much self-control not to stab him inthe face with my fork. I put on my best bitch face and gentlypicked up the fork hidden from the view of my plate, but it feltgigantic in my hand. Lifting it, I realized it had a genuine weightto it as it was probably the largest fork I had ever seen. I lookedat it as if it was made for mutants—mutant giants.
“What’s wrong now? Don’t like my silverware?” Darrenasked me with a hint of sarcasm.
“Who are these made for? Giants?” I asked annoyed asI fumbled with the stupid thing to get it to fit comfortablybetween my fingers.
Darren just laughed at me. “Should I have Pascalbring out the children’s cutlery?”
I gave him a serious scowl, and then almost acceptedhis sarcastic offer, but thought better of it. So I had smallhands, big deal—just made the pain of my punches that much moreconcentrated, like getting stabbed with my fist instead.
I pushed the food around a bit before taking a smallbite of the salmon.
“There’s a good girl,” Darren approved, returning tohis plate.
Fuck him, but the taste was fantastic; however, mystomach still wasn’t very happy about it. I knew I needed to keepmy strength up, but I honestly didn’t think the knots would allowme to keep the food down.

Chapter Five
Mine
Darren ate his dinner quietly while he continued toread his newspaper,