The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

Ben’s jaw clenched.

Draven saw it. Ben’s anger was clear. He wasn’t over what happened at the diner. There would come a point when he took revenge. It was only a matter of time.

The ring though, that wasn’t the place to do it.

Ben couldn’t take them on. With his little band of girls behind him, possibly, but not one on one. He was too scared about his precious arms and legs.

“Truce?” Ben asked, holding his hand out.

“No,” Draven said. “No truce. Not going to happen. I’ve got no reason to trust you. Now get the fuck gone.”

He sat down, moving Harper to the seat beside him. With his arm wrapped around her, he didn’t let her go.

Axel, Buck, and Jett each took a seat, all of them ignoring the jocks.

Ben didn’t linger as the insult was clear.

Draven would need to make sure Harper was taken care of.

“What’s the ring?” Harper asked. “It sounds like some kind of cult.”

Buck laughed. “It’s not.”

“It’s a place a bunch of punk-ass kids go and fight it out,” Axel said. “They like to be tough.”

Harper looked at Axel before turning to Draven.

“You guys go, don’t you?”

“Yes, we go,” Jett said. “Draven’s actually one of the best fighters there, and he likes to win big.”

“Win. There’s money involved?”

“My dad likes to put money on the fights,” Draven said.

“Someone catches the entire thing, and he watches it,” Axel said. “It’s like they’re auditioning for the next round of soldiers. It’s pretty tough. Fucking fierce.”

“When does it happen?” she asked.

“Any day now.” Draven took another bite of his pizza. It still tasted nasty.

“Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“You thinking of entering?” Axel asked.

“Wait, you’re going to go without me?”

No one answered.

“Wow, okay, fine. If you want to be that way.” She pulled out of his hold and stormed out of the cafeteria.

“She’s pissed,” Jett said.

“No shit.” Draven got to his feet.

“She’s going to want to go,” Axel said.

“Yeah, and everyone who goes there has to fight.” Draven ran fingers through his hair. This was not how he wanted her to find out. He’d hoped the ring would come and go. He glanced over at Ben, wanting to kill the bastard.

“There are chicks there,” Axel said.

“If she loses it looks bad on all of us,” Draven said, reminding him this was about reputation.

“Yeah, and if she wins, we look fucking hot,” Buck said. “I think she could hold her own.”

“And if she can’t, she’ll be killed. I’m going to follow her.”

He left the cafeteria and went in search of her. After finding her locker abandoned, he found her on the football bleachers. She sat at the top, and he walked up the steps to join her.

“That seat is taken,” she said.

“Right.” He didn’t move. “You’re upset.”

“Yes.”

“The ring has been around a lot longer than you’ve been one of us, Harper. It’s dangerous.”

“When I signed up for this with you, I didn’t agree to only be half there. I’m in, one hundred percent. I mean it, Draven. If you guys fight, I want to be there.”

“You’ve got to fight as well,” he said. “It’s not pretty.”

She took his hand. “I don’t need you to always protect me. There’s no way I’m going to be able to handle that night if you’re gone. I’ll worry. Please, let me go with you. If I have to fight, I’ll fight.”

“It’s not easy.”

“I don’t doubt it for a second.” She laughed. “You guys are always making everything so complicated.”

“It’s what we do. Our lives are all complicated.”

“That is so very true.” She sighed. “I’m all in. Fighting or not.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “Trust me.”

He did trust her.

Everyone else they had to fight; he didn’t.

“So, what’s the verdict?” Axel asked, walking up the bleachers.

“Where’s Buck and Jett?” Draven asked.

“They started a food fight in the cafeteria. They’re on their own.” Axel took a seat in front of them.

“She’s coming with us,” Draven said.

Axel’s gaze landed on Harper. “It’s pretty intense, and I’m not just saying that. There’s a lot of bad shit going down.”

“I know. I know. I get it. It’s going to be hard for me, but I’m not going to let you guys go alone.”

“You’re willing to fight?” Axel looked worried, and Draven was pleased he wasn’t the only one with concerns.

“Yes. I’m either with you guys or I’m not. What is it going to be?” she asked.

“You’re with us,” Axel said. “It’s going to be hot seeing you.”

They heard the bell ring. Climbing off the bleachers, Draven wrapped his arm across Harper’s shoulders, and they walked her to class.

“I’ll see you guys after school.” She kissed his lips and Axel’s cheek.

Draven knew the guys hadn’t been with another chick since he declared Harper as theirs. Where he was getting her at night, they were not getting anything.

Soon, they’d have her, and there would be no backing down.