Aiden tightens his hold in response.
Something in my chest is set free.
When I first saw Aiden in RES, there was a prisoner who tried to claw his way out.
That prisoner is now free.
Unlike that time, Aiden isn’t out to destroy me.
No.
He’s protecting me as he promised.
Who knew there would be a day where Aiden King would be my knight in shining armour?
Jonathan’s attention slides back to me. “How about you, Steel?”
I don’t miss the way he nearly snarls my name.
I jut my chin. “Steel or not, I wasn’t born to take orders from you.”
“Interesting.” Jonathan’s dark gaze shifts from me to Aiden and back again as if he’s trying to read between the lines. Or he’s searching for weakness like Aiden usually does.
The entire time, Silver remains slumped in her seat without even lifting her gaze. It’s like she was forced to come here.
“Do you know that your parents kidnapped my son and tortured him for ten days?”
His casual words are like stabbing a knife straight through my heart.
“She knows,” Aiden remains calm, not showing any emotion whatsoever.
“I assume she also knows that you lost your mother because she was trying to find you.” Jonathan leans forward. “What type of monster are you to still hold on to my son after all that?”
My breathing turns shallow, and a part of me believes him.
That part also thinks that Aiden must only see Ma when he looks at me.
His torturer.
His hell.
His monster.
I internally shake myself.
Jonathan can try his best, but I won’t fall for his games.
Aiden and I didn’t start like some fairy tale, but our dark past isn’t everything we are either.
No one has the right to get between us — Jonathan included.
“The past won’t define us,” I tell him. “We have the future ahead of us.”
“Are you certain about that?” Jonathan tilts his head to the side, meeting Aiden’s gaze. “Does she know why you’re alive?”
“Jonathan,” Aiden says with clear menace.
“Yes, that’s the right look, son” Jonathan smiles. “Unfortunately, you have no chances left with me. I offered you one and you refused it. Now, it’s my turn to play.”