Page 9 of His Paradise

It’s his bedroom. And my new jail cell. The room would be beautiful in any other situation, with vaulted ceilings and a miniature chandelier that hangs above the massive four poster bed.

But the walls catch my attention more than anything else. They’re covered with photos, news clippings and every bit of information about my family. I clutch the front of my shirt when I see pictures of me on my wedding day, with Aden’s face torn away. My fingers claw at the fabric of my shirt as I struggle to breath when I see photos of my family, with innocent little Leo scribbled over, and Aden’s face smeared with red ink X’s. David drags me forward, towards the corner of the room that has a small chaise next to a long chain that ends in a cuff.

I allow him to shove me to the cushion, and hold my left ankle up without even being asked. I keep my face impassive, with a tight smile. See? I am a good prisoner, so let Olivia go home. David laughs as he wrenches me back up and waves to the tall man with bright blue hair to bring Olivia over. He puts the cuff on her, gently setting her foot down as he steals a quick glance up at her face.

David throws me onto the bed, making me bounce as I grip the blankets for support. The sound of a metal chain rattles, scuffing over the wood floors before I feel the cold press of it clasping to my ankle. Unlike his friend, David isn’t gentle and slams it against my protruding bone, making me clench my teeth against the pain.

This was going to be Hell, but I would endure it. For my family. For my husband and son.

Chapter seven

Aden

My hands are shaking as I stare down at my son, sleeping in his car seat. After two days with no leads, I have to get help from my sister and her husband. The front door swings open, a pissed off giant standing in the frame as he looks me over with irritation. Jared is well over six feet tall, with dark brown hair that has specks of gray that trails into his beard, and a muscular build that I can admit is intimidating most days. But I have come to regard him as a friend, until he kidnapped my sister after he caught her stalking him. I raise my gun, pointing it at Jared while he snorts a laugh and continues giving me a bored expression.

“Where the fuck is she?” I ask him, not seeing or hearing her in the house. I haven’t slept in days, and my exhaustion was getting the best of me but I didn’t have time to play this game.

“That thing isn’t loaded.” Jared mutters, easily slapping the gun from my hand and sending it clattering to the floor. I frantically hush him as I bounce Leo in his carseat to try and keep him sleeping.

“How did you know?”

“You bit my head off for holding Amelia with a gun in my holster when she was that size. You also wouldn’t have brought the baby if you were expecting a fight.” He rolls his eyes in irritation.

“You got me there, but something has come up that I couldn’t talk about over a phone call. I didn’t know what else to do.” I frown, swaying Leo as he begins fussing.

“Come in and have a seat. I’ll make sure Luna puts clothes on when she gets out of the shower.”

“Am I interrupting?” I taunt.

“Yes,” Jared snaps as he stomps up the stairs. I take a slight joy from irritating the big guy as I step into their living room. This home fits Luna so well, the walls different shades of dark green and the furniture all black with pops of white. Even the wood floors are dark. I lean back on the couch, my eyes becoming heavy as I lay Leo next to me. Going multiple days without sleep is catching up to me, but I couldn’t rest without Nina.

I lean my head back on the couch, sinking into the plush fabric as I begin drifting off.

My eyes fly open as I reach outwards, panic gripping me when I realize I’ve fallen asleep with the baby. Except he’s gone now, too.

“Leo?” I shout, jumping to my feet and tripping over his empty car seat. I race towards the kitchen, barging into the room with fear pulsing in my veins.

“You can’t just fall asleep on the couch with a baby. Especially my couch.” Jared snaps at me, handing him to me.

“I know that. Things have just been hard at home and nobody is really sleeping much.” I tell him, still upset with myself for falling asleep. That’s when I notice Luna, and she reaches out to squeeze my arm. She brushes her pale hair away from her face, looking at me with sympathy in her blue eyes that match my own, one appearing brighter with the darkened and ridged skin around it.

Her scars are still healing, fading more each time I see her. She doesn’t hide behind her hair now, as she ties it proudly back and holds her head high. The burns along the side of her face haven’t changed her for me, but I can see the way Jared stares at her in wonder. His expression is so full of adoration, it pains me to be in the same room as them. Luna motions for her nephew, beaming a bright smile up at me.

“Come to auntie, let daddy get a cup of coffee and we can talk.” She coos, sniffing his head.

“Why do they do that?” Jared mutters, turning to pour me a cup of coffee. I shake my head, happily taking the mug he offers me.

“Apparently, it’s that new baby smell.” I shrug, still not understanding it much myself, even after Nina explained it to me.

“Won't be long before you guys have one of your own,” I comment, raising a brow when Jared tenses and I step past him, into the living room. Leo takes that moment to let out a shrill cry, balling his tiny fists up as tears pool down his cheeks.

“Or not,” Luna mutters, quickly shuffling the baby back to me. Jared pulls her into his lap in the large recliner as I take my seat on the couch, picking up the bottle Jared had set down for me. I catch Luna snatching Jared’s cup of coffee from his hands, and a twinge of jealousy rears its head.

“You don’t like creamer.” Luna accuses him.

“No, but you do.” He chuckles.

“You knew I was going to drink your coffee.”

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