Page 26 of Red Captive

For a moment, it feels like I’m a teenager again. That I have zero control. Then I shake my head. I need to grow up. I need toget my head out of my ass. The female is trouble. She’s playing me.

I refuse to be attracted to this female. What’s wrong with me? Am I destined to want a certain type? A type like my ex? Likeher? I refuse. Rage fills me. I grind my teeth together, almost cracking a molar.

I won’t be duped again.

I won’t!

8

Jen

There is a knock at the door.

“Come in. I’m fully clothed this time.” I chuckle to myself as softly as I can. I like pushing his buttons. I’m not sure why. I shouldn’t like anything about that colossal jerk. Somehow, I don’t think that deep down he’s a bad guy. I think he’s just the type that hates people for no good reason. It should make me want to be nicer to him. Namely, to follow my original plan of killing him with kindness. But it doesn’t. It makes me want to push his buttons even more. To get a rise out of him. Apparently, I’m an idiot. I should stick with my original plan instead of poking the bear. And what a bear he is.

I bite back a smile, which completely disappears when a tray is slid along the rug into my bedroom and the door is closed firmly once again. I stand there and stare at the tray for a few moments and then at the closed door.

He didn’t come in. I don’t like that. I was looking forward to seeing him again. I’m not sure why since I don’t particularly like being treated with disdain and disapproval, but here we are.

I sigh. I’m bored. I haven’t been in this apartment for even twenty-four hours yet, and I’m climbing the walls. Screw him! I don’t need him. Then again, I need to get on his good side so that he’ll let his guard down so that life can be a little easier. Also, I might need to escape. I don’t fully trust that asshole general or his dodgy sidekick. Yep, I need to get onto Steel’s good side for sure.

Pity, I can’t see that happening anytime soon, if at all.

I’ll probably watch some television. I look over at the state-of-the-art flat screen on the wall and make a face. I’ve never been much of a television watcher. Even then, it’s more reality shows than movies or series. I haven’t even turned the thing on.

I look over at the book next to my bed. I like reading for twenty minutes before bed. Otherwise, not so much. Besides, the books Tara loaned to me aren’t really in my favorite genre. They’re murder mysteries, while I prefer contemporary romance novels. The ones about A-hole bosses or sports romances…also about A-holes who end up being really great guys and who end up, despite all odds, redeeming themselves. The forbidden ones are my best. The whodunnit ones are nowhere near as fun. I need to try to get them back to Tara at some point, if she’ll even talk to me.

I hope so.

I should just eat my lunch. That will take up fifteen, maybe twenty minutes of my day. I suppose I could take a nap and then work out again. Just a light workout to keep my blood flowing. It’s that or go stir-crazy. I wish I could go jogging outside in the fresh air.

Problem is, I don’t see Mr. Tall, Dark, and Decidedly Unfriendly ever letting me go for a jog on the grounds. Although, maybe he wants to get out as well. We could go together.

I frown. Nope, I can’t see it happening. I can try to ask him, though. Some fresh air would be amazing for us both.

I pick the tray up off the ground and put it on the desk at the wall, taking a seat.

I look over at the window, which has been boarded shut. I can’t get over the audacity of that guy. Isn’t it good enough that I can’t fly? I’m not going anywhere from the sixth floor. He still had to go and close up the window. Steel spent fifteen minutes nailing in the boards earlier. He didn’t say much of anything. Just grunted a few times when I complained about the lack of sunlight and fresh air. I truly am a prisoner here. It sucks!

I sigh again, opening the lid. I expect to see a chicken salad since that’s what I ordered. Instead, there’s a burger and fries. A ton of fries. They’re covered in salt. There are two sachets of ketchup. I open the top bread roll and see lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a chicken breast.

I could just eat that and send the rest back. I’m hungry after my workout earlier, but I can’t eat this. I lift the lid on the smaller plate, and it’s pie. I take a sniff. Yep, cherry pie with whipped cream. My stomach growls, but I ignore it.

Nope, I take care of my body. No excuses. I know firsthand what can happen to a person if they drop the ball. Although, that isn’t exactly fair of me. There are reasons other than food as to why my mom is morbidly obese. Reasons beyond her control. Still, I grab the tray and turn, walking to the other end of the room.

Balancing the thing in one hand, I open the bedroom door, half expecting it to be barricaded, but it isn’t. Steel is at the dining room table. His mouth is full of food. There is a huge bite in his burger and five fries in his other hand. I’m instantly irritated.

“Something wrong?” he says around his food.

I walk over to him and drop the tray on the table with a clang. Fries spill off my plate. The pie topples over on its side. “This isn’t what I ordered.”

“This isn’t a vacation, Princess.” He stuffs the fries into his mouth. “We are waiting until further instructions. I’m not here to make your life a cakewalk or to serve your every whim. This is what was delivered. This is what we will eat. Take your ass back into your bedroom and eat your food. Someone went to a lot of trouble to prepare that.”

“It must be awesome being a shifter. I mean, you guys have extremely high metabolisms and superhuman healing abilities.”

“And? What of it?” He takes a bite of his burger; a drop of ketchup drips onto the corner of his perfect mouth. Asshole! He even looks good while eating greasy food.

“I’m human,” I tell him. “I don’t have the same superpowers as you. Therefore, I’m not afforded the same leniencies.”

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