In Chains Read Online Free Page A

answer.
    Parking in the driveway I open the boot and begin taking out the shopping bags. “Let me get those for you,” he says as he takes the bags from my hands, and then grabs the remaining bags from the boot. I take my keys but don’t bother to lock the car because we’re on private land in the middle of nowhere, so I’m sure it’ll be safe and no one would want my little old car anyway. The door to the house is unlocked but Kayden waits outside. I open the door and he follows me inside, placing the shopping bags on the kitchen table.
    “Do you want my help to put things away?”
    “No, I’ll be fine,” I say, taking off my jacket. “You’ve been working all day, go back to your caravan and relax for the night.”
    “I don’t mind helping.” He lowers his gaze to the floor. “I get bored just sitting on my own anyway.”
    “Okay, if you don’t mind, I appreciate it. I’m going to have a glass of wine while I unpack. Do you want one?”
    “Err…yeah, thank you.” I pour us both a white wine. He takes the groceries out of the bags and I put everything away where it belongs.
    “Have you eaten, Kayden?”
    “Yeah, I had lunch with you,” he says, a confused look on his face.
    “Have you eaten anything since then?”
    “More food? Err…no,” he says, shaking his head.
    “I’ve got a couple of ready meals. Shepherd’s pie. Do you like that?” I ask as I get them out of the freezer where I’d just put them a couple of minutes ago.
    “I dunno what that is, but I eat anything.”
    I put the shepherd’s pies in the microwave and sit down to look through the paper I picked up from the store. There are only a couple of ads for plumbers and electricians, which are no good for me. “I don’t suppose you know of a good place to look for jobs, do you?” I ask. He’s gazing at me confused again. “I’m trying to get a job so I can give my brother some money for letting me stay here,” I explain.
    “Won’t he look after you?” he asks, frowning.
    “Yes, but I’d like to contribute something.”
    His elbows are resting on the table and he’s chewing his fingernails. I don’t know what work he did for the neighbour but his hands are red and raw. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to. You can rent me out to people, they’ll pay you,” he says. “I have to work during the day but you can rent me out at night. Your brother probably won’t mind.”
    I can feel my face going red. I would never use him like that. I look over at the microwave, willing it to ping. It doesn’t, so I get up and stand in front of it, my eyes glued to the tray spinning round and round. “No, no. I’ll get a job. It’s fine.”
    “I’m sorry. I just wanted to help you.”
    I turn to face him. His head is lowered and he’s picking at loose pieces of skin on his hands. I swallow and force my lips to smile. “It was kind of you Kayden, thank you, but you work hard enough. I’m fine with getting a job.”
    I dish the food up and put it on the table. Telling Kayden to eat whenever he wants to. He’s eating much slower this time, though still faster than me. I guess he must have been really hungry this afternoon. I’m halfway through mine when he finishes. “Thank you Savannah.”
    “You’re welcome.” It was nice to eat with someone rather than eating alone.
    “Have you left your boyfriend for good?”
    “Err…yes. How did you know about that?”
    “I heard you talking to your brother this morning.”
    Standing up he clears the table and starts washing the dishes. Grabbing a tea towel I stand beside him and dry up. “How long has my brother…,” I was going to say ‘owned you’ but I can’t bring myself to say it. “How long have you worked for my brother?”
    “Five years I think,” he hands me a plate. “Since I was twenty-one.”
    “Is he the only person you’ve…lived with?” I ask, as I put the plate in the cupboard.
    “No. I had another owner before him. He had little