Jaden (Jaded 3)

I sighed on the inside. She couldn’t even meet my gaze. I held back my snarl, but this was going to be my best friend? This was going to be my jailor.

“Yes.” His chest puffed up with pride. “She’s a machine, Sheldon. She’s the one who arranged everything for your stay with us. She has been in touch with the university, and she’s the contact with the police as well. They know you’ll be staying with us and have allowed it, but you mustn’t leave the gate. You can explore within the gate, but you can’t leave.”

“Am I on house arrest?”

“Your bond was five million. I was able to post it so soon with the promise you wouldn’t leave the estates. Don’t make me lose five million, honey.”

I folded my arms. “Don’t call me that.”

He drew upright. “I’m sorry. Sheldon.”

I fixed Beth with a stare and stuck out my chin. “I want to see my friends. Denton Steele. Bryce Scout. And Corrigan Raimler. You got those names in your steel-encased brain?”

“Sheldon!” My father’s voice whipped at me. “You will not be rude to her. I will not tolerate that attitude.”

Then I turned my dead eyes to him. “What are you going to do, Pops? Send me back to jail?” I shrugged. “I’ll get someone else to post my bail then. You’re not the only ‘Daddy’ Warbucks I know.”

“Sheldon. My god.” He grasped my elbow. “Maybe you haven’t grown up—”

“Excuse me? You show up out of nowhere, post my bail, and bring me to some reclusive hiding place you’ve got going on. Then you tell me what I’m allowed to do and not do? Pretty sure I can go back to jail, get bailed out by Denton or Bryce, and I’ll still have a life. This isn’t a life. This isn’t a country where you can dictate my every move.”

I spun on my heel and started to march away, but his words stopped me. “You’re not safe.”

I froze and remembered the paparazzi mob at the police station.

His voice was gentled. “You’re a hit, Sheldon. My little girl got famous, but you’re hated along with that. People think you killed your friend. They think you killed Marcus now. They think you’re behind all of it.”

I whirled around, pale. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “I didn’t kill Grace. And Marcus stalked me. He killed two of my friends.”

Beth cleared her throat; it was dainty. “Uh, well, I talked with the detectives assigned to your case, and they’re pulling all those cases back up. They re-examining everything, Sheldon.”

My chest rose up and down. I had a hard time getting air. “You’re saying they think I killed them? That I killed Leisha and Bailey?”

“You have a history of bullying people.”

“I bully bullies. Never them, never people who can’t protect themselves. That’s despicable.”

My father came forward. His eyes were sad. “You have a history of doing that very thing, Sheldon. You and Corrigan. Both of you were very hurtful to other students in high school. I received a lot of calls from the school’s administration. I just never told you. I paid many of those parents to remain quiet, and they have been, but it’s different now. The rules have changed.”

My chest hurt. Something was pressing down on it.

“All your ghosts are going to come out. Everyone who’s been hurt. Everyone any of you hurt—you, Corrigan, and Bryce included. All three of you ran your school harshly, and you know it, Sheldon.”

“I protected myself.” My voice was a whisper now. Something grabbed my heart and squeezed it. I felt it crumpling as I tried to breathe. “If they tried to hurt me, I hurt them back. That was it. That’s all I did.”

“That wasn’t it and you know it. All three of you are to blame.”

My mouth dropped. Who was he to judge? I snapped it shut. “I’m sorry. Are you my freaking God now? What place of holy hell are you at where you can judge me? You donated your sperm to Mom. Thanks for that. Did you raise me? Did she?” I narrowed my eyes and felt my blood start to boil. “No, I raised myself in spite of you two.”

“Sheldon.” He sighed and rubbed his hands together. They fell down against his suit next. “I’m not here for a family counseling session, though that might be helpful in the future. I’m here to help my daughter and to protect you. The estates are not a prison to you. You were brought here for your protection.”

Beth edged forward. Her eyes glimmered with hope. “I have a room readied for you. You could wash up, if you’d like. I also have a phone for you to use. I guessed you’d wish to converse with your friends, and I sent them each a phone as well. They will be untraceable. There will be no records of the calls.” She frowned. “Though I wasn’t aware you were close with Denton Steele.”

My dad snorted. “He grew up next door. His folks were best friends with Sharon and me.” He shuddered. “That was a big mistake.”

I thrust my hand out. “I want that phone.”

Beth sucked in her breath, and her eyes went wide again.