Spark ( Book 3: Stronger Series )

55. Strike

I laid on my side on Darren's bed facing the door, waiting for him to come back even though I knew I would be asleep before he did. Because I was a good girl. I did what I was told when I was told. I didn't question. I didn't complain. If I could be good, I wouldn't disappoint Darren. I wouldn't have to go back to the basement.

Just the thought alone had me nearly bursting into tears.

I sat up from the bed and turned to take my sleep aids when the door opened. My heart skipped a beat, but it was only Clive. Disappointment flooded my heart.

"Miss Jaden, please get dressed to go outside," he said.

I blinked once before immediately getting up to go to the closet to change. Ninety-nine percent of Clive's orders came directly from Darren, so if Clive was asking me to get dressed, it was because Darren told him to. I quickly changed into a knee-length black sundress with three-quarter sleeves and a pair of black flats before hurrying over to the door. I knew Darren didn't like to be kept waiting.

Clive and Owen escorted me downstairs and out toward the patio. I didn't ask where we were going. They wouldn't answer, and I would find out soon enough.

But when we stepped outside and started to make our way over to the shed, I felt my heart rate kick up. Only one thing went on down there; it was bloody and gruesome, and I wanted nothing to do with it. The last time I was down there had been brutal. I'd witnessed my first murder of what was likely to be many in my future, and still, it haunted me.

I followed Owen down the stairs of the trap door while Clive trailed behind. Below, the same familiar faces filled the room as last time. Scott stood in the corner with a hard glare in his eye while Clive and Owen moved to flank me. When my eyes finally locked on Darren, I felt myself freeze from the look he was giving me. Oh, God, what had I done? Was I in trouble? But then his eyes fell to the man sitting in a chair next to him. He was bruised, bloody, but still breathing for some reason. Why had Darren kept him alive? Did he want me to witness another one of his second-chance murders?

But as I looked into the eyes of the man on death row, I saw something familiar. It was something I didn't want to remember, but my memories refused such a luxury. Emotions I had not felt in the longest time suddenly flooded my body as I came to recognize the face, allowing a voice to play in my head over and over again.

Can't be too careful...

Can't be too careful...

Can't be too careful...

Motherfucking Jared.

Anger like I had never felt before burned through my veins like acid. I felt my lips pull back from my teeth, revealing a scowl bordering on animalistic while my nails bit into the palms of my tightly clenched fists.

Why the fuck was this guy still breathing?

When Jared's eyes finally found mine, the stupid fuck actually started laughing, and it only made me seethe more.

"Hey there, hot stuff. Miss me?" he barely croaked out with a gurgled chuckle.

"Is he your traitor?" I asked Darren, my eyes still on Jared.

"Yes."

"Then why is he still alive?"

"Because I've decided his life is not mine to take. It's yours."

My head instantly snapped to Darren as my mind filled with confusion. Mine? Nothing was mine. Everything was his. Everything.

"What?"

"Come here, Jaden," he ordered and pulled a gun from the side of his hip.

I went to him without hesitation, my heart pounding out of my chest as I found it difficult to swallow. When I was at his side, he slid a magazine holding what looked like one bullet into the gun and held it up. A silencer was attached to the barrel.