The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

They’d passed the diner on the way to shop, and she’d gotten the idea to apply for the job just so she could save her own money and not have to rely on her father anymore. Hannah seemed more than content to have all the men admiring her, and now was Harper’s opportunity to get away.

Entering the diner, she went to the only waitress there and told her she wanted to apply. Ten minutes later, she had the job, and would be starting tomorrow night. The uniform was within her grasp, and feeling rather smug she turned back toward the salad bar only to stop.

Hannah was still there. The only problem she had with her new job was she had to make sure Hannah didn’t pick her up after school.

A lie would keep her away.

She’d never lied. Her life was full of a bunch of firsts. Seeing Hannah now didn’t make her pause though.

Draven, Axel, Buck, and Jett were sitting at their table, and Hannah was lapping up the attention.

Why were they there?

She wanted to turn on her heel and leave. Only Draven saw her. The question in his eyes was clear. The mocking look grated on her last nerves. She didn’t run away, not from the challenge.

Stepping back up to the table, she stared at Draven, who sat in her seat.

“You’re in my seat,” she said.

“Harper, that’s not nice,” Hannah said.

She refused to look toward her, instead glaring down at Draven.

He leaned back, legs spread out, looking like he owned the place. He probably did own the place, and it pissed her off. No one would force this guy to go on a diet, or make him do what he didn’t want to do.

“Be nice to me, Harper.”

She heard the rest of the guys snickering. Between her mother, her locker, having her jacket stolen, living with her dad, she’d had enough.

Grabbing what was left of her Coke, she picked it up and tossed it in his face. “Screw you.”

“Harper!” Hannah cried out her name, but she was already leaving.

The clothes she’d purchased were on the floor, probably covered in Coke, at least she hoped so, and if she had any luck, were completely ruined.

Rushing out of the mall, she didn’t care that it was a three-hour walk back home.

She wanted to walk. Once outside, it had started to rain, and she lifted the hood of her jacket over her head.

She’d just thrown Coke in Draven’s face. Covering her own with her hands, she groaned.

A drink in the face, to many, didn’t seem like much, but to her, it was a rebellion she hadn’t anticipated.

It felt good to just throw it at him. As she did, she’d pictured her father’s face. The cops who came to her house. Every single person who pissed her off until finally, she settled on Draven.

Good girls wouldn’t do that.

Good girls wouldn’t make waves.

Good girls didn’t have to hold their dead mothers in their arms, or deal with their father screwing a woman too young for him.

She heard the car as it pulled up next to her on the side of the road.

Glancing at the car, she cringed. It wasn’t Hannah’s. Chancing a look inside the car, she saw it was Draven, alone.

He didn’t have his buddies with him, and that made her stop.

The window went down, and she stepped back. “Get in the fucking car,” he said.

“Screw you.”

“I’m sure a little virgin like yourself wouldn’t even be able to handle me.”

“Leave me alone. Don’t you get it? I don’t want to get in your car, or even register that I exist to you.”

“Ah, but you do, and you have your mother to thank for that.”

“Hannah’s not my mother.”

“I know what Hannah is. I’m talking about your actual mother. You know, the dead one.”

She started walking.

Behind her, she heard the car brake, the car door open, and then she gasped as he lifted her with ease. She wasn’t a light person, by any means.

“Put me down.”

He had her over his shoulder, and she slapped his ass. He didn’t put her down until he threw her in his passenger seat. How he managed to do that without hitting her head, she didn’t know, but it pissed her off.

With a slam of the door, she was closed inside. She tried the handle, and lo and behold, it was locked. Slamming her hands against the window, she tried to escape.

It was no good. She was trapped, locked within the car.

Alone.

“Let me out.”

Draven climbed behind the wheel, and seeing him look so calm and relaxed, she wanted to hit him. In fact, she raised her hand to do so.

“You hit me, I’ll fucking hit you back.” He glared at her.

The rain was dripping down his face, just as it was hers. Her hood had fallen, and she hated him, so fucking much.