The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

That wasn’t today.

For now, Axel would have to be content to just kiss and hold her. It was enough.

They weren’t just there for Harper, to help ground her and bring her protection and safety. She was there for them for this very reason. She gave them peace.

In their world, they were used to the pain, fear, and chaos that was their lives. She gave them the power to be better. So they didn’t have to think about all the women and girls they’d ignored over the years. Just because they were used to working in the trade of human flesh didn’t mean they were happy about it. He knew for a fact Axel was fucked in the head because of it. They all were. They had no choice though. Until they were in charge, they all had to fall in line and learn the business. He knew Axel didn’t want to deal with the trade of human flesh. Neither of them did, and that would be one element they cut loose. Draven was also determined to have some businesses that were legal.

An hour later, he pulled up into a rundown, old-looking diner. Buck and Jett looked hideous. They’d clearly been partying into the early hours of the morning.

Climbing out of the car, he leaned against it and smiled.

“You two look fucking awful,” he said.

“Fuck off, Draven.” Buck spoke first, rubbing at his temples. “Why didn’t you stop me, huh? Why did you have to make me go and party?”

“In case you didn’t know, you’re the one that is always begging for a party, not the other way around. I had to deal with Harper last night,” Draven said.

“How is she?” Jett asked.

He didn’t have his knife in his hand. Draven had noticed more and more that Jett rarely used the knife on himself anymore. It was always part of him, but he didn’t hurt himself with it, and he didn’t seem to constantly rely on it either.

“She’s doing much better.”

“She went so fucking crazy on that chick. I heard she had to have her nose reset or some shit,” Buck said.

“It should keep Ben off her back as well,” Jett said.

They all knew Ben would retaliate one day.

Draven hadn’t watched Ben last night at the fight. His overall focus had been on the woman fighting her first fight. He had no doubt she got lucky. Not all fights ended that well. He’d known Harper was harboring some serious pent-up aggression, but he just didn’t know exactly how much lingered within her.

He got behind the wheel as Buck and Jett stumbled into the car, both of them groaning.

“So, we deal with Ben before he attacks us,” Buck said.

“That’s not thinking right,” Draven said.

“Why not? We’ve got a beef with him, he’s got issue with us. We take care of him now before he goes and hurts someone we care about. We don’t want anything to happen to Harper. I sure as hell know I don’t want nothing to happen to her.”

He glanced back at Buck.

“If it was that simple, we’d not have all the problems we have, Buck.”

“I think you fucks overthink everything. Wake me up when you get your heads out of your asses.”

Buck slumped down, and within a matter of seconds, snores filled the car.

“World fucking record with that one,” Draven said.

“We could kill him.”

“Ben is connected to a politician in town. Something happens to the son, we get the heat. You know how it works. If he was just anyone, I’d say let’s go.”

“The diner,” Jett said. “You were happy to throw him out of a window.”

Draven gripped the steering wheel tighter. He’d been more than happy to do that, but he’d also not been thinking.

Ben shouldn’t have touched Harper, so anything that happened to him, was brought on himself. He wouldn’t apologize for that.

“That’s not my problem.”

“You like Harper a lot. She’s not like a lot of other girls.”

“She’s not. It’s why I know she’ll be a good fit for all of us.”

“I thought you were crazy bringing her into the fold. Still do.”

“You like her?”

“She makes my dick hard, and I also happen to like her. You picked well.”

“But?” Draven asked.

“Where do you see this going?” Jett asked. “I know when we all planned this, we all thought it was the fucking dream.”

“You don’t think it is?”

“Your dad, Axel’s old man, all of us, this life, I don’t know.” Jett rubbed a hand across his face. “I just got a bad feeling is all. Ignore me.”

“I can listen.”

“I don’t think it’s going to work out the way you think it is. You’re Alan Barries’s son. Axel’s a Cook. You don’t get that high up in this world by sharing a woman with your friends. I’m sorry, you don’t. I doubt this will last all that long, and I’m going to be there for the ride, but it’s not going to happen.” Jett leaned back against the door.