This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

Jason immediately twisted it out of her hand before she could do any damage. “You won’t need this where you’re going,” he assured, patting her down to ensure she carried no other weapons. Pulling her purse out of her hand, he upended the content onto the floor. Looking down, he toed a few items before stepping around Diana and heading out the door.

Josh unceremoniously pulled their mother along as he followed his brother. Jason didn’t break stride until he was outside the house standing beside a big black van. Pulling open the door, he stood aside as Josh lifted Diana and placed her inside the van. Jake hopped up to join her. Lying on the floor unmoving was the guard she had so easily paid off once he was in their employ.

“Surprise!” Josh mocked. “You have company for your little trip. Diana, when are you going to stop underestimating us? Oh, excuse me, that would be right about now, am I right, please tell me I’m right,” tipping his head to one side as though expecting an answer, Josh waited. When none was forthcoming, he indicated that she take a seat. She remained motionless; her gaze fixed on the prone figure of the guard.

Jason joined them in the van, and his proximity forced Diana down into the seat she had refused to take only moments before. Her unease rose as Jason sat down directly opposite her. When Josh closed the door, they were plunged into total darkness. Diana felt sweat break out on her body as terror gripped her. The fur coat had been a mistake.

The engine rumbled to life, and the light blinked on. The first thing she saw was Jason leaning forward, his black eyes unblinking as they seemed to bore into her very soul. The moving van caused her body to quake. Internally she gave in to her terror. She didn’t want to die.





Chapter 33

The drive took over three hours, and Jake wondered how his twin could sit so motionless for such a long time. Throughout the drive, Jason’s gaze didn’t deviate from Diana. That he was freaking her out was obvious. Jake understood what his brother was doing, and although Jason didn’t give anything away, he was sure he loved her reaction to his proximity.

Just before they arrived at their destination, the unconscious guard begun to stir. Without hesitation or compunction, Jake swiftly gave him one perfectly placed punch back into oblivion.

“Nice.” Jason laughed. The sound of Diana hyperventilating causing him to laugh even harder.

For his part, Jake remained relaxed in his seat beside their mother. He had chosen to sit by her side so that she felt hemmed in. Jason facing her, him at her side and her feeling she had no means of escape or help.

When the engine came to a stop, Jake felt relief as the light blinked out. Diana had been shaking throughout the entire drive and with the intense darkness came an intensification of her tremors. The whole debacle concerning Diana in their lives had gone on for long enough, it was now coming to an end.

Josh opened the door and stood aside. Taking Diana by the arm, Jake pulled her with him out of the vehicle, his grip vice like against the softness of her fur coat.

Night surrounded them, and Jake thought it apt that the last sight Diana would have of the sky was of a beautiful starlit night.

Jason followed. When he was standing on the ground, he took hold of the guard’s legs and unceremoniously dragged him towards the door. Fisting the front of his jacket, Jason heaved the heavy man up into a sitting position. Bending his legs, he forced his massive shoulder into the guard’s midriff and rose to his feet. Tossing him up once, Jason adjusted the guard’s weight to his liking, turned and caught Josh smiling at him.

“I was going to offer to take his legs, big guy.”

“As you can see there’s no need,” Jason replied, no sign of strain showing on his face. “Lead the way.”

During their byplay, Jake watched Diana, who was attempting to catch his father’s eyes. Jake couldn’t help but feel saddened for his father. For some reason, Jackson always seemed to believe that buried deep within her, Diana had the capacity to change.

Knocking on the door, they waited for it to be opened. In the doorway stood four burly men all dressed in white. Two of them stepped forward and relinquished Jason of the dead weight of the man across his shoulder.

Diana paid the hand off no attention. “Where are we, what is this place,” she panted in fear.

Nobody responded. Everyone began walking, including Diana, who had one son at her back and one on either side of her.

Along many hallways and up countless winding stairs, they finally came to a stop before a solid steel door. One of the unsmiling men in white, jingled a ring of keys, selected one and inserted it into the lock. Pushing the door open he stood aside. They all watched as Diana got the first sight of her new home.

“Do you like it,” Josh asked. “We had the place done up especially for you. The bed was my idea. I know how much time you like to spend in one.”

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