The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

“That won’t ever happen. You sleep with everyone.”

“I don’t actually.”

“Please, I’ve heard the girls at school talking. You’re a man-whore.”

He snorted. “I don’t sleep with them. I fuck. It’s completely different.”

“How?”

“I don’t hug them, and my dick is always inside them. Afterward, I kick them out.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

She sighed. “I don’t think I like you.”

“That’s okay. I don’t always like you either.”

She laughed. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For picking me up. For being here. I’d have gone by now.”

He held her even tighter.

“If you ever think of running, I want you to come straight to me, understand? If not then, Axel, Buck, or Jett.”

“That will never happen.”

“Promise me.”

“What do I get in return?” she asked. She sounded so sleepy.

He had nothing to give her. “I’ll be nice to you.”

She chuckled. “I don’t mind you being mean. It’s kind of fun.”

“You’re a weird girl, Harper Miller.”

“Says the guy who was shoving dirt down a guy’s throat not long ago. Night.”

He felt her relax against his body seconds later.

Running his fingers through her hair, he pressed a kiss to her neck. It felt oddly … comforting to have her in his arms.

He’d have to talk to his dad about what had gone down here. He didn’t know what Alan would make of what happened. Last time he checked, Alan didn’t give a shit about Harper or her mother.

Tightening his hold on her, he vowed to protect her.

To not let her go.

To always be there for her, to be strong so she didn’t have to be.

He’d made Axel, Jett, and Buck a vow.

Harper Miller didn’t know it yet, but she now belonged to all of them, mind, heart, and body. She could keep her soul. He didn’t want it.

Chapter Six

The following morning Harper woke alone. She touched the pillow where she was sure Draven had slept the night before. There was a mark where he’d been, so she didn’t feel like she was going crazy.

Pushing the covers off her, she climbed out of bed, quickly got ready for school, and headed downstairs.

Normally, Hannah would greet her, looking all perky with a nice, healthy breakfast that always tasted like dirt to Harper. Their baby would be in the high chair, playing with her toys.

Nothing.

No sign of Hannah or her father, or even the new baby that she’d not seen that much of, and had no intention of ever getting close to.

Not even a note.

She checked each room.

Finally, a little panicked in case they’d left her, she made her way upstairs to their room. Before going to Ian and Hannah’s, she went to the baby’s room. Pushing open the door, she saw the bags were gone, and no sign of the baby.

There was no reason to linger here

At the door, she took a deep breath, remembering how her mother cried when he finally left for good. The bedroom they had once shared, her mother would no longer sleep in because it had too many memories.

Opening the door, Harper stepped inside, and the first thing she noticed was the overwhelming stench of perfume.

Closing the door behind her, she stared at the bed that looked like it hadn’t been slept in. Checking the desks, drawers, and the bed for a note, she found nothing.

Just as she was about to take a seat on the edge of the bed, the doorbell rang. Rushing downstairs, she opened the door without checking to see who it was.

Axel waited for her. This made her pause.

“Oh.”

“Wow, chick, don’t sound so happy to see me.”

“It’s … why are you here?”

“I’m your ride for the day.”

“Where’s Draven?”

“Busy. He’s got a thing to do.”

“A thing?”

“You talk a lot.”

“Don’t have much of a choice. You’re not exactly helping me out here.”

He laughed. “Good one. Come on, school awaits.”

“I can walk.”

“And I can carry you. Come on, sweet cheeks, it’s not that hard.”

“Why are you being nice?”

“I’m always a nice guy.”

“Not to me, you’re not.”

“Okay, fine. I like being a nice guy to you, is that fair?” he asked. “Don’t make this too hard, and don’t overthink everything that is going on right now. It’s not very ladylike or becoming of you.”

She rolled her eyes. Grabbing her bag, she took one last look inside the house and for the first time felt extremely nervous.

With no sign of Ian or Hannah, she didn’t relish the thought of coming home. Closing and locking the door, she noticed Axel kept staring at her face.

“It’s nasty.” He pointed at the bruise. “He must have hit you hard.”

“Does everyone know what happened?”

“No, I’d own it in school though. It will make you seem pretty badass to me.” He whistled, and she rolled her eyes; not going to even try it.

Climbing into his car, she noticed no one else was there. Buck usually rode with Axel.

He climbed into the car and turned on whatever music he was listening to. It sounded like constant noise to her, and then they were on the road with Axel bobbing his head to the beat of the music.