Page 15 of Spark

“Yeah, I bet,” I snapped, turning back to my plate, but he was still watching me, his fingers scratching his jaw while his eyes wandered.

“It’s all just so fascinating, Jaden.”

I stopped in the middle of my cutting to read him. “What is?”

“How quickly your desensitization has grown.”

My desensitization…

“Wasn’t that one of your goals?” I said blankly, cutting into my eggs with my fork.

“Yes, but again, you surpass my expectations.”

I looked up at him, my brows furrowed in confusion.

“I just inadvertently made you kill one of your own guards. How is that surpassing your expectations?”

“Benito was expendable. He should have anticipated your behavior, and he didn’t. Instead, he lost his nerve thanks to your manipulative and childish antics. Yes, he may have dug his own grave, Jaden, but you handed him the shovel.”

I smirked.

“Happy to help,” I said with a genuine smile.

Darren actually threw his head back and laughed, that deep chuckle rolling into my ears and making my stomach flutter.

“Oh, God… you are so perfect.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I replied, pushing my half-eaten eggs around.

“So are you less hungover to discuss more pressing topics?”

I huffed. My whole life was one big hangover now. What difference did it make?

“Not really, but you’re going to discuss them anyway,” I said. “So by all means.”

He smiled and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. My eyes couldn’t help but follow the tattoos down his bare arms, my eyes lingering over the golden hawk that clutched that shield so tightly.

“Your personal trainer has been selected.”

I turned my head toward him and gave him a confused look.

“My what?” I asked.

“She starts tomorrow,” Darren said as he took another sip of his coffee. “And you are to follow everything she says. No arguments or complaints.”

“Wait. Who is this person?” I asked, gaping at him.

“Her name is Holly. She is going to help you get back on your feet until you’re ready to leave the island.”

I scowled at him. “I don’t need help. I just need to be left alone.”

Darren rolled his eyes, sagging his shoulders, and gave me the most irritated look.

“Really? Are we seriously going to do this already?”

I scoffed at him. “Did you expect anything less?” I asked with a smirk. Like I’d suddenly stop arguing with him. What a tool.

“What I expect is for you to shut up, stop arguing, and do what you’re told.”

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