The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (24 page)

Summer was humming to herself, but stopped and stiffened as she heard heavy footsteps in the hall. She knew who it was, and hoped to be invisible like last time, but was not in luck. There were three pairs of footsteps. Dread filled her chest as tears gathered in her eyes.

“Sebastian, please. I don’t have a use for her,” Jason begged darkly with humor lacing his voice. “She’s as worthless as her mother, and will be until she’s eighteen.”

“Why?” a man’s low voice asked in return as the two older men, and a young teenage boy, stopped in the hallway just outside the door. Summer was in perfect sight of them all. There was no where she could go; nowhere to hide. She certainly would have hidden if given the chance.

Summer made sure to stay hidden away a number of times before when Jason invited guests over. Her current favorite place to hide was in the attic behind the boxes that were filled with sweet smelling herbs.

“Doesn’t matter,” Jason mumbled out. “I want her gone. Either take her, or someone else will.”

“Fine,” the one named Sebastian huffed out. He was hiding something, but Summer was unsure of what.

“Girl!” Jason barked. “Get up.”

Summer stood, keeping her head down, hands as her sides. She dropped the forgotten shirt to the floor she had been putting away on her way to standing.

The one named Sebastian marched to the girl, grabbing her arm roughly, but gently at the same, time before he dragged her behind him. Summer was used to such treatment, but looked up anyways, pleading with her father to not do this. Sue, his wife, was out shopping and left Summer here with her boys. She wouldn’t be happy when she returned. That was if she returned.

“Dad,” Jackson’s voice broke through as Summer’s eyes landed on a wide eyed boy with bright green eyes and wild crazy dark hair. His hair was darker than her own. He wasn’t the speaker, but still someone Summer vaguely remembered. He was older, but it was still the same boy she dreamed of once in a while. “Please don’t sell her. I want her myself. You promised me!”

“Jack, not now. She is no use to us,” Jason said. “Plus, I have better plans for her than being stuck with her. She needs to learn the way of life, to be tamed to submit to our ways. I’m sure once you are of age, you can request her to come back to wed you.”

“I’ll teach her right now,” Jackson stated, making his form taller. He may be thirteen, but he not only wanted to protect the girl, but also save her from the hell she’d be in soon enough. His light brown eyes were hard as he looked at the man he refused to call dad more than he had to.

“When the time comes, you can have her, Jack. Not today though,” Jason said, glaring at the boy, promises of punishment her way if he didn’t do as commanded. Summer was a pawn in their game.

The brown eyed boy gave the girl a sad smile, knowing he couldn’t do a thing to help her.

~o0o~

“What about Jackson?” Summer asked as the car sped off towards the closest airport.

“What about him?” Chase asked, not sure what his wife meant.

“What will happen to him?” she asked. She wasn’t sure if he was still the boy that tried to protect her a few times from the wrath of her father. Or even if he still wanted her. He could have been brainwashed to do Jason’s bidding by now.

“I’m not sure yet,” Chase said, giving her a sad look. “I grew up with him, but haven’t seen him in years so that made today easier to pass off as not being someone he would know at a glance. We are only acquaintances, so I don’t know what side he is playing on. I’m keeping tabs on him, closer than before, now that he found us once. If he’s working for Jason, tracking you down, I don’t trust him.” He didn’t trust many people to begin with.

“Okay,” Summer yawned out. She wasn’t sure how to voice her thoughts, so she let it go. Maybe, the boy that kept her safe a time or two, wasn’t as bad as Chase made him out to be. But only time would tell.

“You can sleep once we get to the jet. We are almost there,” Chase whispered out after pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Asher, I may need you sooner, depending on how things line out.”

“Not a problem,” Asher replied, making a sharp turn.

It didn’t take them long to get to the jet at a secret airport. As Chase led Summer to the white jet, Asher got the bags from the back of the car and handed them up to Chase who was waiting. Before Summer knew it, she was buckled, and the plane took off with Chase holding her hand tight. The inside was just as white as the outside, and the leg room was small.

“Later this week when things calm down, I’d like you and Zinna, and even Clare, to have some girl time. No chores. Just talk and have fun,” Chase spoke. “Zinna is a good friend, and you may need her if things don’t go as I hope they do.”

She gave her husband a small worried smile before another yawn took over.

“Rest, honey. It will be a flurry of activity when we land,” Chase said, giving Summer a soft look.

With a nod, Summer let her eyes slip close as the jet leveled out in the sky, letting sleep claim her, calming her worries and fears once more.

Chapter 23

Summer slept soundly on the jet the way back home. It was strange to call a place
home
, as she never knew such a place. But living with Chase was home to her. She felt safe, and could see herself staying there for more than just a few months. Maybe even years, if he let her.

She was finally getting used to the entire idea of living a better life, and after the short trip and seeing a side of Chase that she didn’t know any man to have, she felt content with how things were going. She felt some of the tension leave her body as she accepted that Chase only wanted the best for her and Clare.

The idea of getting to know Zinna, although frightening, was something Summer would do. And not just because Chase asked her to, but because Zinna could understand her better than anyone else could. Summer knew Zinna had been in a bad situation like herself and Clare, and Chase had been the one to save her also. It was time for Summer to figure out how to handle this new life that was given to her.

Summer could see that Chase was sorry for forcing her to marry him, even though he didn’t come right out and say it. His actions spoke louder than his words ever would, nor could. He tried to spoil his wife and he did more than he really needed to. Summer never once asked for a single thing, but yet every time her gaze landed on something just a second longer, he was quick to pick the item up and paying before they left the store they were in.

She did have fun, and if she got to come back, she hoped to be stronger mentally to be able to do whatever Chase wanted. She wouldn’t mind seeing one of the many shows that Las Vegas had. The advertisements that they had passed while out along the sidewalk and in the casinos showed that there was a number of things to watch, and even more places to shop at. There were a few things that Summer would not want to go see, but was looking forward to coming back again.

With the loss of her pregnancy, blood, and overall everything, Summer was worn out. Beyond worn out. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to travel so soon after her attempt at killing herself. It didn’t help that she was on edge after seeing Jackson. He had grown up a lot since she last saw him.

Jackson was Jason Meads’ adopted son and right hand man. Growing up, Summer and Jack got along well, even with the age difference between them. He tried to protect the small girl as best as he could, when he could. Summer grew to like the boy in a friendly manner, but that was as far as it got before she was sold off to the next person. Jackson never seemed to be the type that looked at Summer any differently than with a brotherly look.

She wasn’t sold per say, but given to a man named Sebastian Monroe. Apparently, he had been some big guy who Jason owed a debt to. And what better way to giving an innocent child to the man. Although, from what Summer could recall, she was treated fairly well with Sebastian. He was nice, and never once hit her. And he had given her more food than she had ever had before, apart from Chase.

Seeing the boy she had once held a sort of affection for out of the blue as a grown man scared her. Scared her as much as the thought of Chase not wanting her anymore. Summer didn’t know what do, and she was sure the panic would take her over soon enough, even with the help of the medication in her system.

Summer knew that a breakdown was inevitable, but hoped that she could hold it off until she was alone somewhere without so many eyes. Chase had enough to worry about, and she didn’t want to add to that worry.

She was groggy as the plane landed in a private airport, and quietly followed Chase off. There were a number of men and black cars once Summer stepped out of the plane. The air was much cooler than it had been in Las Vegas. She was glad that her husband insisted that she take his suit jacket to ward off the chill.

Chase led his wife to the waiting car, making sure she was in while one of his men gathered their belongings and thrown them into the back of the black SUV that Carter was sitting in, waiting. The guard nodded his head at her before waiting for commands from his boss.

“Take the back way,” Chase said as he dialed his phone, calling his cousin.

“Did you find anything?” he asked. While Summer drifted in and out of sleep, Chase had texted Trent to sweep his house from top to bottom hours ago.

“Found a few bugs that were taken care of around the fence,” he answered easily. “Already taken them out. And Valerie has been in isolation the entire time.”

Isolation meant that she was somewhere with twenty-four-hour surveillance, no phone or bank access at all. To most people, that would be a vacation, but to Valerie Sate, that meant jail. She was attached to her phone constantly. Same for her bank cards. Luckily for Trent, he had the divorce already pushed through, and nothing was still tied to his now ex-wife.

“She still there?” Chase asked, his voice stern. Somehow, he was able to keep his knee from bouncing.

“Yes. I talked to her guard, and herself,” Trent answered right away. “She will be there until I determine what to do. Maybe I will hand her back to daddy dearest and he can deal with her.”

“He never did like the way she acted,” Chase laughed. “You still at my house?”

“Yep,” Trent said.

Chase hung up before sending a number of texts out to a few of his other men, the only men he truly trusted. Summer sat leaning against him, trying to keep the panic from taking over. She had an arm wrapped around his, whose hand rested on her knee closest to him. His touch helped to ground her, keeping her in the present.

She didn’t know how to handle this. After everything she had been through, and knew her father had eyes and ears everywhere, she didn’t want to let hope build, thinking Chase could keep her safe. But he may never be able to keep her safe. She was just the type that drew trouble wherever she went. Hell wouldn’t even want her, and she didn’t blame the Devil either.

It didn’t take long to reach Chase’s house and Carter ushered them both in through the front door. A few cars were parked haphazardly in the driveway, but Carter was able to get close to the front door, almost being on the porch. Chase made sure to keep a tight hold on his wife’s hand, wanting to keep himself calm, since this was mostly about her. It really did all start with her in a roundabout way. Chase wished he could change the past so she didn’t have to go through all this.

To any outsider, they wouldn’t understand. But Summer was born to be a Princess from the start, and because of the rival mafia boss, she wasn’t seen as such. She was a pawn to be played against everyone and anyone. But Chase would keep her safe, giving her just what was needed to make sure she lived. She would see the end of this war if she’d let him help her.

“Son,” Ivan was the first to speak right as the two stepped into the door. “What is this about?”

“Jason,” was all he needed to say to make the much older man pale slightly. Chase’s voice was cold and laced with unspoken threats.

“Let’s have a seat,” Ivan said tiredly, knowing it was time to get this dealt with. He had put this on the back burner far too long.

“You can stay, or you can go upstairs. It’s up to you, Princess,” Chase whispered in his wife’s ear as the men in the room took seats. Trent, Ivan, Carter and a man with slight graying hair and a thin but built body, whose name was Peter, took seats. Each had the same tired, but thrilled look upon their faces. It was more than time to deal with that dead-beat man.

Summer simply leaned more into Chase, not sure why, but she did. That was all that the Prince needed to know. He led her to the empty arm chair and sat down, pulling her down to sit on his lap. He didn’t want to be apart from her either, so it suited his needs just as well as hers.

“Peter, what did you find out?” Chase asked first, pinning the older man with his green eyes.

“Not much more than you already know,” the man answered in a southern accent, his words almost running over one another. “Valerie is being paid to spy on all of us by a man named Mr. Jason Meads. He’s giving money to someone else to pay her. He didn’t cover his bases well.”

“He always has before,” Summer started, surprised she had spoken out loud. It was proof in itself that she was comfortable here. Too comfortable, she thought.

“No, actually he hasn’t. He isn’t the best at covering his tracks. I can track every single money transaction, every big move. He is very much predictable,” Peter replied, not at all upset that Summer spoke her mind. His light blue eyes held adoration, but also pride as he looked at her. Peter was surprised she spoke up, but knew what she could very well be capable of in due time.

“Which makes his moves easier to know,” Trent spoke up. “We all knew he’d send a spy to track you Summer. We didn’t expect my now ex-wife, nor did we expect to see Hawk, but we knew he’d try something.” And he’d send more.

“Has Hawk hinted anything towards you, Summer?” Ivan asked, cocking his head to the side. Somehow, his hard stern voice wasn’t nearly as strong as it was when he talked to his men. Summer was glad for it, not sure how she would have responded, if she could have, if he was so cold with her, too.

“Not that I know of. Years ago as a child, he stood up for me, saving me from Jason’s wrath, but I know nothing of him now,” Summer whispered, bravely meeting the mob boss’s eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she held his eyes. At least until someone else spoke up.

“From what I can tell, he is trained to take over when the time comes, but I know nothing of him. He hasn’t been in the spotlight much, and everything is clean. Nothing has been forgotten as far as I can see,” Peter went on. “He’s been kept in the dark, I’m sure. So it’s hard to tell what side he really is on..”

“That is what worries me,” Chase mused darkly, playing with the ends of Summer’s hair. “I don’t know what he's up to, so I want tabs on him at all times.”

“What about the man you have there already?” Ivan asked, knowing that the name was not to be given out.

“He’s not able to get into contact with me yet, but he will when the time comes. He’s doing his job, and appears to have no ties to me in any way,” Chase answered. He made sure to not name names, as only he and Ivan knew who it was.

“So what’s the plan then?” Trent asked, cracking his knuckles, a look a thrill on his face.

“First, we will start taking out the shipments and drug holding cells. Hit them hard. Our's and his. You all know I plan to get rid of all that anyway. Next is the holding compounds. Turn the FEDS on them, and no one will know what hit them. I want it taken care of by the end of the week,” Chase demanded. Quick and hard.

“What if Jason acts before then?” Peter asked.

“He’s dead either way,” Chase shrugged, an evil grin to his face. “No one is to kill him; that blood is for me.” He purposely left out that his wife wanted to do about her father. They didn’t need to know about it now, if at all. Summer happened to look at that moment, seeing how deadly her husband was. He would win this, that she was sure of.

“We can bang him up?” Trent asked, his eyes alight with hope.

“I don’t give a fuck. Keep his heart beating long enough for me to have my fun,” Chase answered, not amused by his cousin at the moment.

Trent punched the air in happiness, not caring what was going on around him. Chase shot a dark glare at him, causing Trent to straighten up.

“Peter, take over the shipments. I don’t care what happens with the items. Burn them for all I care. Trent, take out the drugs. Take a few dealers down too if you can,” Chase demanded. “I’ll take down the compounds, and John too.”

“John?” Ivan asked, squinting at his son. That was never the plan. John was a hard man to get past, and took Ivan his entire life to get into that man’s good side. Taking him down was not a wise move on any of their parts.

“He’s the one that runs the sex slave trade,” Chase stated in a no-nonsense tone. “He and Nick ran it. Plus, he is close to Jason, being his brother and all. I want John dead. Jail would be too easy for that man. I want him dead. No questions asked.”

Summer didn’t know they were brothers. But she chose to stay quiet. It didn’t matter, really, in the end anyways.