Jaden (Jaded #3)

“That wasn’t it and you know it. All three of you are to blame.”


My mouth dropped. Who was he to judge? I snapped it shut. “I’m sorry. Are you my freaking God now? What place of holy hell are you at where you can judge me? You donated your sperm to Mom. Thanks for that. Did you raise me? Did she?” I narrowed my eyes and felt my blood start to boil. “No, I raised myself in spite of you two.”

“Sheldon.” He sighed and rubbed his hands together. They fell down against his suit next. “I’m not here for a family counseling session, though that might be helpful in the future. I’m here to help my daughter and to protect you. The estates are not a prison to you. You were brought here for your protection.”

Beth edged forward. Her eyes glimmered with hope. “I have a room readied for you. You could wash up, if you’d like. I also have a phone for you to use. I guessed you’d wish to converse with your friends, and I sent them each a phone as well. They will be untraceable. There will be no records of the calls.” She frowned. “Though I wasn’t aware you were close with Denton Steele.”

My dad snorted. “He grew up next door. His folks were best friends with Sharon and me.” He shuddered. “That was a big mistake.”

I thrust my hand out. “I want that phone.”

Beth sucked in her breath, and her eyes went wide again.

CHAPTER THREE

“Are you okay?”

I had the phone pressed to my ear when Corrigan answered. Before answering, I turned and skimmed the hallway. I needed to make sure there were no lurkers. When I saw it was empty, I shut my bedroom door and sighed. “If you were to guess?”

“I’m sorry, Sheldon.”

I sighed. A pounding headache was pressing against my temples, but fuck it. When I saw the room Beth had prepared for me, I laughed to myself in disbelief.

“What?”

“My dad’s girlfriend must be really scared of me.”

“What?”

I didn’t pay attention to how his voice had sharpened. I was too busy scanning the living area, with a sectional in one corner, positioned toward a wall that had a large flat screen television mounted from it. Beside the sectional were two patio doors, and I could see a large table and chairs set up out there. An impressive view of the lawns was beneath the patio, and then I turned toward the rest of my room. Behind the sectional was a king-sized bed, located on top of a platform. Two closet doors were on one side, and there was a hallway—a freaking hallway—that led to a bathroom. “Shit,” I muttered when I saw the tub. It was big enough for a three-person orgy to happen in there. Corrigan would crawl in with floaters and a snorkel. I had no doubt.

“What?”

I heard Corrigan’s question and remembered I was on the phone. “Huh?”

“You said ‘shit.’ What’s going on?”

“Oh. Nothing.” I plopped down on one of the couches. I could still see the lawns from where I sat and even got a glimpse of a fountain. Toeing off my sandals, I sunk down on the cushions and wished I could sleep, but I knew I couldn’t. I wasn’t even going to try right now. I said into the phone, “I was saying that my dad’s new girlfriend must be scared of me. The room she gave me is an apartment. For real.” I scanned the room again. “The only thing I don’t have is a kitchen, but hell, I bet she’s got a mini fridge stuck somewhere in this room. I have a freaking hallway in my room. Can you believe that?”

“Okay. Back up. Your dad?”

I sighed. That’s right. He had no idea so I told him everything. The surprise reappearance, how he posted my bail, the forest fortress, and the magical secretary/girlfriend that seemed too familiar around my dad for me to believe it was a new development. When I was done, Corrigan grunted. “Shit. I was going to brag that Denton, Bryce, and I all came together to storm the jail and demand your bail, but we got upstaged. I can’t beat that.”

All three of them were together? Right then? “Wait, you mean Bryce is there?” I suddenly felt a weight pressing down on my windpipe. A suffocating sensation was building within me.

“Yeah.” His voice softened. “You want to talk to him?”

I did. “No.” Later. I wasn’t ready right then and there. “Listen, I’m going to demand for you guys to come here.”

“I have a feeling your dad won’t be on the Corrigan and Bryce bandwagon. I don’t think it’ll be a go, unless you can reenact the drive there and give us directions? Then we’re all about that.”

A low growl started from my throat. He was right. I cursed under my breath.

Corrigan chuckled. “I know he liked Bryce, but that was a long time ago. And him stepping in and getting bail before we could, that has to mean something.”

And it did.