The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (11 page)

Her insides twisted at the idea of having more than a friendly relationship with Chase, but there was no way she would be able to be tied up while having sex. The entire idea was appalling. She’d been there before, but wisely didn’t comment on either fact.

“I won’t do that to you,” Chase whispered, reading her emotions way too well. “Unless you ask for it, and even then, I don’t think I could.” Summer let out a breath. So far, Chase had kept to his word. And hopefully he would continue to do so.

“Now,” Chase said, meeting Trent’s eyes. “What exactly is the issue?”

“Jason. At least five of his guys are parked around close by, and he was even here for a few minutes talking to one of them across the street,” Trent answered. “I didn’t get the words they exchanged on camera, but I did get some feed.”

He then led Chase, and in turn Summer since he still had a hold of her hand, behind the counter. Without words, Valerie brought up the camera feed. Chase saw Jason, knowing exactly who he was easily. He was unmistakable. Light brown hair with a few gray hairs randomly throughout, tanned skin like he spent his entire life outside, when in fact he was never out in the sunlight. He did have a few more wrinkles that Summer couldn’t recall, but that came with age, she assumed.

Summer’s eyes widened at seeing her father. Just because her father wasn’t in the same room physically as she was now didn’t stop the cold fear that ran down her spine. She could still feel his hands on her as he hit and punched her as a child, even choking her at one point. She could still hear his threats clear as day even after all this time.

Of course, Chase noticed, and brought Summer to his lap, letting her sit there as her eyes were glued to the monitor.

“I’m not sure what he’s up to,” Trent said, running a hand through his hair. “But I want them gone.”

“I know, Trent,” Chase sighed, picking up the desk phone to make a call. He knew numbers by memory, dialing a few of his guys.

“Carter, have Jerry and Bobby take out the cars down the street, leave the two that are directly across from us, but bring the cats in,” Chase said before hanging up. His voice was cold, detached. He knew that his men would do what was told of them without questions. If they didn’t, Chase would easily kill them and hire new men.

Within minutes, Trent had the video feed emailed to a number of people, as Carter had two people he pushed into the building by gun point. The two men had their hands zip tied behind their backs with a look of fear and acceptance on their faces.

Trent, Valerie, and Chase were used to the image, but Summer froze, trying to not let any sound out. She hated guns, as she had been threatened with one enough times to know that in the wrong hands, she could easily be dead. Her father was one of those men that threatened to end her life. And he had threatened it enough. But yet, she had lived somehow. But God, sometimes she wished she hadn’t.

Carter was a few inches shorter than Trent, but just as well built. He wore all black clothes that were more like business attire, but made to move easily. His footsteps were light compared to his bulky gruff look. Black hair, deep knowing eyes, and clean shaven. Unlike Chase and Trent, his skin was naturally tanned. Chase and Trent had lighter skin, but also they were born in the U.S. and not half Jamaican as Carter was.

“In the back,” Trent said with a nod in that direction, before closing the door and locking it, flipping the open sign to ‘closed'. He needed to make sure no one would stop by that wasn’t welcome at a time like this. It hadn’t happened yet, and the Marcel men didn’t need it to now.

Chase stood, setting Summer on her feet before whispering in her ear, “Follow Valerie. She’ll take you to a hidden safe room that was created for something like this. One of us will come to get you when it’s clear.” He just hoped that Valerie would behave herself. Chase wouldn’t put anything past the bratty woman, even if his life depended on her alone.

Summer nodded on auto pilot. She had no idea what would happen. She was torn from wanting to flee, to doing what was asked of her. She’d much rather just flee.

In the end, when Valerie stood, Summer followed behind her into a secret door, which locked automatically behind them. The door was placed behind a bookshelf filled with books about automobile repair. The room had a small bed, a TV, a small desk, and a snack/drink machine. A door which lead to a restroom stood open to the side. It was simple, but safe. No windows and seemed to be sound proof. And most likely fire proof too.

“We will be safe here. No one can get in that is not allowed,” Valerie said, taking a seat on the bed and turning the TV on. “Chase likes to have safe rooms in cases like this. I have only seen him deal with business a time or two, and I’ve known him for years. The same for Trent. I do my best to stay out the way.” Her voice was cold as she talked about the happenings, almost like she wished she didn’t have to know about it.

Summer could understand that. It was better to stay out of the limelight than see things. She had seen more than enough already, and knew there was no turning back from this life. A crappy life, but a life all the same.

She tentatively took a seat on the floor in one of the corners behind the door, not trusting the other girl even if her life depended on it. She pulled her knees up to her chest as Valerie gave out a huff. Valerie wondered why Chase chose this girl out of all the ones that had thrown themselves at that man. She would even have married the Prince, but was taken with Trent and he met her needs better than anyone had before. Plus, her father set up the entire thing, and she didn’t dare go against him.

Arranged marriages were still common among both of their families. Normally, the men had more choice over the matter than any female got, and Valerie hated it. She hated being married, hated having the way she was expected to be a mother and be perfect. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she played the part that she was taught to do.

“I can’t believe he married you,” Valerie mumbled out, knowing that Summer wouldn’t reply back to her. She could play nice in front of others, but Valerie wasn’t going to drop everything like Chase wanted. Valerie was jealous. The more that had been told to her just the day before rang louder and louder as the seconds passed by. Maybe she would take that man whom she had spoken with up on his offer after-all.

Summer really couldn’t believe Chase married her either. She was no one, but yet, he wanted her and only her. He kept saying she was his Princess, and she really didn’t understand why. She wasn’t anyone special or outstanding in any way.

As the two girls were settled into the safe room, Carter forced the two men dressed in regular street clothes, hands behind their backs, to the back room that contained a few chairs, and nothing else. The lone light was bright towards the middle of the room and darkened out to the walls and corners.

“Sit,” Carter said darkly in his slight Jamaican accent, pointing his free hand to the chairs, his gun still raised at them. They obeyed, fearing for their lives.

Carter was born in Jamaica, and lived there for a few years. His mother was Irish, so his skin wasn’t nearly as dark as most of his heritage. But because of his mother, his temper was strong and no one ever dared to get past him.

Chase and Trent stood in the shadows of the room, watching as the two unnamed men took a seat. They didn’t fear of being shot, knowing that Carter had already checked them for guns, or any other sort of weapon and taking them before bringing them in here.

“Clean,” Carter said before exiting the room and closing the door behind him. He took a stance in front the door, ready to step in with one command.

“Look at what we caught,” Trent said, taking a step out of the dark corner. He took a thrilled breath as they both jumped, not knowing he had been there. It was his favorite part of his job; scaring the shit out people. “Who are you?”

“No . . . no one,” the skinnier of the two answered in a shaky voice. He was black, and a little on the lean side so not the usual type of lookout man that Meads would hire. His eyes were bloodshot, and that little detail said he was doing this for drugs. There was a small cut above his eye, showing that he had fought against Carter, and not well as he sat here in the chair now.

The other man was more beat up, and pale. He had long black hair. He looked more like a geek than anything else.

“Well, that seems to be a name I don’t know. You see, I don’t let just anyone in my place of business. Families come here, and it is my duty to make sure that those families are not harmed. So now, I will give you one more chance. Who. Are. You?” Trent asked in a deadly voice. He even looked at his own hands, making it seem like he was harmless. At least until he said the last three words, looking both of the men dead in the eye.

He may be a happy go with the flow kind of guy, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be tough when needed. He loved to have control, and took pleasure in letting men fear him.

“Taylor, and that’s Tommy,” the black man said, trying to not look at Trent.

“What do you two want with me?” Trent asked, circling the two sitting in the chair. He wasn’t in the mood for games today. Not when there were two women in his building, one of which probably scared to death.

“We were told to sit there and watch. Take a few pictures,” the one named Tommy said.

“Who hired you?” Chase asked, stepping out of the shadows. His green eyes were dark, his arms folded over his chest so his side gun was seen easily in the dull light.

“We don’t know, man!” Taylor said hurriedly, knowing exactly who this man was. “We just needed money and took the first job that was offered to us.”

“That’s not the answer I was looking for,” Chase sighed, shaking his head. That was the sign for Trent to pull on Tommy’s hair, forcing his head back up towards the ceiling.

“Okay, man. It was someone by the name of Blackhawk,” Taylor shouted.

That son of a bitch!
Chase thought, but kept his face hard. He knew exactly who that was. Well, sorta. Truthfully, Chase had never seen the man face to face. He wasn’t sure if Blackhawk was on his side, or against him.

“What pictures did you take?” Chase asked instead, shooting a fierce glare at the two.

“You. And that woman you were with. She‘s a pretty thing,” Tommy answered, even though he was in no position to say such a thing. He even licked his dry lips at the thought of her. “But the pictures were to be destroyed. He told us to make sure no one saw them. It was all a rouse for Jason to think he had one up on you.” Then why even take them? Stupid idiots!

“She’s my wife,” Chase snarled, as he backhanded the pig for his disrespect. If it wasn’t for the fact that this place of business was violence free, Chase wouldn’t have stopped from shooting either men.

But that meant that Blackhawk was trying to warn the Marcel men of something. Now, that was a smart man, whoever the fuck he was.

“Tie them up. I’ll let the pigs have these two. They aren’t worth my time.” With that, Chase turned and left the room, Trent’s happy laughter following him. He nodded to Carter, who already knew what to do. The cops would be here in minutes. He wanted to shoot them both, but was just able to contain the pull to do just that. He’d go home later and take his fury out on his punching bag. That would hopefully do the trick.

Chase made his way to get Summer and get out of dodge before the cops showed up. He didn’t want to deal with them again. He had too many accounts that he had to answer questions for.

Entering the key code to the sound proof room, he then opened the door. Valerie instantly stood, hands behind her back. She was told to be ready for any demand given to her by her husband and she didn’t want to work here longer than she already had to. Chase didn’t spare her a glance, instead, walking to a frightened and tearful Summer after seeing her in the corner. His hard look melted away and was replaced by a look of calm.

“Come, Summer,” Chase spoke gently, helping her to stand. For now, he ignored her tears. He’d find out what was upsetting her later. Now wasn’t the time.

Once they were both in the car, after helping his wife inside, Chase took off, tires spinning in the dirt. He was seconds away from having to deal with the pigs. A text came in as he turned at the stop light.