The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (16 page)

Summer slowly took a seat, hiding her shaking hands in her lap while Chase got up and proceeded to make some toast. He wasn’t sure what to say, how to explain why he left. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to try. Right at that moment, he was more concerned about the well-being of his wife, which he had promised to take care of and already failed.

“Here,” he said, setting the toasted bread with a tad bit of grape jelly on a plate in front of Summer. “Eat.” Without a word, Summer slowly began to eat the piece of bread, feeling it sink like a stone in her stomach. She hadn’t been eating much, and knew she needed to, but she was ready to give up. There was nothing worth living for.

“When was the last time you ate?” Chase asked, watching his wife tear most of her toast into small pieces instead of eating anything. Chase could see Summer’s shoulders hunched inward, holding more weight than they ever should. She seemed to have the entire world upon her shoulders.

“A few days ago, I think,” Clare answered as she entered the kitchen with an empty cup she had used for water. “I haven’t seen her eat much, actually. Nor has she slept well.”

“I can tell,” Chase said. He could see the dark rings under Summer’s eyes more clearly in the light of day than he did last night. He wanted to pull his wife into his arms, taking all the stress away, but knew she’d never allow that. “You both have kept this house in order in my absence,” he said quietly.

“Of course,” Clare said, waving his words off. “It’s not hard.” She desperately wanted to question the man on where he had been, but refrained.

“Thank you all the same,” he said with a smile. “Summer, have you picked a school yet?” Summer shook her head. She was afraid to answer, mostly fearing that the few bites of toast that she did manage to get down would reappear. Just the small movement of her head was bad enough.

“She has it down to two,” Clare answered. “I think she’s waiting for you to look at them and see what you think.”

“I’d be happy to look over your choices, Summer,” Chase said, trying to meet his wife’s eyes that refused to look up from her plate. She swallowed, willing the bile to stay down. He noticed that she turned even paler, and he was confused to why. He squinted his eyes right as she bolted from the table, running to the closest bathroom. It was only a second before Chase followed behind her, as Clare mumbled a ‘not again’ sadly.

Summer barely made it to the bathroom in time, emptying the contents of her stomach once again this week. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead as Chase pulled her long hair back, giving her any comfort he could. He didn’t know what to do to help her. He hated feeling so lost.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Summer leaned back, letting her body lean against Chase’s, all her energy suddenly gone. She truly had hoped that today wouldn’t be so bad to start out with, as most days weren’t.

“How about you go lay down?” Chase asked, already planning on giving his mom a call. She’d be sure to know what was going on. Summer simply nodded, too tired to fight him. She was just tired, more so today than she had any days before. Chase helped her to stand before he flushed the toilet and then picked her up, carrying her to the couch. He laid her down on a pillow that Clare had already gotten and set up for the older girl.

Once Summer was on the couch, staring blankly at the TV that was set on the news, Chase turned to Clare after covering his wife with a blanket.

“How long has she been like this?” he asked.

“A few days. It must be a bug, since I hadn’t felt too well the week before she started not to,” Clare answered. “Zinna came by last week and said she was sick too the week before that.”

“I’ll still have mom come look her over, and you too possibly,” Chase mused.

“Chase, I’m fine,” Clare said, things clicking into place. She kept her look concerned as to not give herself away. “But Summer should be looked at. Not sure what your mom can do to help though.”

“Depending what she has going on, mom can figure something out, unless she needs an IV,” Chase answered. It was a strong possibility that an IV would be the most helpful at the moment.

“She has been drinking a lot,” Clare piped up.

“That’s good,” Chase smiled, seeing his wife’s eyes finally close as sleep claimed her. “Do you know where Summer had her two school choices?”

“Yep!” Clare said happy for the subject change. “I’ll go get them.”

While Clare went upstairs with a bounce in her step, Chase walked to his office, calling his mom to come over to figure out what was wrong with his wife. It was definitely not the way he had planned to spend his first day home, but was glad he was home now instead of days later. He regretted even more how he had been ignoring Summer, fearing he may have done more damage to their already fragile relationship.

Chapter 15

As Summer slept, Chase waited for his mother, and in turn his father, to show up. He paced the house from one side to the other. He ignored the concerned looks from Clare as she sat on the chair with her iPad, not wanting her sister to be out of her sight. If Chase was worried, then Claire, too should be.

Clare had been sick a number of times, and was in no way a healthy child, but she had a good idea on what was going on. It didn’t take much to put two and two together in this instance. But Clare hoped beyond hope that she was wrong, that her ideas were just that – ideas. It wouldn’t do the older girl any good if Clare’s fears were correct. It would very easily kill Summer, because now just wasn’t the time. Summer was in no way mentally able to handle it if she was right.

Summer seemed to be healthier, even with her circumstances of where she had been her entire life. It was amazing that she wasn’t sick more often other than little colds or stomach bugs. She easily chalked this up to be food poisoning, or just a bad case of the flu. She’d been poisoned a time or two on purpose, even.

Chase ran his hand through his hair too many times to count, not sure what to do, what to say. He was worried for his wife. He was sure this was all because of his absence for almost four weeks. He never should have acted like he did after Valerie said those things, but he didn’t know what to do then either. He certainly felt like he deserved to be punished because of it.

Chase knew he had feelings towards his wife that he didn’t expect, and using that for the reason of leaving the house for so long was not a smart idea either.

Chase knew that his entire family already adored both girls and welcomed them with open arms, which was surprising. Zinna was the same way, of course, as she was just . . . Zinna. But Valerie didn’t get a grand acceptance or even hardly a warm welcoming at all at first. She always had an air about her that she was better than anyone else, and it took a while for Chase to tolerate his sister-in-law. He still sometimes didn’t tolerate her after four years.

Chase’s mind ran over all the things he had accomplished while he had been avoiding Summer. In his time away from the house, he had taken care of a few more pressing matters.

~oOo~

Sitting in the most uncomfortable chair in the warehouse, Chase paced circles around the man that was blindfolded. The Prince knew he shouldn’t let his anger control him, but he needed to take care of this
pig
that sat tied in front of him.

But it was a good time as any to get his answers. He had caught the man trying to steal some of the materials that was in a shipment, and Carter had been the one that clued Chase into the fact that there was a spy on their hands. Spy’s were normally killed on the spot, no time given for an explanation. Only a certain few were given time, mostly so the Prince could trail them for days to learn what they were up to exactly.

“What did you plan to do?” Chase nearly barked out. “Did you really think you could get past me?”

“He paid me, man!” the man said, his voice shrill in panic. Once again, he tested the rope around his arms, and found there was no escape. The only thing it was doing was causing more of a burn than any escape route.

“Who?” Chase snarled out.
His voice was filled with anger and disgust, hand at his sides.

“Blackhawk. He . . . he didn’t show his face, but he told me to try to get a few of your shipments away from you,” the man’s voice shook.

“What shipments?” Chase sighed out, knowing already what needed to be done.

"A few guns that had tracking numbers on them,” the hostage answered quickly. “The two that are on the far right hand side of the storage crate.”

Chase knew exactly what guns the man was talking about, as he already knew what would be done with them, and who they were tied to. Jason Meads was attempting to frame Chase Marcel for stolen goods.
Stupid man.
Chase was smarter than that.

“Blackhawk? Who is he?” Chase needed to know who this man was. It wasn’t the first time his name popped up, and it wouldn’t be the last.

“I
don’t know
, man!” he shouted, fed up. Chase couldn’t decide if Blackhawk was on his side or not. The mystery person had popped up a few times when Chase needed a clue on what to do and who to trust. Without a second thought, Chase pulled out his Smith and Wesson model 1911, and shot the man in the head. A quick and painless death, but still messy. He didn’t even give the man time to say his prayers.

“Let Brownstead be found, but nowhere populated,” Chase barked out towards Jerry, who was quick to start the clean-up while Chase went to sort through his shipment now that the issue was taken care of.

~oOo~

Summer slept through Chase’s pacing, and Clare was unsure how. But with the lack of sleep, it shouldn’t have been a surprising fact. Clare had woken up often during the night, finding Summer gone from bed, or wide awake as she stared blankly out the window.

Clare turned her attention back to reading the latest book she found, as Chase paced through the house once again, waiting on edge for his parents to show up. He knew his father was going to have a few words with him about his behavior while his mom looked Summer over, so she could answer whatever needed to be answered without the fear of Chase hovering over her. And Chase would for sure hover over his wife. She was not well, and he had to make sure that she was taken well care of. It was the least he could do.

An hour after the dreaded phone call, Ivan and Kayla pulled up to Chase’s house. It took them longer than he would have liked, but as it was Kayla’s day off. He did feel slightly guilty for interrupting her time, even though she only worked part time.

“Hello, son,” Ivan said, seeing Chase as he opened the front door.

“Thank you for coming, mom,” Chase spoke sheepishly. He was probably worried for nothing, but he knew he would feel better if his mom looked his wife over.

“Of course, dear,” she said, giving him a quick hug and then making her way to the living room, carrying her doctor's bag with her.

“Let’s stay out here, son,” Ivan said, stuffing his hands in his pockets His dark sun glasses covered his eyes, so Chase was unable to see what his thoughts were.

Chase closed the door behind him, taking a stand against the porch railing. He kept his eyes on the door, willing it to open. He didn’t want to talk to his father, but knew he didn’t have a choice.

“What were you thinking?” Ivan asked, keeping his voice calm despite the rise in pitch. Chase knew his father was disappointed in the way he acted. His shoulders were held back, his back stiff.

“I wasn’t,” Chase mumbled out, running a hand roughly over his face. “I’m . . . having feelings for the girl, dad. I don’t want to!” Chase told the truth. He hadn’t meant to fall in love with the enemy’s daughter, knowing that it would cause more issues, more problems, later on. It wasn’t safe to love, and especially not Summer. Just because Chase had known the girl for years before he actually took her didn’t make a difference. Her sweet innocence appealed to him in ways no one else ever had before.

“Chase,” Ivan sighed out, trying to find the right words to not push his son over the edge. “How can you be sure? You haven’t known her that long, son. I know you met her years ago, but that doesn’t have to affect the way you feel now, today. She is a sweet girl, but giving her a chance at life is better than falling in love with the girl.”

“I didn’t mean to, dad! But she needs love, and I . . . . I couldn’t stop it. I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s . . . Summer,” Chase said, not able to get his words right. “So I ran, not wanting to hurt her more. And then what Valerie said didn’t help matters either.” He picked her for more than her blood line. Although, that was only part of his choice. Combining two strong bloodlines would be the best thing to ever happen, but Summer was just so much more than that. She was . . . . Summer Grace.

“Valerie has been dealt with. She isn’t allowed in our house anymore,” Ivan replied, his voice filled with unsaid threats. “Trent told me about her other bank account, and I don’t trust her. I never did. If it wasn’t for the fact that Trent is still married her, I’d shoot her myself.”

The older man had tried to get Trent to not marry that woman, even if her father gave them money for him to do so. It wasn’t worth the risk of their family, to marry a woman that was hell bent on spending money just to spend it, and thinking she could get away without paying a price for her behavior. Valerie had grown up being a spoiled brat, getting her way constantly. It was highly likely that it was because she had no mother, as she had overdosed shortly after the girl was born. But that didn’t excuse the way she had behaved, nor would it.

“I know. And Trent never listened to you,” Chase said, rubbing a hand across his face.

“Do you trust those two girls in there?” Chase shot another look at the door before turning his green eyes to his father. Chase waited, afraid for the answer. He wasn’t sure if he really wanted to know. What would he do if the answer was no?

“Yes,” Ivan answered after a few moments of deep thought. “I have watched them through the years, just because I knew who they were. Your mom begged me many times to take them in, Summer more so than Clare. But I didn’t, in fear of what Jason would do to our family, if he knew my motive. Clare was mostly okay where she was, until she ran off. But Summer,” he swallowed. “That girl has had a hard life. She shouldn’t have survived what she has, and to live to tell the tale of it.

“Some people are born into our way of life with no worries until they get older, and I wasn’t going to risk my family’s life over two girls who should mean nothing to me. They were never part of our blood family, so I chose to stand back. Fate would do what needed to get them to wherever they were meant to be.

“But you, Chase, Jason doesn’t expect that. But I’m sure he knows about it by now. Over a month you have been married now, and yet there are no rumors out about who Summer really is. In the last few years, she has changed a lot. And seeing you with Summer, you have changed. You both have.

“So, yes, Chase. I trust them both. They would not turn their back on you for any reason. They were born into this life with no way of knowing that there is a better life, and you are doing what I was too chicken shit to do,” Ivan answered, staring off in the distance.

“I hope I can give them that life, dad,” Chase said tiredly. “Jason will find out soon enough, if he doesn’t know yet, and he won’t be happy. But I hope to keep both girls safe, and bring him down as soon as I can.”

“Let me know what you need, and when,” Ivan spoke up, knowing that his son had connections that he himself was not privy to. He was proud of who his son had turned out to be, even though he had a different way of doing things than Ivan would have ever thought of doing.

He could no longer just stand back at let those two girls be defeated until there was nothing left to live for. They were now part of the family, and Ivan would do whatever needed to keep them safe.

As the two men stood outside talking, Kayla was quick to get to the living room, setting her bag on the coffee table. Clare put her IPad down on her seat, preferring to take one next to her sister instead. Clare wanted to give her sister any support that she needed. As she sat next to her, she took Summer’s hand into her own.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?” Kayla asked, wanting the younger girl’s view. Chase had been frantic when he called her, and not much rattled her son.

“For the last two weeks or so, she’d been not feeling well. Throwing up sometimes, and not eating much. And her sleep has been affected,” Clare answered worriedly, not removing her eyes form Summer’s form. “But I think it’s from Chase not being here. She’s been . . . . different since the wedding and then with how dinner ended at you house. I could see she was almost depressed.
Is
depressed.”

“That’s understandable. She was drugged and lied to, then forced to marry a man she didn’t know in a matter of hours,” Kayla said calmly. And then Valerie demanding her the way she did couldn't have helped. She certainly expected depression, no matter what her health was like. “There can be a number of things going on to affect her sleep and eating habits.”