Chapter 8 Good Girl #2
Darren’s gaze warmed as a soft smile curved his lips, his honest perspective reflected in those deep, dark blues.
“Because it’s the result of you carrying my child, and it shows with every pregnancy symptom you exhibit,” he answered, his voice thick with what felt like admiration.
“And I love seeing it, no matter how ridiculous you think they are.”
I stared back at him in silence, bemused by his unexpected gentle demeanor and the sincerity shining in his eyes. Aside from laughing at my expense, the unfamiliar air of compassion surrounding him was a welcomed shift in the wind I would gladly embrace.
“Well, aren’t you just a big softy now,” I replied, a note of sarcasm in my tone.
His grin formed into a smirk before he leaned in and kissed me, keeping my face wedged between his hands so I couldn’t pull away.
“Don’t let it get to your head,” he snarked against my lips and then pulled back.
“We’ll find your stupid ice cream, even if I have to have it flown in from another state.
” Then he stood back to his full height and looked for my statue of a bodyguard.
“Sloane,” he said with a jerk of his head in the other direction, indicating for her to follow him.
I stared after them, astounded by Darren’s unpredictable behavior. He would actually have something as simple as ice cream flown in? Just to satisfy a pregnancy craving? What a fucking wild and terrible use of resources.
Apparently, he was fine with indulging my trips down memory lane as long as they were the result of pregnancy cravings. I guess my pregnancy symptoms held the power to overshadow his disdain for my old life.
I sighed in relief as they moved back toward the edge of the gardens. They were still within eyesight but far out of earshot as they spoke. I tried focusing on their lips to see how well I could read them, but the sound of rustling in the trees behind me caught my attention instead.
“You’re not wrong, you know,” a familiar voice said from between the trees. “You are turning him into a big fucking softy.”
Jerking my head toward the voice, I watched Daniel step out from behind a large tree trunk he’d clearly been hiding behind. For how long, I didn’t know, but I didn’t like the sinister look that was currently painting his face an odd shade of red.
I cocked a brow at him. “The man just had me chained to our bed for four days last week. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
He shook his head and scoffed. “It was less than you deserved,” he slurred as he stepped closer. “Had it been up to me, there would have been a lot more screaming involved.”
I frowned at him in confusion, wondering what the hell he was getting at. “Normally, you’d be right. But Darren has an interest in avoiding things that might cause me to miscarry his first child, so…”
Daniel rolled his eyes, stumbling slightly. “There’s no need to be so dramatic when you can just make another one. It’s not that big of a deal.”
My eyes narrowed at him, leveling him with a glare I reserved for the truly vile.
“Your brother clearly feels differently. You should learn to respect that,” I replied.
“And you should learn to respect your superiors,” he slurred again as he took another clumsy step closer. Camaro’s ears peaked as she noticed the exchange becoming more hostile.
“Are you drunk?”
Daniel scoffed like I had insulted him. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
I frowned at him, but surmised this might be a good opportunity to quickly turn up the heat.
“Have I done something to offend you, Daniel? I’m having trouble understanding your hostility.” He stood there in silence for a moment, glaring at me from the safety of the trees. In my periphery, I could see another guard approach Sloane and Darren, their backs to me completely now.
“Aside from the amount of defiance you still exhibit? I suspect you’re hiding things from my brother, and believe me when I tell you, I will find out eventually.”
I raised my brow in mock surprise. “Is that so?” Daniel didn’t know shit because my ass didn’t know shit. Something must have been happening on the outside that would lead him to suspect me of anything. “Would you care to elaborate?”
Still wobbling in place, Daniel folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head in my direction. “I would, but Darren is convinced you’re a clueless little kitten. And he wants you to stay that way.”
So Darren did want to keep me out of the loop. Not only that but he was still under the impression I’d had zero impact on anything happening outside. This was good. But then what was the reason for Daniel’s lingering suspicion?
“Ah. So is that why you’re hiding in the trees like a creeper right now? You’re hoping to catch me sending signals to the mothership or something?” I taunted him.
“You’re up to something,” he growled. “I just fucking know it.”
I smirked at him. “Damn, Daniel, I know that letter from your mother must have really messed with your head, but I assure you, I’m not her.” I’m better.
A menacing scowl formed on his face as he took another step closer, but he was still clearly concealed from Darren’s and Sloane’s view. Obviously, he didn’t want to be seen by them, so Darren must have forbidden him from talking to me.
“See, that fucking mouth of yours is exactly how I know Darren has gone soft,” he rasped. “You wouldn’t have the guts to talk to me like that if he actually kept you in line.”
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “Sounds like a personal problem that I’m not interested in resolving. I suggest you take it up with management.”
Turning away from him, I looked back to see that Darren and Sloane were still very much deep in conversation with the guard. What the fuck were they talking about that had them this distracted? How much longer could I get away with taunting more info out of this guy before they caught me?
“Hey, don’t you turn your back on me, you little bitch!” Daniel snapped, then reached down to grab at my arm.
Camaro instantly sprang into action, snarling wildly as she jumped forward and chomped down on Daniel’s wrist, viciously tearing into it. Daniel shouted in pain, attempting to pull his arm back from between Camaro’s powerful jaws to no avail.
“Camaro, release!” I ordered, grabbing onto her collar to pull her back. She let go immediately, and Daniel stumbled back, clutching his badly injured wrist.
Shit. That wasn’t quite what I was going for but…good fucking girl.
“Stupid fucking dog!” he bellowed, blood flowing down his arm and hand.
I could hear Darren and Sloane rushing over from the commotion, but they weren’t quick enough to stop Daniel from drawing his gun. I knew he was going to point it at Camaro before he had finished aiming it.
“JADEN!”
“No!” I shouted and moved to lunge for him, but then a gunshot cracked through the air, paralyzing me in place. Daniel’s voice thundered with alarm as the gun sprang out of his hand just before he was tackled to the ground by the closest guards.
I was then swiftly ripped away from the scene with the force of a freight train, but the momentum had me turning in a panic to find my dog standing her ground and growling at Daniel and the guards pinning him down.
Turning my head back, I looked up to see Darren scowling down at Daniel as his arm tightened around my middle to then drag me over to Sloane.
“Get the fuck off me!” Daniel shouted between punches. “Darren! Get them off!”
I could see him still fighting and struggling with the guards as I watched on from behind Sloane’s back, her gun raised and trained at Daniel. From the corner of my eye, I could see Scott appear from the shadows, a deep look of concern on his face as he approached.
“Let me the fuck go!” Daniel roared from the ground, still fighting with the guards.
“Nice shot, Sloane,” Darren commented before turning to me to run both his hands down the side of my face. “Are you alright?”
My heart was still racing at the thought of Daniel potentially killing my dog, but then anger quickly replaced it.
“No, I’m not alright, I’m fucking pissed!
He’s drunk and he drew a gun! All because Camaro was doing her job!
” I snapped. “You saw that, right? You saw her bite to protect me?” Fear rolled into my stomach again, ready to sucker punch me if Darren decided Camaro was in the wrong.
“Yes, I saw,” he confirmed, then dragged his hands down either side of my body to land at my pelvis. “Any pain or cramping?”
I shook my head. “No. Physically, I’m fine.”
“Good,” he acknowledged in relief, then stepped away to address Daniel while Scott came to stand at his side. “Let him up.”
The guards released him, Daniel grumbling as he stumbled back up from the ground and wobbled on his feet. “What the fuck, Darren! Why is that beast still alive when it just mauled my fucking arm?”
“Now why would a well-trained guard dog do such a thing?” Darren asked, venom oozing from every word. “What did you do that made her attack?”
“Nothing! I stretched my arm out and then she bit me!”
“In Jaden’s direction?”
“In her general direction, yeah!”
“Why?”
“Because I was trying to get her attention after she disrespected me by turning her back on our conversation. You really need to teach that bitch some proper fucking manners!”
Darren responded to Daniel’s insult with a fist straight to his face, knocking him back down onto the ground. He then stepped over him and pressed his foot into the bloody bite mark Camaro had made. Daniel groaned loudly as he tried and failed to dislodge his arm.
“Ah! Darren, what the fuck!”
Darren then leaned down and whispered something to Daniel that I couldn’t make out. When he was finished, he stood back and allowed Daniel to stand back up.
“Now go see Sid about your arm,” he ordered.
When Daniel continued standing there, just glaring at him, Darren shouted “GO!” Daniel scoffed but then turned around and headed back toward the house.
“Make sure he doesn’t get lost,” Darren murmured to Scott, who nodded and followed, two guards right behind him.
Darren watched them disappear before he turned back around to me.
“Sloane, please escort Jaden back inside. Daniel is not to go anywhere near her,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Sloane said, then took my arm and nudged me back toward the house.
I went with her quietly, my head down as my mind raced back and forth between what could have happened to Camaro and what I planned to do to absolutely destroy Daniel Davis for the last fucking time.
Nobody fucks with my dog. Nobody.