The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

“So my little guest here knows it’s you turn in a circle.”

The guy did.

“Good, I want you to kill all of them,” Alan said.

She watched as he raised the gun. Draven and the guys didn’t even see them, didn’t even know danger was right there.

The man raised his gun, and she watched as it went off. The bullets were lightning quick as he fired into the crowd.

Draven ducked, and she hoped the others did as well. Did any bullets touch them? What the hell happened?

“No! Stop!” She screamed, and the screen went blank. Panic rushed through her as did tears.

“Wait,” Alan said.

“I’ll do it. I’ll go. I’ll do anything, just please don’t hurt them.”

Alan smiled. “Keep them in your sight. Don’t let them leave.”

He hung up his cell phone, and she watched as he grabbed an envelope from across the desk.

“My guy here, Laser, will take you to the bus stop. He’ll make sure you leave.”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, tears in her eyes. “I love your son.”

“Aw, that is sweet. The thing is, I’ve got plans, lots of good plans, for Draven, and you are standing in my way of accomplishing them. I’m being nice, Harper. You’re a distraction I can’t afford. Not only am I letting you live, I’m not going to keep you here.” He reached out stroking a finger down her breast. She pulled away. He laughed. “Well, I’d be careful who you go showing your pussy to. You come back here, and your life is mine.”

“There’s nothing else you can do to me.”

“Oh, yes, I can. I can use you day and night. I’ve got a huge appetite, and seeing as you’re fresh pussy and ass, I could work you until you bleed. I’m not squeamish. I’d love to fuck you raw.”

She stumbled back, and Alan laughed.

“I’ll be keeping this.” He held up her cell phone as if it was some kind of trophy. “Harper, if you think for a single fucking second this is over, think again. I’m going to need some … leverage. If you don’t do exactly as I say, I’ll make sure Draven says his goodbyes.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Alan smirked as he stepped up to her. “Let’s just say I’ve got evidence of you running off with my enemy. With Draven’s enemy. He’s never going to want to see you again, and if you want him to live, whenever I need you to do little jobs for me, no matter where you go or what you do, you will do them. If not, I’ll make sure to torture every single one of them. Contact Draven, and I will find out. Anything you do, everything you do, is mine and mine alone. Now, get out of my fucking house. Go.”

As she turned on her heel, Laser was there, leading her back out in the van. She couldn’t believe what she was doing to Draven.

Tears filled her eyes as Laser pulled out of the driveway. The money in her hand made her feel sick to her stomach. This couldn’t be happening.

She couldn’t think of a single thing to do to stop it. Calling Draven wasn’t an option, not anymore, and the manic look in Alan’s eyes, she didn’t have a doubt that he would go through with his threat. He would kill Draven.

Just the thought of never seeing him again, of going through this life alone, filled her with regret, with anger, with rage.

One day, she’d find a way to get back to Draven. She only hoped when that time came, he would forgive her.

****

“I told you she was not worth it,” Alan said.

Draven stared into the fire. Buck had gotten hit today by a madman in the mall. Harper was nowhere to be found, and Ian had said she hadn’t returned home.

He stared at his father and knew something had happened, but she’d not contacted him.

She’d not come to him like he asked.

He’d begged her not to run away.

She’d come here and begged his father to give her some money. She’d said she would even go to the cops with information she had about Ben, about everything.

Running a hand down his face, he couldn’t believe he’d been so wrong about her.

“You’re sure this was her?” Draven asked. The photograph still in his hand confirmed his worst fears.

“I’m sure.”

“How can I believe you?”

“You can’t. You can try and find her, son. I’ll help you locate her. She was the one that told me she’d made a huge mistake being with you. That she couldn’t handle being here, being known as your whore. The whispers, the rumors, all of it, she was done. She had enough. But she knew she couldn’t convince you, and when one of my enemies found out about her, found out how weak she was, they used her to exploit you. It’s how they knew you were at the mall today.”