The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (28 page)

She collapsed in tears and pain onto the floor she had just cleaned. Before she could catch her breath, Jason’s foot connected once more, and blackness took over.

~oOo~

“Not if I can help it,” Chase said with an unspoken threat in his voice. “You are my Princess. I won’t let him hurt a hair on your head.” No one would ever dare to lift a hand to his girl unless they wanted to die.

“You can’t save me Chase,” Summer sighed out, knowing her time was now limited once more. Of course it was. She was just getting comfortable here. She looked up at him, her eyes determined and knowing. “No matter how much you love me; even love can’t save me from that man.” Nothing would save her. Ever.

It was the first time she had admitted that she knew his feelings. Her blue eyes dulled, but it didn’t stop her words. Knowing that her days were, in fact, numbered, Summer knew she didn’t have any other choice.

“Summer,” Chase began, setting his fork down and pushing his plate away. This was not how he wanted this morning’s conversation to go. He wanted Summer to know what was going on, not making her think she was going to die at the hands of her father, or one of his men. Because that was not going to happen.

“It’s okay,” she said with teary eyes. “I’ll be fine.” A big white lie. She wouldn’t be okay.

Before Chase could respond, Summer pushed away from the table and made her way back upstairs to Clare’s room, feeling the need to be away from everyone. What she really wanted to do was go for a walk, but knew she wouldn’t really be alone. A couple of men had gotten close enough to the fence, placing small cameras to spy of Chase and his family.

Summer sat on the floor, her back to the side of the bed that wasn’t seen easily from the door, pulling her knees to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. She rested her forehead against the top of her knees, letting her hope leave as tears soaked through her clothes to her skin.

Chapter 27

Clare was in the living room, biting her nails as the girls waited for Asher to arrive. Summer wasn't sure why this one man made her sister nervous, as she was always fine with the other men that came and went the past few weeks. She had never seen Clare act unsure of herself, even after all that she had been through, and Summer knew her life hadn't been much better than her own had.

Summer was looking forward to seeing him, although her thoughts were still stuck on her last few hours she knew she had. She tried to hide her lost hope, hide her fear. But of course Chase saw right through it. He wisely didn’t comment on it; he’d let her see for herself that everything would be okay in the end.

Chase was the one that came up and told her that Asher would be arriving within minutes. He had helped her to stand, holding his hand out for her before leading her downstairs after she washed her face off, removing any trace of her tears. He had kissed the top of her head in a loving way before answering his ringing cell phone. He didn’t comment on why she was crying, knowing it was something that Summer needed to work through herself.

Summer sat tiredly next to her sister and Chase paced the house while on the phone with yet another one of his men. He was agitated and wanted things to hurry up and finish. He wanted this issue at hand dealt with. Even though he had spent years planning everything, he never wanted it ended more than at this moment. Summer’s peace of mind was at stake and he would do anything to prove to her she was safe.

Chase was upset for his wife, wanting to take her pain and depression away so she could enjoy her incoming freedom. But he really shouldn’t have been so surprised about her reaction. Chase knew she loved him, just by her looks alone. She worried about him, and he couldn’t do much to help reassure her, that he would be fine. They both would be.

He knew without a doubt that they felt strongly towards one another, but Summer was in no way ready to hear his undevoted love. Not yet.

“No!” Chase barked out, causing both girls to slightly jump at his raised voice. The man he was talking to wanted to put more eyes out for Jason and his crew while posting a few more guys, guys that Chase did not trust when it came to the other man.

He shot an apologetic look at the girls, lowering his voice and shutting himself back in the office. The girls looked at each other and shrugged as Clare went back to biting her nails watching the door.

By the time Chase finished taking care of a few more things, and letting Ivan know what was going on, Asher had arrived.

Asher had drove himself, not worried about what could happened to him. He loved the thrill of not knowing when he would take his last breath, and since he had no family, no one he really cared about, he had no reason to.

“Asher,” Chase greeted, opening the door for the boy, happy to see him.

“Hi, daddy!” Asher joked, causing Chase to shake his head and smirk, letting the boy in. “Where’s mommy?”

“
Summer
is in the living room,” Chase answered with a laugh, letting his smile take over. Somehow, Asher always knew how to bring the older man out of his grumpy moods. He would never regret saving the boy.

“Sweet!” Asher said, bringing himself further into the house and whistling in awe as he looked around. “Wow, man. You sure are packin’.”

As Chase led Asher into the living room, he watched his wife, who was trying to force herself to stay put. He knew Summer wanted nothing more than to go back to bed and never wake up, but stayed, even though her mind was not working with her.

“Summer!” Asher said, giving her a wide happy smile. He knew better than to just go up and hug her, and she looked so sad, much sadder than the first time he saw her. Asher turned a questionable look towards the other man, sure that this was his fault. He was never too good with women. “What’s wrong?” He moved to sit on the coffee table, ignoring the other girl for a moment, even as he could tell she was looking at him closely.

“She heard about Jason,” Chase said sadly. “I . . . she wanted to be kept up to date, so I let her know what was going on.”

“Oh, sweets,” Asher said, slowly taking her hands that laid in her lap into his own warm hands. He took note that they were cold, even with her dressed in comfortable warm clothes. At least she had on a pair of light pink fleece socks. “Jason won’t have a chance to get to you or Chase. I’m good at what I do, and so is Carter. Us two alone could stop, and outsmart, that man.”

Summer, blinked. How could this man that was just a year older than her, but acted younger at times, think that? Summer knew that Jason would kill them all in a heartbeat.

“Jason’s isn’t as fast as he once was,” Asher went on, seeing Summer was taking in his words. Her eyes became a little clearer. “He’s gotten sloppy, and his men have to clean up after him more often than not. But his men aren’t the best. They love money, and money talks. So we’ve got this, chica.”

“Okay,” Summer said, letting her shoulders slump. She wondered why Asher’s words got through to her when Chase’s hadn’t. But maybe she needed someone else to tell her that.

Asher, seeing that Summer was more like who he had met before, gave her a soft, brotherly smile before turning towards the other girl.

His eyes widened. He knew this little girl, although she wasn’t all that little as he remembered.

“Clary?” Asher asked in wonder. He’d always remember her . She had been in his house with his parents as a foster kid before they passed away. He never thought he would find her again; she had moved on somewhere else. He knew Clare would have gone to art school if given the chance, and he was sure she was living life filled with art by now

“Hi,” Clare squeaked out, trying to hold herself back. She never thought she’d see the boy she was so close to before everything had happened.

Of course, Chase knew what was going on, and stood back to watch. He was glad that Summer was calmer, and hoped that her emotions and thoughts would now calm. Maybe he could even get her to take another Xanax to help her now.

“You’re all grown up,” Asher said, looking at the girl from head to toe with a pleased look. She was still skinny, but had filled out well in her time with Chase. She had life in her.

“That tends to happen,” Clare smiled, looking at the boy shyly though her eyelashes. After a moment’s hesitation, she flung herself at Asher, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He returned the hug as tears soaked onto his shirt.

“Summer,” Chase whispered, holding out his hand. He would give the two a few moments alone.

Summer slowly took his hand letting her husband help her up. They went to his office, where he sat down on his chair, bringing Summer to sit on his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, she snuggled into his chest, seeking his warmth. She had just realized she was cold, which wasn’t anything abnormal. She let her head rest against his shoulder, calming her further. She breathed in his scent, remembering it. It was something she never wanted to forget.

She wanted to say things, but had no idea how to say them. Asher’s words did help sooth her, but there was still a nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen. Chase and Summer could be torn apart. She wasn’t sure what the next day would bring.

Before Summer could get her nerves under control to tell him how she felt, Asher and Clare entered the office without knocking, Peter following close behind.

“I took a few of his men out,” Peter said easily, sitting in one of the chairs. He spread out, not caring that he was interrupting. He had barged into the house, finding Asher and Clare getting a little too heated with a steamy kiss in the living room. For some reason, the man was protective over Clare, but he would never voice it.

“Good,” Chase said, not letting Summer go as she tried to pull away from him. They needed each other more now than ever, he thought.

“Hawk is still up to something, but can’t find anything on him,” Peter went on. He had found out that the boy refused to take the Meads name, keeping his real father's name. Ethan Hawk was once a great friend to Ivan Marcel, and never had any issues between them.

“We’ll find out in due time,” Asher said with a shrug. That pup didn’t seem to be a threat at the moment.

“Everyone is ready,” Peter drawled. “Every base we have is covered.”

“What about Alex?” Chase voiced, running his hand up and down Summer’s back as his arms kept her still.

“Haven’t heard anything from him,” Asher answered with a shrug.

As the boys talked, Summer let her eyes drift close. In Chase’s arms, she felt safe and protected. No one could get to her there. Somehow, he always made her feel better by just holding her, and maybe if he would have held her sooner, it would have helped then.

~oOo~

Later that night after they ate dinner, Peter made his way home and Asher went to his borrowed apartment area. Clare had walked him out and had yet to return back to the main house, most likely not returning until morning.

Chase wasn’t worried about her, knowing that Asher would use protection if they got too heated. He could see that Clare loved the boy and was happy for both of them. He hoped that with Clare, Asher would not risk his life so much. That boy tended to be reckless more often than not.

Summer went to bed before Chase, once again, but she laid there wide awake. Now that she was alone with her thoughts, she was once more doubting herself. She doubted what everyone kept telling her. Jason could easily kill every single person and was sure he was only playing a mind game to win whatever it was that he was wanting.

Summer laid on her side, staring blankly at the darkness, waiting for her husband to come to bed. It wasn’t long before he did, being quiet as not to wake his sleeping wife. He laid on the bed, being careful to not make the bed move with his body weight.

But he was surprised once he was settled on his back, Summer rolled over and snuggled into his side. Her hand was flung over his chest, and her right leg tucked in between his. Of course, his cock began to come to life as her knee brushed against him. She had never held on to him like this right as he came to bed. Sure, he’d wake up during the night, almost as the sun began to peek over the horizon, to find her in a similar position. But right now, he knew she was awake.

Without having to think about it, Chase wrapped his arm around her back, and used his free hand to rub her arm soothingly.

They didn’t say anything, letting actions speak louder than words. Chase basked in knowing that Summer wanted his attention, his safety. If it was the only thing he could do to show her how much she meant to him, he’d gladly do it for days. It spoke volumes in her trust for him after such a short amount of time with everything she’d been through. Chase knew he wouldn’t have her full complete trust for possibly years, so he’d take what he could get.

Slowly, Summer brushed her lips against the side of his chest, feeling him stiffen momentarily before he relaxed. She kept doing it, letting her lips connect with his skin, knowing that he was okay with her doing so.

After a few moments, Summer pushed herself up so she could reach his lips. He was surprised as her lips pushed against his, soft as a feather. The second time was stronger as she used more pressure. Chase gladly let her lead, eagerly meeting her as his belly did flip flops. Her lips were soft and needy.

Before either of them knew it, they were out of breath, their tongues battling as Summer’s hand slowly made its way to his erect cock. Right as her hand touched his warm soft cock, he froze, pulling away from her swollen lips. His eyes were dark with lust. He’d love to have her take care of his need, but knew right then it was not the time.

He brought her hand back to his chest before using his palm, placing it on her cheek as her wide blue eyes met his. Her eyes were sad with disappointment and clouded with tears.

“I love you, Chase,” she said, trying to move her hand back down. Her voice was soft, filled with truth. She loved this man with her entire heart, body and soul. She wanted to show Chase that she did. She wanted to give herself to him.