Page 42 of Cruel Possession
“You used to take other people’s opinions on board when we were talking about what to do with the family. You wanted to know what we all thought, and yet now, you’d rather just beat the hell out of us and rule with an iron fist.”
“I’m doing what I have to do to keep everyone alive.” But even to my own ears, it’s starting to feel like a weak excuse. However, there is nothing else I can say.
My family is filled with stubborn people, and no matter what I do, it seems like they aren’t willing to listen.
Jade throws her hands up in the air. “You know, the others say that you’re just like Dad, and I don’t remember him well enough to really know, but I’m sure they’re right. From what I heard, he was a cold bastard who didn’t give a damn about anyone else, and that’s the way you are acting, too.”
I grind my teeth together, taking another sip of the beer.
She’s just lashing out and doesn’t know what she’s saying. She was still really young when Dad died. She wouldn’t know any better. All she knows is what to say to hurt me like a punch to the gut.
Her hands drop down to her sides, smacking against her thighs. “This is what I mean. You’re not even listening to me right now. Not really at least. If you were, you might give a shit about what I’m talking about.”
“I have a lot I have to do tonight.”
Jade sighs, her chest rising and falling. “You know what? This is exhausting. I can’t keep doing this with you. You’re going to lose everything if you don’t pull your head out of your ass.”
“Cute. Annoying, but cute.”
“You’re infuriating.”
“I’ve been told.” I glance at the time on the stove. It’s nearing two in the morning. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“I’m not a child anymore, Aiden. It’s time that you stop thinking you can control my life, and asking about my bedtime is one of those things you need to stop doing. And not that I owe you an explanation, but I have to study for my exams.”
“Then you should go do that instead of bothering me.”
Jade makes a strangled noise in the back of her throat. “I’m done with you. I’m done trying. The rest of the family is going to tear you apart because you’re nothing but a monster these days, and you’re going to have nobody to blame but yourself.”
She leaves the room and heads outside, sitting down at the edge of the pool and looking at the lights shining in the water.
A thin wave of regret washes over me, but I’ve been too soft on her and Summer. They were little more than babies when Dad died, old enough to understand that he was never coming home, but not much beyond that.
If I hadn’t protected him the way I did, then we might not be in this situation right now. They might see where I’m coming from instead of trying to tell me everything is wrong.
I finish the beer and toss the bottle into the bin beneath the counter before heading back up the stairs, a new idea forming in the back of my mind.
Maybe to some degree, Jade was right.
It might be time to see if Zoe is willing to cooperate using a different method.
As I stride into the room, Zoe looks up at me from the bed, anger in her eyes, but after a moment, her head drops back to the pillow, and she sighs.
Her lips purse, her body still naked, shirt pushed up and scraps of her leggings dangling around her legs. “I don’t want to keep fighting with you tonight. I’m tired, I ache, I’ve got probably the biggest case of blue balls known to mankind, without even having balls, and all I want to do is sleep.”
I tuck my hands in the pockets of my trousers, watching her from the other side of the room. “Great, you’re going to get up and get dressed in something nice, then. I had some of your clothing brought over when I first took you. You’ll need something to wear.”
“I’m not doing that. I’m going to sleep.” She squeezes her eyes shut, her entire body tense.
Chuckling, I cross the room and untie her ankles, taking my time to rub them.
She raises her head a little to look at me.
I make my way to her wrists, undoing the cuffs there and rubbing those, drawing a soft little moan from her lips.
“You’re going to get up, and you’re going to put on something suitable for Lady Luck’s.”
Her eyes nearly bulge out of her head as she sits up. “I’m not going to a sex club with you.”
