Status Updates From Strike (Stronger #4)

“She was my bridge to Jaden now, the link connecting our worlds, and I intended to protect that link with my life. Because what we were about to do next was fucking insane.”

I was going to make my final stand. I was going to end this. And God help anyone who stood in my way.

This feeling. This was what he said he wanted for me. And I could tell how much he regretted it.

And I needed to be ready. Because now that the train had left the station, there was no turning back.

Jaden didn’t need me.
Not in the way I wanted her to need me.

“Don’t be stupid, Jaden. Your uterus is not a battlefield.”

I gave him a dark look. “I beg to differ.”

“Why does he want me to love him so badly?”

“Because it’s the only way he may ever be able to trust you to willingly stay with him.”

I couldn’t save her sons, but I could stop them from recreating the cycle.

I shook my head at him, my voice somber with contrite. “You don’t have inner demons, Darren. You are one.”

Team FUCK Darren is UP AND RUNNING

“Hi, baby,” he said softly, and I swore I saw light coming from his eyes, giving me the peace I’d been wanting for so long.

SHUT. THE. FUCK UP

“Careful, little wife, we all know how important purpose is to me. Mocking the pedestal I’ve placed you on is no way to appreciate your position.”

“Well, this is one hell of a tantrum, Jaden. But not as impressive as I was expecting.”

I scoffed. “You expected worse?” I murmured without looking at him. At least he thought I was justified in my destruction.

“I honestly expected you to burn down the hotel.”

After everything I had done, after everything I had given him, given up for him, this was my reward.

When it came to her, all manner of my predictability dissolved in a matter of seconds. It was maddening. And what was worse was that she fucking knew it too.

How the fuck had I let that happen?

“Has being married to me really been so terrible?” he suddenly asked.

“Hard to tell. It’s only been a few days,” I replied with a wink, hoping for a solid recovery.