The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

“She doesn’t give a fuck,” Jett said. “That’s why she didn’t run screaming. Why run when she’s not even afraid?”

“How could she not be afraid? The threat was there. Maybe she’s just fucking weird.”

“Or maybe there’s more to her than meets the eye,” Draven said.

They all turned to look at him.

“You’ve been pretty obsessed with this chick in the past week. Why?” Axel asked, taking a seat.

Sipping at his beer, he thought about Harper. He’d watched her for years. His obsession wasn’t just the past week. His friends didn’t know because he’d never told them. It hadn’t been important then, as in the past Harper didn’t have what it took to suit them, and he would always put his friends before his dick. Only now, as he saw the darkness swirling inside her and the need for someone to notice, did it even mean anything. There was a chance for him to finally have her, and he was going to take it. She’d be a good bond for him and his friends, one who would fit in their group.

“I want her on our team,” he said.

Silence met his request.

He stared at each of his friends in turn and waited for the shit to hit the fan. This was the first time he’d ever wanted another to join their little club. Not that they were a club with actual sponsors or anything.

They all had each other’s backs and took care of one another. When one of them called, the others came running. It was how it was supposed to be for all of them. He knew without a shadow of a doubt he could count on them.

“Are you shitting me right now?” Axel asked.

“That’s not possible,” Buck said.

“You’re talking about pristine little goody Harper. There’s no way she has what it takes to be part of our group. We have to rely on her. She’s got to be willing to have our backs.” Axel shook his head and stepped away from the group. “Look, I get that she’s different from a lot of the other chicks in school. Can’t you just fuck her and get her over with?”

“She needs us,” Draven said.

Axel and Buck snorted.

“I’m in,” Jett said.

He turned toward Jett, who shrugged.

“Why not? She’s interesting. She made my dick hard the way she just stood there, watching us.”

“We don’t know if we can even rely on her,” Axel said. “We’ve got to think about this.”

“I’ve thought about it. I want her. She’s going to be part of us, Axel. Trust me.”

“How? How can you know for sure that this girl won’t just spill to the cops at the first opportunity?”

Draven sat back, smiling. Stonewall was quite a big place. Harper wasn’t going to run to the cops. She knew what to expect. Living with her father, he doubted she’d run to anyone or anything but her room.

“She won’t.”

Axel threw up his hands. “I give up. One of you two talk some sense into him.”

“If you want to take her for a test drive, then that’s what we’ll do. She’s strong,” Draven said. “She hasn’t spilled her guts so far. She hasn’t faltered.”

“She’s not got a dick, Draven,” Buck said.

“Okay, let’s put it in a way that you’ll understand. Harper Miller belongs to me,” Draven said. “She’s mine to do with as I please. I want to play with her, but ultimately, I want to join her with us.”

“You know the rumors that come with us,” Axel said. “You really think she can handle that?”

“I know she can handle a whole lot, Axel. Trust me.”

“I do trust you. I just think you’re making a mistake.”

“I don’t rush anything. You should know that.” He finished his beer. “We’ll start tomorrow. You’ll all follow my lead.”

None of them argued, but he saw Axel really didn’t like where this was going.

Shaking Axel’s hand and slapping his back, Draven didn’t even try to offer him reassurances.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’ve got your back, always. I know you’ve got mine.”

He left Buck and Axel alone, walking with Jett back to his car. He and Axel were the ones that owned the cars. Buck and Jett always came for the ride.

Climbing behind the wheel, he waited for Jett, not surprised as the knife he always held was once again within his grasp. School was the only time he had to put the knife away. The tip of the blade rested against his knee.

“You wanting to shove that in someone anytime soon?” Draven asked.

“I got a feeling it’s going to go into the new stepdad,” Jett said.

“He slapping your mother around?”

“Nope. He keeps giving me the eye as if he wants to fuck my ass.”

“Shit. You want to stay at my place?” Draven stopped the car, willing to have his friend over.

It wasn’t like Jett hadn’t seen his father killing a whore he’d impregnated. There had been a lot of shit his friends had seen over the years.