Page 21 of Worth

“For being sweet.”

Aiden laughs, the disappointment all gone. “I just agreed to teach you how to effectively murder people, Kitten. I don’t think you can call me sweet.” His grin remains. “Speaking of—I brought you a treat.”

He reaches around me and snags a paper bag off the nightstand. The second he opens it, I can smell butter and sugar and cinnamon, which makes my mouth water. I leap on the bag before he even gets his hand in, digging around to see what options I have while Aiden laughs like a maniac.

I snag a Snickerdoodle cookie that’s bigger than my hand and sink my teeth into it with a moan. Aiden selects his own cookie—M&M—and munches on it happily while I devour mine.

After I’ve eaten that and a chocolate chip cookie, I lean back on my arms with a sigh. “Those were delicious.”

“I stopped just for you,” he announces proudly, then his expression changes to something serious. “Zander says I should probably feed you more than cookies, though.”

I snort when I realize he’s not teasing—Zander really had to tell him to feed me something besides desserts. “While cookies are always welcome,” I tell him. “I’m going to need some real food.”

“Anything you want,” Aiden says, dead serious. “You tell me and I’ll get it for you.”

Then, like he didn’t just offer me the moon if I desired it, he bounces off the bed. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he calls over his shoulder.

It’s not until the door shuts and locks that I realize I’m grinning like a fool, even though I just got locked in again.

Chapter 7

I wince as my arm scrapes against the edges of the rough board screwed into the frame of my bedroom window. The fingertips of my thumb and pointer finger are sore as hell from gripping the screw head, but I’m slowly and surely twisting it out of frame. Any minute now, it’ll be out and I should be able to push the board down. The space would probably be enough to escape if I was willing to risk broken bones.

But I’m not even trying to escape. I’m just going out of my fucking mind and this seemed like just the challenge to occupy me. I want more light in my room, anyway.

“Yes!” I hiss triumphantly as I feel the screw wobble. One more turn and it pops free. I yank my arm back in, dropping the screw on the windowsill. I hook my fingers over the top of the board and shove, moving it about an inch.

“Come on, you bitch,” I grunt, pushing as hard as I can.

I gasp as it gives, swinging down as it pivots on the other screw still lodged in the wood. I bounce around on the balls of my feet in a victory dance, my room brightening with the extra light.

“What are you doing?” Aiden’s amused voice asks behind me.

I whirl with a gasp. “Dude. Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

He gives a dark laugh, his eyes tracing over my outfit for the day—a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a plain gray v-neck tee. “I’ve been standing here for at least ten minutes and you never noticed. We’re going to need to work on how unaware you are of your surroundings.”

I scowl at him. “Why? Zander still won’t let me out of the room.” When he doesn’t respond, I pop out one hip and cross my arms. “Right?”

Aiden dips his head for a minute. “I’m still working on him.”

“What the fuck is his problem with me?” I ask, hopping onto the bed and sitting with my legs crossed. “I’ve done nothing but comply with everything that has been asked of me.”

Flopping down next to me on his back, Aiden looks up at me as he tucks his hands behind his head. “Oh, I’m well aware of how much you’ve complied, Kitten.”

I groan, falling back so I’m lying next to him. “You ever going to let me live that down?”

He shrugs. “Probably not.” I roll my eyes as he shoots a grin my way. It falls away as he nods at the window. “You trying to escape?”

Only an idiot would miss the insecurity in his voice.

“No,” I murmur. “Just wanted more light.”

Aiden lets out a long sigh. “I really am trying. I don’t know why Zander is being such a dick about you.”

“Me either,” I mutter.

I don’t know how someone goes from doing what he did to me in the kitchen to hating my guts, but Zander has made it into a fucking art form. When Aiden isn’t around, he invades my space, snarling and spitting like some rabid dog who has me set in his sights.

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