“Well, aren’t you just a big softy now,” I replied, a note of sarcasm in my tone.
His grin formed into a smirk before he leaned in and kissed me, keeping my face wedged between his hands so I couldn’t pull away.
“Don’t let it get to your head,” he snarked against my lips and then pulled back.“We’ll find yourstupid ice cream, even if I have to have it flown in from another state.”Then he stood back to his full height and looked for my statue of a bodyguard.“Sloane,” he said with a jerk of his head in the other direction, indicating for her to follow him.
I stared after them, astounded by Darren’s unpredictable behavior.He would actually have something as simple as ice cream flown in?Just to satisfy a pregnancy craving?What a fucking wild and terrible use of resources.
Apparently, he was fine with indulging my trips down memory lane as long as they were the result of pregnancy cravings.I guess my pregnancy symptoms held the power to overshadow his disdain for my old life.
I sighed in relief as they moved back toward the edge of the gardens.They were still within eyesight but far out of earshot as they spoke.I tried focusing on their lips to see how well I could read them, but the sound of rustling in the trees behind me caught my attention instead.
“You’re not wrong, you know,” a familiar voice said from between the trees.“You are turning him into a big fucking softy.”
Jerking my head toward the voice, I watched Daniel step out from behind a large tree trunk he’d clearly been hiding behind.For how long, I didn’t know, but I didn’t like the sinister look that was currently painting his face an odd shade of red.
I cocked a brow at him.“The man just had me chained to our bed for four days last week.I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
He shook his head and scoffed.“It was less than you deserved,” he slurred as he stepped closer.“Had it been up to me, there would have been a lot more screaming involved.”
I frowned at him in confusion, wondering what the hell he was getting at.“Normally, you’d be right.But Darren has an interest in avoiding things that might cause me to miscarry his first child, so…”
Daniel rolled his eyes, stumbling slightly.“There’s no need to be so dramatic when you can just make another one.It’s not that big of a deal.”
My eyes narrowed at him, leveling him with a glare I reserved for the truly vile.
“Your brother clearly feels differently.You should learn to respect that,” I replied.
“And you should learn to respect your superiors,” he slurred again as he took another clumsy step closer.Camaro’s ears peaked as she noticed the exchange becoming more hostile.
“Are you drunk?”
Daniel scoffed like I had insulted him.“Don’t try to change the subject.”
I frowned at him, but surmised this might be a good opportunity to quickly turn up the heat.
“Have I done something to offend you, Daniel?I’m having trouble understanding your hostility.”He stood there in silence for a moment, glaring at me from the safety of the trees.In my periphery, I could see another guard approach Sloane and Darren, their backs to me completely now.
“Aside from the amount of defiance you still exhibit?I suspect you’re hiding things from my brother, and believe me when I tell you, I will find out eventually.”
I raised my brow in mock surprise.“Is that so?”Daniel didn’t know shit becausemyassdidn’t know shit.Something must have been happening on the outside that would lead him to suspect me of anything.“Would you care to elaborate?”
Still wobbling in place, Daniel folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head in my direction.“I would, but Darren is convinced you’re a clueless little kitten.And he wants you to stay that way.”
So Darren did want to keep me out of the loop.Not only that but he was still under the impression I’d had zero impact on anything happening outside.This was good.But then what was the reason for Daniel’s lingering suspicion?
“Ah.So is that why you’re hiding in the trees like a creeper right now?You’re hoping to catch me sending signals to the mothership or something?”I taunted him.
“You’re up to something,” he growled.“I just fucking know it.”
I smirked at him.“Damn, Daniel, I know that letter from your mother must have really messed with your head, but I assure you, I’m not her.”I’m better.
A menacing scowl formed on his face as he took another step closer, but he was still clearly concealed from Darren’s and Sloane’s view.Obviously, he didn’t want to be seen by them, so Darren must have forbidden him from talking to me.
“See, that fucking mouth of yours is exactly how I know Darren has gone soft,” he rasped.“You wouldn’t have the guts to talk to me like that if he actually kept you in line.”
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.“Sounds like a personal problem that I’m not interested in resolving.I suggest you take it up with management.”
Turning away from him, I looked back to see that Darren and Sloane were still very much deep in conversation with the guard.What the fuck were they talking about that had them this distracted?How much longer could I get away with taunting more info out of this guy before they caught me?