The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (9 page)

“Okay, sir,” Clare replied with a smile. She really was looking forward to getting back to school, even if it was only online.

“Summer, I have a few colleges that offer great GED courses also, but in my office,” Chase said. “The first one starts next week, and then the others start in December.” Summer nodded, shocked that Chase had done so much for her already. Would he really keep doing so much for her? Did he really believe she was she worth it?

“I also have a gift for you. I wanted to give it to you yesterday,” Chase trailed off.

Awkwardly, he dug out a small package from his pocket, slowly pushing it towards Summer as her eyes widened. There, on the table, sat a small square box wrapped in sparkly silver paper. She wasn’t sure what to do with it. She had never been given a gift that she could remember.

“Open it,” Chase said with another push of the gift towards her before pulling his hand back. His smile was shy, but encouraging. He couldn’t wait to see the look when she’d opened it.

Clare’s eyes were as wide as Summer’s at the idea of such a thing. With a shaky hand, Summer took hold of the gift as it hardly weighed a thing. Slowly, she tore off the paper and saw a black slim box. Opening the lid, her blue eyes shot up to Chase. Inside the box was a silver necklace. It was dainty, and way too much.

A simple silver cross with a vine and two diamonds laid on a plush velvet, waiting to be worn. Summer couldn’t accept such a thing. She had been raised to know that something would be wanted in return, and there was no way she would be able to do so. She refused to be bought with such gifts. If the man wanted her, he already had her. It didn’t matter if it was willing or not. He was her handler, her husband.

She gently sat it on the table, then gently pushed it back towards Chase before putting her hands in her lap, mostly to hide the shaking from view. Chase gave out a huff, stood up and took the box. With practiced ease, he took the necklace from the box, unhooked it, and then walked to Summer, standing behind her.

“A Princess,
my
Princess, will have anything she desires. I
will
spoil you, Summer, so please get used to it,” Chase said before putting the necklace around her neck, hooking it. He ignored her flinch as his fingers touched her skin. Chase gently took her hair and moved it so the necklace hung just below her collarbone. “And the Princess’ Sister will get the same treatment,” he winked, causing Clare to blush and smile.

Oh, Chase would certainly spoil both of them.

She wasn’t a princess. She was just . . . Summer. Her wide shocked eyes met Chase’s before turning to Clare who had a look of happiness on her face.

“He’s good,” Clare laughed before standing to take care of her plate. She didn’t fear him. How could she when he hadn’t touched her, and yet did everything for her and Summer without asking for hardly anything in return?

“By the way, Kayla, my mother, got back the test results for that DNA test, and you two share the same father,” Chase said, wanting the girls to know their lineage. “Jason Meads is another mafia boss, and you should have both been treated as a Princess’s from the day you were born. But that man can’t even take care of his own men, let alone his children that are his by blood.”

It wasn’t common for mafia bosses to have children with anyone other than their wife. Chase wasn’t sure why Jason would go to such lengths for Summer alone, causing her a life of misery. She was technically a bastard child, but she still should have been treated better. Same for Clare. If any man inside the mafia did what Jason had done, they’d be killed, and the child along with the mother would be protected and given everything they would need.

Summer wasn’t sure what to think, as she had known that Jason was her father, but not that she had any real siblings and not sure how she felt about it. He was just another man to her and titles meant nothing. It still didn’t change the fact of who she was. Clare didn’t care that he was her father either. She didn’t even know that man, let alone know his name. Though knowing Summer was her real sister made her smile.

“I’ll clean up,” Clare stated, taking the other two plates and starting to take care of everything. “And Summer, just enjoy the gift. You really do deserve it.” Summer shook her head, trying to deny the fact that she did like the necklace. With her right hand, she reached up, touching the cross, her thoughts of her father forgotten.

“The cross means that there is hope. Hope for a better life, better outcome. I want you to hope for things, Summer. You are my Princess, and soon the world will know it,” Chase said gently. There was no hidden meaning behind his words, nor the gift. Everything he said was true. He expected nothing. Not a thing.

“Now come,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand for his wife. “Let us go talk while Clare cleans up. Then you can do as you wish after that.”

Lightly, Summer laid her left hand in his, letting him help her to stand. Her heart pounded in her chest as such a bold move on her part. His green eyes brightened as a lopsided grin formed on his face. She willingly touched him, and to Chase, that meant more than he’d ever say. There had to be some sort of trust, no matter how small, for Summer to willingly hold his hand.

Her hand felt sweaty in his much bigger one, but she allowed him to lead her through the living room, which she really hadn’t been in much yet, to his office. He left the door opened a crack, giving Summer a piece of mind to keep her emotions under control.

“I am truly sorry about how I acted last night,” Chase began after taking a stance leaning against his desk. Summer sat stiffly on one of chairs, ringing her hands together in her lap. “How much do you remember?”

“Enough,” she whispered out, blushing. The memories she had been trying to suppress assaulted her. Summer closed her eyes, trying to hold her emotions together. She wanted to run and hide, but at the same time remembered how sweet and tender the man before her was. He had been gentle, caring even. Her eyes clouded over with tears, but she fought against them.

“It’s okay, Summer. Let it out,” his voice whispered out in the quiet of the room. Chase knew her emotions were all over the place, which was expected. Being thrown into this life, marrying him, and everything in between was sure to be a shock. Plus, with the drugs she had been forced to take, and the morning after pill, it could all cause a hormonal imbalance for a day or two.

At that, her sobs broke off, a cold sweat replacing them. All of a sudden she was terrified. Summer’s body became stiff as she held her breath to regain her composure. Her heart raced in her chest. Chase was quick to wrap his arms around her, hoping to help hold her together. Summer wrapped her hands in his shirt, not sure if she wanted to pull him closer, or to push him away. His body was warm, soothing in a way to her frazzled nerves.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” Chase said quietly before lifting her and then sitting down on the chair with her in his lap, where she leaned her head against his shoulder, trying to get her sobs under control.

She still had him wrapped around her pinky after all these years, and her tears would always stop him in his tracks. Hopefully, she wouldn’t use that to her advantage once she knew that fact.

Chapter 9

“What do you mean you’re married?” Ivan’s voice rang out as Chase stood in front of his father. He kept his posture tall, not letting his father’s shocked rage bring him down. He knew it would be bad when he told his parents; Chase expected it to be. It wasn't normal for him to make rash choices, but he really took the cake this time.

Ivan let his dark brown hair fall just above his stormy olive eyes, which stared at Chase with a fiery glare. His stance wasn’t any better as he wore a black button up shirt, the top two buttons left undone. Chase was about half an inch taller, but the Don was still more powerful. Always would be, too.

Kayla wasn’t home yet, but would be at any minute as the two of them had a stare off in the kitchen, the Grand Island between them. The space was a good thing for the two. In certain moments, the two were known to throw fists without thinking, hitting what they could. Like father, like son. Two hot headed men in the same room with no buffer. They tended to butt heads more than anything else.

The kitchen was much like the one Chase had, also designed by his mother. The floors were dark hardwood laminate, light cabinets, and a light cream marble countertop. The appliances were the top of the line. Although neither of them cooked, Kayla wanted the best kitchen for her maids and servants to use. And it was used often by the hired help.

A huge island sat with supports to the ceiling, making it look like the room was twice as big, even though it was bigger than Chase’s already.

Kayla and Ivan had five people working for them, sometimes more depending on what was needed at any given time. They were all paid, and even a few lived in the huge eight-bedroom home, living on the third floor. There was someone to do almost every task. Cooking, cleaning, gardening. Even with Kayla working part time, she liked to keep the house clean and full. She tried to help everyone, no matter what. And that is what helped create Chase to be who he is was today. He would stop and help anyone in need. Even if that person was his least favorite person on Earth, well excluding Jason Meads.

“Just that, father,” Chase said, keeping his tone calm. “Trent married us. It was a spur of the moment thing.”

“Spur of the moment? Chase, son, you don’t do spur of the moment
things,
” his father said, giving his son a hard calculating look. His dark green eyes pierced his son as he ran a hand through his short dark brown hair. His voice was hard. Chase knew he was not happy with him. It was that tone he used when Chase had once tried to dodge his hired guards, earning a good grounding on top of it. It was a tone that said to not dare to act defiant against the Don of the family.

He knew his son, inside and out. He was a planner. He took his time to make sure every step of all decisions were laid out. He made sure he taught his son to be prepared for everything. That was why the most feared man in the state felt comfortable handing the business over to his son. That is why he knew his son had this planned for years.

“Yeah,” Chase said with a shrug, playing his lie off. It was definitely not a ‘spur of the moment thing,’ but Ivan, nor anyone else, needed to know that. “I needed a wife, and if it wasn’t for Summer, then you’d for sure set me up with the help of Sebastian.”

Sebastian, although being the right hand man for one of the deadliest men alive, was only a few years older than Chase. His life was filled with killing and watching everything around him. He had no wife, no family of his own as he watched his parents killed before his eyes five years before.

Just because Sebastian and Chase were bound by family ties, didn’t mean they liked one another. They were complete opposites. Half the time, they bickered until someone threatened to shoot one of them to get them to shut up. And even then, they still kept shooting jabs at one another.

“So you just go out and pick up the first girl that was willing?” Ivan asked, trying to hide his anger at the boy. “How can you be sure she’s capable of standing by your side while you do what needs to be done?” The Don knew that being the wife of a mobster was the most difficult status to have. Chase would be gone at all hours day and night. He’d even come home hurt more times than not. Would this girl have the strength to see that? Be there for him?

“No, dad. I saw her and knew she was it for me,” Chase answered truthfully. He knew the moment he saw her picture exactly who she was. He may not have been told her name until he went to pick her up, but it was his Summer, the same one he made a promise to all those years ago. She really hadn’t changed much through the years, unlike himself. She still had the same soft brown hair, fearful blue eyes that had more depth in them than he ever thought possible, and still completely the girl that stole his heart.

Chase had changed a lot since he was child. It took more than he ever wanted to admit, but now, older, he knew he had no choice in the matter back then. But now, he did. And that choice was what brought him here today in a way.

He knew that once Ivan laid eyes on the girl, he’d know why Chase picked her, and what he wanted to do in the long run.. Chase never made it a secret from his parents that he was working on bringing down the Meads through the years. Just no one expected it would be the way he was planning.

Although, Chase knew that everything always didn’t go according to plan, and he was prepared for that. He always had a backup plan. He just really hoped like hell that he didn’t have to do that.

“You can’t just go and do things like this,” Ivan seethed, his anger spiking. “Haven’t I taught you anything, boy?” It was a rhetorical question, as he didn’t expect an answer. His voice was hard, stern.

Continuing, he said, “I have made sure you grew up, knowing your limits, and that of the families. You can’t just go off, doing what you want without thinking of the consequences! What if she’s using you? Or what if she kills you in your sleep? Didn’t you think any of this through? If she ends up not being who she seems to be, or even meant for this life, and you bring danger to her doorstep, I’ll make you deal with it. I’m not dealing with it this time. I won’t be there to clean up your fuck ups!” he slapped his palms on the marble top. The sound echoed around the empty kitchen.

“I’ve gotten you out of tricky situations more than enough times. I’m done trying to keep you on the right track, Chase,” he said, spitting his son’s name. “I won’t stand back and watch a woman, who you can’t even let me have a say over apparently, turn you into someone you aren’t meant to be. I’ll kill her myself if need be, got it?” And he would without a thought.

“Yes, sir,” Chase said, feeling the Don’s power over him. He knew his father wasn’t going to be happy, but the Prince felt that he did what needed to be done.

Ivan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face to help calm himself down. This sort of life had tired him out, and he was more than ready to hand everything over to his only son, he didn’t want the burden on his shoulders either. Ivan knew that Chase would make things better for everyone, as he had many different ties all over the city, and even the state. And possibly more outside of their jurisdiction. Ivan wasn’t for sure just how far they reached, and it was safer to not know who some of his son’s ‘friends’ were.

“You can meet my wife at the family dinner,” Chase spoke after seeing his father calm slightly. “But I hope you will accept she is meant for me. She really is perfect, and better off where she is now than where she had been.” Ivan was just about to ask where this woman had been before Kayla’s voice reached his ears.

“Chase Howard Marcel!” Kayla screeched, entering the kitchen with a hard look at her boy. Disappointment and happiness battled on her face, hands on her hips. She was still in her pale green scrubs, hair pulled back in a messy bun that was beginning to fall from its confinement.

“Hi, mom,” Chase said, ducking his head after turning around and looking up at her with a shy smile though his eye lashes. The same look used to get him out of the dog house when he was a child. He even stuck out his lower lip in a pout, hoping to get out of whatever trouble he no doubt gotten into. Plus, it helped that he was a momma’s boy.

“You’re married?” she repeated, calmer, eyes loving.

“Yes, it appears so,” Ivan replied darkly before Chase could. “To a Summer, who we have not met.”

“Oh, that poor girl. I met her just the other day,” Kayla said, her posture relaxing. “I approve of her. She’s a sweet girl. Much better than those hooligans that want him.”

“Kayla!” Ivan said, shocked. He knew his wife was more of a free spirit, letting her thoughts control her actions inside of the home. But how did she get to meet this girl before he did? Didn’t Ivan get a say in who would be best for his son? He was
the
Don, for goodness sake!

“Oh hush Ivan, she is more than perfect for Chase. Believe me,” Kayla said sweetly, giving him a look that said to not fight about it. “She will be everything he needs to keep him grounded when things get tough. Plus, you’ve hardly been home this past week, Ivan.” Even though he was the Don, Ivan knew it was pointless to argue with his wife.

Kayla went to Chase, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. He had to bend down, but returned the hug all the same. “He won’t be happy when he sees her, but it’ll all work out,” she whispered in his ear.

“Thanks, mom,” Chase replied. Pulling back, he met his father’s eyes. “She is lovely. And has a sister who moved in with me also.”

“Chase, I know you want to help everyone like your mother, but are you sure about all this?” Ivan asked, not sure what his son was thinking. He folded his hands across his chest, leaning against the counter now. "Taking a wife without letting anyone know, is one thing, and then taking in her sister in too?" How could his son be so reckless? What the heck had he been thinking? And surely not with the correct head, either.

“Absolutely,” Chase said matter of fact. “They are stronger together than apart, even with being apart for most of their lives. I can’t tear them apart now.”

They really were better together. Both Summer and Clare worked together, getting things done better than anyone else Chase had hired. Of course, it was now only two days after the wedding and Summer was back to her normal self, for the most part. Chase had caught her humming a few times off and on, and made sure to not comment about it. He rather enjoyed her humming. And he wondered if she could sing.

He did compliment her any time he could, hoping that someday she would believe that Chase liked her in all ways. From the way she cleaned without being asked, to how she dressed simply, even the way she blushed when he would catch her staring at him. Summer was like a breath of fresh air.

She stayed quiet, refusing to speak unless he asked a direct question that required more than a simple nod of her head. Her voice was always quiet, but soft. He had not touched her other than a few simple hugs, showing her that he was a gentleman. He wanted to ease her into his life, knowing that there would be times that she would need to be seen with him in public, and at their home.

Chase also planned to keep her safe, ensuring her that he would do his best to make sure she’d never have to witness him in action again like what he did to James. No woman should need to do that, least of all the Princess. He was more than capable of keeping her safe.

Clare had taken well to living at his house. She was growing out of her shyness, often asking Chase questions about anything she could think of. Both girls still jumped if a door slammed, or if Chase raised his voice while on the phone, but that was understandable. It had only been a few days.

Chase had figured he should let his parents know he would be bringing two extra guests with him the next day for their family get together. More for the fact that they wouldn’t embarrass Summer, or cause too much of a scene. It was well known that Ivan didn’t hold his tongue with newcomers into the family. He liked to test them any way he could.

“Alright, son, I guess I have to accept that you know what you are doing,” Ivan spoke after much thought. He could see that this mean more than almost anything else to his son, so he’d give him the benefit of doubt. For now.

“How about we make tomorrow’s dinner a little more special, then?” Kayla stated more than asked.

“I’d prefer not to,” Chase said. “Summer isn’t a fan of large get together's or attention. Clare wouldn’t care, I’m sure. But they both have had a tough life and I wouldn’t want them overwhelmed. Maybe in a few months once they adjust.”