The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

She released a breath. “I have really brought this on myself, haven’t I?”

“It’s not going to be that hard. So long as you want it, you’ll get it,” Buck said.

“How did you all come together? Is that top secret, or can this loser girl find out?” she asked.

Draven was the one to take the lead, telling her how they all met. How they were all born within the same month, and how their families brought them together. Their life was bound together for eternity. Their lives and those of their children would be forever born into a world of death and blood.

“And how did you come about sharing? I mean, am I going to be the first woman of four?”

“No,” Buck said.

“We’ve seen our families torn apart because of a woman. No offense,” Jett said.

“None taken.”

“When it comes to a woman, look at your parents. Your dad screwed up big time, and we realized that we didn’t want that. We didn’t want to have to fight to get what we wanted, so we agreed to share. One woman for us all.” Jett finished the explanation.

“And you all decided on me.”

“It was a hard decision, but you came out on top,” Axel said.

“You’ve all shared before?” She licked her fingers but didn’t reach for another slice of pizza.

“Yes,” Draven said.

“And you enjoy it?”

He saw her curiosity.

“Are you wanting to take a test drive?” Axel asked, grabbing his junk.

She shook her head and sighed. “One day, maybe.” She turned toward Draven.

He thought about last night, feeling her pussy on his fingers as he worked her to orgasm. She’d been more than ready last night.

“It’s time to call it a night. I’ll take Harper home,” Draven said. “I’ll be back to pick up my car later.”

Getting to their feet, Jett, Buck, and Axel each hugged Harper.

“It’s good to have you on the team.”

She nodded, not saying anything.

Following her outside, he took her hand, and they walked out of Axel’s gate. He made sure to take her the long route.

“You’re not driving me today.”

“You just agreed to belong to four men and to allow us to share you. I think it warrants a walk. You can clear your head. Talk to me.”

“Talk to you. You’ll go back and tell the others though, right? Harper’s having second thoughts.”

“Are you?”

“Not about being part of, you know, this. I want this. I want to belong, and I’m tired of being alone. I’ve enjoyed being around you guys, and after everything I’ve been through so far, you guys are the only ones that understand.”

He tugged her close, stopping her, and pushing her against a lamppost. He tilted her head back, staring into her eyes.

“You don’t have to hide from me. We get that you’ve been through a lot.”

“You’ve been through so much.” She placed a hand on his chest. “Your fathers are some kind of mafia bosses?”

He laughed. “In a way. We’re not Italian or Russian, but we’re a family, a group. Axel and I are the oldest sons, so we’ve been forced to learn the ropes.”

“What about Jett and Buck?”

“Soldiers. They’re trained to take a bullet.”

“And my dad helps get you off the hook?”

He nodded.

“And if you didn’t do this?” she asked.

“It doesn’t mean it would stop. Drugs, guns, sex, and death all sell, Harper. Someone has to do it.”

“All of you have decided to do it?”

“Yes. It’s the way we’ve been born to do it. We’re together, we’re a team. It’s what we do.” He tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “I understand if it’s too much.”

“It’s not just that. I just feel a little overwhelmed. I know I should be afraid. The last thing I should do is join, to be with you guys, but I don’t want to run away.”

He took her hand. “Good. It’s not going to be easy.”

“Did you kill that guy that hurt me?” she asked.

Draven stopped and watched her. “Yes.”

“Good.”

He smiled. “See, you’re getting all bloodthirsty already.”

They started walking back to her home. The street was so silent. Draven was used to the silence. Inside each house would tell a different story. His own home told a big story, a story of death, of chaos, and of pain.

He turned to look at Harper. They were both so young. She could go away to college, to get out of Stonewall, to be as far away from them as humanly possible.

She’d be safe. His father wouldn’t hurt her. She didn’t know enough and could walk away. His father didn’t want the risk of having her close to them. But Draven didn’t believe for a second she’d walk away.

The thought of letting her go filled him with such pain.

All of his life, he’d gone without. He’d watched her from afar. Loving the girl he’d seen with her mother. She was the one who would push her daughter on the swing, even though it was too high. Who was always there to pick her daughter up from school, and took her out for ice cream. Who held her daughter whenever she cried.