Chapter 13 Brick by Brick
Brick by Brick
It was hard for me to let the pool incident go, my pride taking a hit so big it was practically mounted on Darren’s wall. The smug bastard clung to it all week until I finally finished the first phase of my pool therapy. The second phase was slightly more challenging.
Strapped in another sporty bikini, I stood almost waist-deep in the ocean this time, the heavy waves knocking into my unstable body. I felt stronger than I did last week, my legs feeling less heavy, my hips less wobbly, but I still had a long way to go.
Instead of leading me, Darren stood at my side, his arms folded across his naked chest as he walked beside me through the water. Each step I took was met with a wave strong enough to knock me off balance, and that was the entire point. I had to teach my body how to withstand resistance again.
Sid, his staff, Camaro, and my bodyguards all walked along the shore, watching my progression through the unyielding water.
My anxiety was through the roof as I stressed over whether Darren would let me drown again.
I glanced over at Camaro, knowing she’d save me if he wouldn’t.
That beautiful dog was my heart and soul.
I made it maybe ten steps before a wave knocked me off balance and sent me straight down into the water. Before I could sink too deeply, Darren’s hand caught my arm and pulled me back up to my feet.
At first, I sighed with relief but then groaned in annoyance. If he weren’t here, I wouldn’t have to worry about being left to drown on purpose. I could just wear some damn child floaty wings for all I cared if it meant he’d fuck off for the day.
“Ya know, for someone who’s in the middle of a war, you sure do suddenly have a lot more time for me than you ever have before,” I grumbled. “Don’t you have people to murder or something?”
He smirked, gripping my arm to steady me against the waves. “What’s the matter, princess? Are you sick of your husband’s company already?”
YES.
I scowled internally, wishing he would find someone else to annoy and terrorize for a little while. The man could suffocate anything without even needing to touch it.
“While you do make a very adorable cheerleader,” I replied as I pushed through the water, “I figured you probably have more important things to do.”
“Like murdering people?”
Or selling them.
“I’m sure it’s on the to-do list.”
“It tends to be,” he confirmed playfully. “But I employ plenty of people who are more than capable of stepping in when I need them to. Besides, my interest is vested in your recovery, whether you want to believe that or not.”
I almost scoffed. Just because he had a “vested interest” in my recovery didn’t mean it was honorable. Because he’d certainly been interested in sabotaging it.
Ignoring his contradictory statement, I looked on beyond the water when a curiosity I’d long had but never voiced suddenly hit me.
“I’m actually kind of surprised you live on such a wide-open beach.”
Darren arched a brow, tilting his gaze at me. “Why do you say that?”
I shrugged. “Seems like a major security risk, having such a large opening into your property. Wouldn’t it be easy for someone to just drive a boat right in and start blowing everything up?”
Darren chuckled quietly as we continued to walk against the rushing waves, my hips straining with each step.
“Why is that funny?”
“Because what you just suggested would be virtually impossible.”
“Enlighten me.”
Placing his heavy hand on my shoulder, Darren stopped me and pointed toward the trees that lined the shore.
“You see those trees there? They’re equipped with defensive heat-seeking missiles.
They can destroy any passing vessel within a mile of this shore, or they can annihilate any incoming projectile before it gets too close to the sand. ”
Well, that seemed intense. How had I never noticed them before?
“Okay. What if they swim up in the dead of night and sneak on the property instead?”
Darren practically snorted as we continued our pace.
“I have at least twenty-five soldiers monitoring the property at all times, inside and out. Not to mention the drones and the fact numerous explosives are buried underground and scattered throughout the grounds. If anyone did try to breach us, the only thing it would cost me would be my perfectly manicured lawns.”
That made me pause. I’d been walking over active bombs this entire time?
“I suddenly don’t feel so comfortable playing fetch with Camaro in the yard anymore.”
Darren chuckled softly, taking my hand in his and bringing it to his mouth to kiss my knuckles. “You have nothing to worry about. They’re activated by a code, not pressure. It’s perfectly safe, I promise.”
I grumbled, his words doing nothing to soothe my unsettled nerves. But what was worse was the fact that Darren had ensured that his turf was no place to stage a battle with his enemies. His estate was just one giant boobytrap.
“I guess that explains why Matt hasn’t just attacked you here since he knows where you live.”
“It would not be a very smart move,” he affirmed, his voice taking on a dark tone.
“So then what is he waiting for?”
Darren’s jaw tensed at my question, his gaze darkening as he looked down at me with suspicion. I was pushing it. The pause was enough to make me drop the question and continue walking, but after a few moments, he indulged me.
“It’s difficult to engage in a war when I’ve cut off half of his resources,” he answered.
I frowned. “What about the other half?”
“Insignificant.”
I furrowed my brows at that. “So then what are you waiting for?” I asked, turning to look up at him. If Matt was weak, then why wouldn’t Darren take advantage of that and finish him before he could find new resources?
Darren sighed as we turned around to walk back toward the house.
“It’s not realistic, but I’m actually hoping he’ll eventually come to his senses and realize his pursuit of Daniel is hopeless. I honestly have no interest in engaging beyond reminding him of who he’s up against. He knows he can only sustain so much retaliation from me before he’s annihilated.”
I nodded, knowing full well there was more than he was letting on. He was at war with a man he had once trusted, and he didn’t want to have to kill someone he had considered a close friend. I could understand why he was waiting.
“I can understand not wanting to kill someone you once considered a friend.”
Darren scoffed, rolling his eyes at my assessment.
“There’s no such thing as friends in our world, Jaden.
There are allies and enemies, nothing else,” he pressed, his voice firm.
“I don’t want to have to kill Matt because it would be a massive pain in the ass that I’d rather avoid.
There are better ways to spend my time and money than on a fucking war over his bitch cousin.
” He chuckled to himself. “Actually, it would be easier for me to just annihilate his whole family and remove his obligation entirely. You don’t have to answer to the dead. ”
I arched a brow at his disturbing morbidity. “You know, it’s a little off-putting how easy it is for you to consider wiping out entire families as the more convenient option.”
He shrugged, a smile of amusement tugging on his lips. “It’s second nature when you’ve done it as many times as I have.”
I scowled at the implication. “I know. You certainly didn’t think twice about it when you went after my family.”
I could feel the instant glare from his eyes like I’d been slapped by it. Ignoring his reaction was a mistake when he grabbed my arm as I tried to continue. Yanking me back, I kept my face passive like I hadn’t just beaten the bear with an entire fucking tree.
“I’m sensing a tone of ungratefulness over the fact that they’re all still currently breathing,” he growled.
“Except one,” I countered.
The video of my uncle’s death was still a vivid memory in my mind and it made me sick just thinking of it.
“Actions have consequences, Jaden. I thought you understood that by now.”
I matched his energy, my lips forming a tight line as I felt my confidence swell into complete idiocy.
“Yeah, they do, don’t they? I’m curious what action I’ve committed that has you still looking for my mom and brothers.”
I purposely left Jason out of the bunch. I wasn’t brave enough to even mention his name in front of Darren. I might be a lot of stupid, but I wasn’t that stupid.
He didn’t react to my accusation. He just cocked his head and stared down at me. “So you prefer not to know what happened to them? If they’re even safe? Or alive?”
At least he confirmed that he was still looking. Jason was clearly doing a damn good job keeping them hidden from him. He should be proud.
“You told me to forget them, remember? And I did because apparently you’re all the family I need,” I said sweetly, dragging my finger down the middle of his bare chest.
He could easily taste the sarcasm in my words, but at least the first part was true.
“Such a devoted little wife,” he practically purred, his eyes turning cruel enough to send a chill up my spine. “But I have a feeling once I bring them back to you, you’ll appreciate my efforts.” He then returned us back onto our path toward the house.
“What would you even do with them anyway? Keep them as pets?” I shot back.
A ghost of a grin slid up his face, that dangerous look in his eye making my stomach clench.
“I don’t know,” he answered casually. “I guess that’ll depend on how well you behave.”
I groaned at that, not surprised. “See, that’s exactly why. You’re just going to use them as leverage over me.”
Darren practically snorted. “As if I even need to resort to leverage anymore,” he said darkly. The subtle threat and insult lingered in the air, and it made me want to throat punch him for it.
I sighed, letting the defeat in my voice ring high enough for him. “I’d rather you just leave them where they are. I don’t want them to be subjected to this life. It’s too dangerous.”