Chapter Twenty-One
Iwake up in the lookout alone, and as I straighten up, I quickly realize that I’m still naked. My face flushes, even though there’s definitely no audience. I scour the room. Grabbing my clothes, I put them on as I go. Once I’m fully dressed, I walk to the wall of windows and peer out across the grounds.
It really is beautiful. The mostly wooded estate is mixed with rolling green meadows. I wrap my arms around myself, not sure how to feel in the moment. My emotions feel dulled, and as much as I feel something for Aiden, I still feel a pull to go home. Especially now that I know the shocking and horrendous things Will is capable of. That revolting sicko.
I need to make sure the girls are okay—and my mom. Even though she has her own struggles with substance abuse, I don’t want her to take the brunt of what’s happened to Ron. And speaking of that, I have no idea how anyone is handling it. I shudder at the thought of Will’s reaction. He has more than likely lost it. He had a borderline mental breakdown when Aiden nearly beat Ron to death…
I can only imagine how he’s handling this. Yikes.
My eyes drop to my bare feet, and as I head for the stairs, my body aches. The sex with Aiden pushed me, but it was… So freaking good. I push my hair from my face as the thought of it turns me on again. No matter what kind of push and pull is going on between us, there will always be an attraction to him. And I don’t know if it’s a good thing.
My bare feet pad softly on the unfinished stairs to the doorway. For a moment, my heart jumps at the notion that I might be locked in—like a princess in a tower. But I’m no princess, and Aiden is most definitely no prince. I reach for the doorknob, and it turns, letting me out into the hallway.
Scanning the area, I search for Aiden, or really for signs of anyone. I always liked the house being empty when I was home, but only when Ron was gone. My stomach knots up again, reminding me that I wasn’t the one who had it the worst. In fact, I couldn’t even complain. Ron might’ve been a creep, but he never laid a hand on me.
Not like Will did to Aiden.
I try to brush it off as the scent of breakfast hits my nostrils, I head for the stairwell to the kitchen, picking up my pace as my stomach growls. As soon as I get to the bottom, I freeze, surprised to see the curtains are pulled across the windows that look out at the courtyard.
“I don’t want anyone getting a view of what’s mine,” that familiar voice says from the kitchen to the left of me. “I have to protect you.”
I turn to see Aiden, standing there, dressed in a suit.
“Why are you always so dressed up? You never dressed like this before.” I motion to his freshly pressed black pants and designer dress shoes. I look like a mess in comparison, not even having brushed my hair this morning.
“It’s a habit now,” he says, glancing down at his outfit. “Do you not like it?”
“No,” I shake my head quickly. “There’s nothing wrong with it. You look very nice. I’m just used to… I…” I struggle to get the words out, suddenly worried that something I say might remind him of all the bad.
“You’re used to me dressing like a bum,” he laughs, eyeing me with a glimmer in his eye. “I probably would still dress like that, but Grenado burned it into my head that if I don’t at least look powerful, no one will think I am.”
“Ah, right…” My voice trails off at the mention of his captor. “Do you like him?”
His brows furrow as he picks up a plate of eggs, toast with avocado, a mandarin, and two strips of bacon. “I don’t know what you mean by that.” He sets the plate on the bar and then nods for me to take a seat. “You’re going to have to explain, Sara.” There’s a hardness in his voice suddenly, and I swallow my nerves as I slide into the seat.
“Thank you for breakfast,” I mutter.
“Explain what you’re asking.” He sets a second plate down on the other side of me and then slowly moves around the bar, keeping his eyes on me. “Well?” he adds when I don’t answer him immediately.
“Grenado kidnapped you and held you against your will, but you talk about him like you admire him,” I blurt out the truth, letting my confusion show.
“I kidnapped you, and I’m holding you against your will,” Aiden reasons, smirking at me as he slides into the seat beside me. “That didn’t stop you from instigating a good fuck last night.”
My cheek flush with heat. “But we have history.”
“And by the time Grenado was done with me, we had history—not the same kind,” Aiden chuckles. “But he was only harsh for the first couple of years. He wasn”t my family, but he became my family, and then he took me in as his understudy. He saw the potential in me, and he forced me to focus on what I could be for myself… And for you.”
“Does he know about me?”
Aiden shoves a piece of bacon in his mouth and nods. “Yeah, he does now. I didn’t want him holding a gun over your head, so I kept my mouth shut for the first five years. He’s not the kind of man to play games. He’d have taken out my punishments on you, just because he knows you’re my weakness. My only weakness.”
A smile tugs at my lips as I turn to my breakfast. “You’ve always said that.”
“Because it’s the truth, Sara. You’re the only one who’s ever mattered to me. No one else has or ever will. I’ll always do what it takes to protect you. And if you’ll listen to me, you’ll always be safe.”
“Because you’ve locked me in this house.”
Aiden’s shoulders drop. “It won’t be like this forever, Sara. I had no intention of forcing you to stay inside here, but you’re not proving to be trustworthy, and there’s the issue of security right now.”
His comment about his lack of trust in me stings, though it’s stupid for me to let it. Of course, he doesn’t trust me. Do I really trust him? There’s a dynamic between us that I’m not sure will ever change.
Because I’m not here out of my own free will.
I purse my lips and force myself to bite down on the toast, using it as a way to not have to say anything more to Aiden about trust. If he were to ask me, I wouldn’t be able to lie to him—and I don’t think he’d like the answer.
My life has revolved around caring for others and tending to their needs. I”ve never had the opportunity to simply enjoy life”s simple pleasures or prioritize my own desires. And although Aiden is giving me a glimpse of a life that holds more potential than I once believed I could achieve, the need to protect those who depend on me is too deeply ingrained in me to feel comfortable.
“Anyway, don’t open the curtains,” Aiden continues at my silence. “I know that you saw the trespasser, and I’m dealing with the matter, but until I have it figured out, I need you to stay inside.”
I nod, choosing not to argue.
“There will be more men around. I’m bringing some of my team here for added security measures.”
“How many men do you have?” I blurt out the question, so incredibly curious about this new Aiden, who’s powerful and mysterious.
“As many as I need,” he quips, narrowing his eyes at me. “But they won’t bother you. If they do, I’ll take care of it.”
I shudder at the dark edge in his voice. “Okay.”
“Any more questions for me? Do you want to know where I lived while away from you?” He throws it out there with a smile, and I shrug.
“Was it closer than I thought?”
“No,” he laughs. “I lived in many places. I traveled to New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and many more. My stake is mostly in the city here, but I get a piece from everywhere.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m Ben Grenado’s heir, sweetheart,” he says the words flatly but almost endearingly. “You’ll see what kind of life I can give you, and I know you won’t turn it down.”
“I don’t care what you can give me,” I admit. “I’ve never been materialistic.”
He frowns at me. “I just want you to be happy.”
“Okay, but… things don’t make me happy.”
“No, you’ve never been that type.” He lets out a light chuckle. “You were always such a sweet girl, Sara. You lived in your head, and you never let anything bring you down.” For a moment, I see the Aiden that I’ve always known once again, right there in his face. It moves me, and my heart clenches in my chest.
“I just need to make sure the girls are okay,” I whisper, hoping to make a case for myself. “That would really make me happy Aiden.”
His face hardens, the old Aiden immediately leaving. “No. I can’t let you leave this place. I told you that I’m taking care of it, and I will. You need to focus on you and us. I don’t want you worrying about that.”
“Just let me make a phone call to Eliza,” I plead, reaching out and placing my hand on his forearm. “Please.”
Aiden’s eyes close, and he takes a deep breath. “I want to let you, Sara, but I can’t right now. I have to figure out the breach, and you need to stay here—and safe. No outgoing phone calls.”
“I don’t even have a phone anymore,” I snap at him, my voice trembling. “You won’t let me feel like I’m here because I want to be. How am I supposed to find my love for you, if I can’t even be given a normal life?” That last part came out thick with emotion, and I know I probably pushed it too far.
However, Aiden barely reacts. “I am doing what’s best for you right now, and you will abide by it, or you can suffer the consequences.”
My jaw drops. “What consequences?”
Aiden chugs his glass of orange juice and gets to his feet. “I can hurt you as easily as I can make you feel good, Sara. Don’t make me have to. I don’t like the idea of hurting what I love.”
I swallow hard, my eyes dropping to my hands. I don’t have anything to say, and the feeling of Aiden’s lips against the top of my head causes me to stiffen. He then slips away, leaving me sitting there.
“Oh wait,” Aiden stops, turning back to meet my gaze. “If you try to leave, the alarms will sound, and you better hope my men get to you before I do.” He smiles, but it doesn”t reach his eyes, and I only stare at him, unable to say anything at all. Prior to his reminding me I’m being held prisoner, I almost could’ve convinced myself that I still loved him, but now?
I don’t know if I even like the new Aiden.