Page 15 of Jared's Redemption

My jaw drops open, my brows scrunched while I struggle to form any words. Why is he asking that? He didn’t punch me in the face.

“Isabelle said you tried to grab me. Did I hurt you?”

Guilt is clear on his pained features. I roll my eyes and pat his chest.

“You didn’t hurt me, Biggums.” I say, and he gives me a confused look. “Get it, big and yum. Biggums.” I say with a grin.

Jared cracks a smile and takes the bag of frozen fruit from me, grabbing my hand and pulling me along behind him. Aden’s eyes nearly burn through our hands where they’re entwined, partially against my will.

“Catch.” Jared says, throwing the makeshift icepack at Markus.

He grins at me, wiggling his eyebrows and handing the bag to Aden as we take seats on the massive couch. Jared pulls me down next to him, wrapping an arm around my shoulders possessively, and I’ll admit it is kind of hot. Isabelle drops between Markus and Alec, who immediately each grab one of her thighs. Aden sits on the far side, glaring at me as if I’m the problem.

“Gonna spank Aden too for being mouthy?” Markus asks, making Isabelle groan as she smacks his chest.

“Get your hands off my sister. You kidnapped her.” Aden says in disbelief. I snort, rolling my eyes and waving a hand at him.

“It was fine that he kidnapped and fucked a girl just a minute ago? You were even amused by it. Until you find out who that girl is? Grow the Hell up.” I sneer.

He has spent his life brushing me off, letting our father send me off with our mother to every nightmare of a boarding school. He never gave a shit about me in the first place.

“You jump into bed with the first man who pays you an ounce of attention, Luna. You don’t belong in our world.” He says, trying to dismiss me.

But I’m done being pushed aside. I stand, reaching under the coffee table to pick up Jared’s gun and level it at Aden. His face contorts into rage, a touch of fear and disbelief.

“Maybe I have daddy issues?” I say, smirking down at him.

The gun is steady in my hand, the safety on, as I step towards him.

“Luna.” Isabelle warns, but I shake my head at her.

“Stop treating me like I’m useless! I deserve a place in this family. Stop casting me off as if being born a woman makes me a pawn for your stupid politics.” I snap, tears burning my throat.

“This is why you don’t have a place in our business. You’re too emotional.” Aden says, his voice almost sad as he watches me closely. “You are dad’s precious little girl, you’re the one weakness we all have. Our parents wanted more for you than this life.” He tries to reason with me. I laugh, my hands shaking.

“He’s trying to marry me off to Steffen.” The admission feels rotten on my tongue. Disgust slithers up my spine. Jared’s large hand wraps around the gun as it trembles in my grip. He pulls it from me and tucks it into his waistband.

“What?” Aden asks, genuinely confused.

“He wanted to make an alliance, to save them.” I bitterly wave at Isabelle and her husbands. “Our father offered my hand in marriage to that bastard!” I cry, feeling like the room is crushing me.

The walls blur, and I stagger back into a sturdy pair of arms and let him lift me off my feet.

“Get her some water.” Isabelle tells somebody. Jared sits down with me on his lap, letting me bury my face in his chest.

“No, that can’t be right, Luna. Dad wants him dead.” Aden says, but his voice doesn’t sound so sure.

“I heard our mother on the phone with Steffen himself. She told me everything. Our father was using me to avoid war. Steffen would get a wife and everyone else would get away unscathed, with their freedom. Except for me.” I reach my breaking point as a bitter laugh slips out.

“That’s awful. How could Vincent do this?” Isabelle says, kneeling next to me and rubbing my arm while Markus hands me a glass of water. I gulp the cold drink down greedily, only stopping when Jared pulls it away.

“Slow down, or you’ll make yourself sick, Lunatic.” He admonishes, making me smile at the nickname. It doesn’t feel like an insult, not after last night.

“We need to ask him about this. Something doesn’t feel right.” Alec says, frowning down at me.

“Yeah. I was trying to do that, before he went full psycho and smashed my phone.” Aden waves a hand at us.

Jared’s head snaps up, as he pins him with a deadly look that scares me a little.

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