The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1) (7 page)

Chase didn’t know what to say, or even if she was really listening to him, so he stayed quiet, tending to his wife. He braided her hair, not very well but well enough for the time being, before taking her now warm hand in his, leading her to his room.

“Lay down,” he gently commanded once he was back in front of the bed on the side she had slept on. She lay down, her sad eyes on the ceiling as Chase sat on the edge of the bed. He didn’t know what to do for her. Summer wasn’t sure what Chase wanted so she waited, for either him to talk or just have his way with her.

“How about you sleep off the rest of the drugs that are in your system, Summer,” Chase said, more of a demand than hinting. “I will not force you to be a sex slave in this house. I will not require you to do that again, but you will be sleeping in this bed.” With a tender kiss to her head, he pulled the covers up over her, and left the room. He didn’t think she’d want him to hold her. “If not for the drugs this wouldn't have happened this soon. I will not touch you where you don’t want me to. Ever.”

He walked away, a heavy feeling upon his shoulders. He pulled the dark wood door closed too, leaving it opened a crack. He felt horrible, worried, and something else he wasn’t willing to admit yet.

Once Chase’s footsteps faded away, Summer turned on her side, letting her tears leak into the pillow, hoping that sleep would soon come. Her legs were pulled as close as possible to her body, hoping to get some sort of comfort from herself.

Chapter 7

Clare had cleaned the bathroom with Chase’s help, with little words between them after he tucked Summer into his bed. He had then headed downstairs. He had seemed off to Clare. Even with not knowing him long, she could tell that something was bothering him.

Once Chase had sat heavily in his office chair, he put his head in his hands. He was filled with regret, even though he knew he wasn’t the only one to be held accountable for their actions. By the time he knew his wine was spiked, it was too late to do anything. That was the worst part, knowing that he didn’t have control over his actions. At least to some extent. He wouldn’t even have been able to protect himself in that state.

He felt like the worst person alive on the planet. He never, ever, wanted to take his wife in such a manner. Not even how pleasuring it had been, he’d have turned back time to make sure it hadn’t happened.

He was pissed at Valerie, too. There was no reason for her to give him, or his wife, any sort of drug.

Flashes of her naked body, sweet moans, and willingness to act such a way, went through his mind. She was amazing; better than anyone he had before. Not that he had many past relationships, sexual or romantic, to compare. But having Summer in his bed was nothing he could ever compare to again.

He knew he should have given Summer the antidote that Trent had left, but figured after her meltdown, she’d want to sleep and then she’d just sleep it off. He had hoped so anyway. He was upset with himself. He didn’t want to take her like that. He wanted to wait for her to want him, so they could stay on good natural ground. But now, he wasn’t sure how he’d be able do that. He couldn’t stop from groaning at his thoughts once more.

Chase feared how she would react once she woke up. Would she be mad at him? Would she go back to the way she normally was, however that was? Or would she even start talking? They were now married and he would enjoy it if he could get to know her, as she was before she had been dragged into this life. He wanted to know every little detail about her. The good and the bad.

Hopefully, when she woke up later he’d be able to explain better what happened and that he didn’t expect more from her. He wanted her birthday to be one to remember in a good light. He even had a gift for her and he would be giving it to her once she woke up. She deserved it. And more.

In the bedroom, Clare quietly made her way in, worried about Summer.

The dark haired girl was staring blankly at the wall, breathing in and out. Her emotions were all over the place but she knew with just one look, that Chase hadn’t planned on doing what he did. When she woke him from a deep sleep, his face was panic filled, then turned to pain as his eyes landed on Summer. He at least had known just what to do.

Chase had been gentle, taking care of Summer when she had shut down. And during the time that he took care of her needs, he never once touched her in a sexual manner. He washed every inch of her with a lavender soap, giving her the calm that she needed. That is why she sobbed, letting go of any hope she had. He was too nice, and she didn’t deserve him. She had no idea why he chose her out of everyone. Couldn’t he possibly have picked someone that didn’t cry all the time? Didn’t act so broken?

Clare took a moment to slide in behind the girl she already viewed as a sister in such a short time, and knowing they were in fact true sisters, made her care more for Summer. Clare wrapped an arm around Summer, hoping to bring her some sort of comfort. To Clare, it didn’t matter to her. If they weren’t blood related, Summer would still have been her sister.

“I have always wanted to be held when life seemed to throw me a curveball,” Clare mused quietly, hoping to soothe the frazzled girl. “And that’s what sisters are for. I’ll be here, Summer. Always.” It was a promise.

Clare wasn’t sure if she really could be there for her sister, but she’d try as much as she could. They each needed someone to lean on, to help pick up the broken pieces after each other.

Summer wasn't sure how long Clare would be around and she knew that most of the 'enslaved women' didn’t stay in a house for long periods of time. She had seen so many different women come and go over the years.

“Chase feels bad about what happened,” Clare said, letting her eyes close to stop the tears that threatened to fall. “I don’t think he meant to do what he did, but Valerie drugged you both. Neither of you were able to stop, or be in the right mind frame, so you both jumped in head first, so to say. But I know he’s beating himself up for the way he behaved.”

Clare let the silence overcome them once more as the breeze blew from the open window that she had opened earlier in the room. She didn’t know what else to say to the frightened girl. Summer simply closed her eyes.

The younger girl hated feeling so lost. Her sister was in pain, and she wanted to kick Valerie where the sun didn’t shine. It didn’t matter if it was a legal rape drug that many people used to boost their sex drive or not. It was still a drug, and made both Chase and Summer do something neither of them would have went through otherwise.

Clare was right. Chase wouldn’t have gone through with what he did if it wasn’t for the fact that he was drugged right along with her. He would surely have stopped Summer if she made moves on him otherwise. If Chase had wanted her that way, he would have taken her as soon as she stepped foot into this house, she was positive of it. Maybe Chase didn’t even want her at all that way. Maybe he was gay and only needed to be married to get people off his back.

As the options ran through Summer’s mind, her breathing evened out more as her body relaxed into the mattress with Clare snuggled behind her. The dark tan comforter covered her body with Clare on top of it.

Chase was a nice man when compared to the other places she had been. She didn’t want to think about how she was treated there. Before she knew it, Summer was asleep, not knowing that Chase stood in the doorway watching the two girls. He had gone to check on Summer, since his thoughts wouldn’t stray from her tearful cries just an hour earlier. He hated what he had done and he was going to do everything he could to make up for it.

He made a few calls, making sure that Hank had the papers completed and sent in the mail. He had to make sure that everything was set up, such as accounts, wills, and schooling. He set each girl up a bank account, giving them more than enough money to be comfortable for many, many years. He wanted them to have the entire world if he could do that one simple thing.

He ordered two laptops that would work great for the girls to use for school, and a couple of desks that would be delivered by the end of the week. He wanted the room cleaned up before they arrived to make it easier.

He then called Trent, making sure that Valerie knew that if she pulled a stunt like that again, she’d be paying with blood. He wouldn’t hit her, but knew the threat would frighten her the most. Just knowing that there was a threat would hopefully pull her head out of her ass.

“She really is sorry,” Trent said, his voice low, but not happy. “She was only trying to help but I handled it here. I will pass the message on to her when she gets up.” Trent was a very, loving husband and knew how to handle his wife when the time called for it. Valerie tended to act like a spoiled brat, as she had been born into this lifestyle and needed a firm hand to keep her in line.

It wasn’t Chase’s business to know how Trent handled his wife, so they changed topics to the upcoming family dinner. Every two weeks they got together for a family meal since they didn’t get to see each other often otherwise.

“Mom won’t be happy Saturday when she sees that ring,” Trent mused. “I haven’t said anything, but you know how mom is, since you put a rush on the blood results. Plus, Zinna said she had a feeling you were up to something when you last talked to her.”

“Zinna knows nothing of my plans,” Chase laughed. Zinna was a sweet girl and like an adopted sister. She thought that her dreams meant something, and somehow was always able to figure out their meanings.

Chase had come across Zinna a few years ago on one of his rounds to the holding compound when she was eighteen. He was instantly taken to her, mostly because she didn’t let her life get her down. She was still so full of life and knew what she wanted. Nothing was going to stop her. Chase took her home that very night, saving her from Nick’s clutches. He saw his look as Zinna skipped in, not a care in the world. Nick wanted her; wanted any girl really.

She was bright and bubbly, doing everything Chase needed before he ever asked. Within hours, he was wrapped around the eighteen-year old’s finger. She had been depressed and hid it well behind her happy demeanor, but it certainly didn’t take long at all for her to completely come out of her depression with some therapy.

Now, she was married to his second hand man in commanded, as they fell in love instantly at first sight. He knew she’d be safe with him, almost safer than with Chase himself.

But they were still close, like brother and sister.

“That’s what you think,” Trent laughed. “She probably knows when a little one will be running around your home.”

“There won’t be any little kids running around in my home,” Chase said in a serious tone, his voice low. He didn’t want to subject an innocent child into this way of life, no matter if he wanted to make the world a better place or not. He was born into this life and hated every minute of it.

He didn’t even care that it was expected of him. His family was a long line of heirs, and Chase would be putting a stop to that. He wanted the Marcel family to die out. It was one of the easier ways to get of the family business.

“Yeah, I know, bro,” Trent said sadly.

Trent desperately wanted to have children, but Valerie was doing everything she possibly could to make sure that didn’t happen. It was much of a secret that Trent wanted to try harder, either.

Chase ended the call shortly after, then went to check on the girls. He snapped a picture of them asleep in his bed. He could see that they looked so much alike. Same rounded like jawline and nose. Their eyes were different shades, but they were sisters. Even the DNA test results he requested confirmed his suspicions. It only made his plans set more in stone, knowing that not only was Jason Meads Chase’s hated neighbor but also the father that caused these two girls so much pain.

Chase had met Jason a number of times, and because of the vibe that man had, Chase knew that if he got a hold of the entire Marcel family, no one would survive. But Chase wouldn’t be letting that happen anytime soon. Besides, he had his own plans for Jason Meads. He would pay for the misdeeds he had done against Chase’s family and his daughters if it was the last thing Chase ever did.

After a few more moments of standing there watching them, he decided he’d work on the spare bedroom since neither of them were up to it. It wasn’t something he really wanted to do, but to pass the time it would hopefully get his mind off of Summer. He worked, listing for any sign of the girls waking up. He knew that they were both tired for different reasons. He was tired too, but pushed on. Being tired was normal for him.

Ever since he could remember, he had been learning how to run the family business. He could take down a man in cold blood without a sound in many different ways. He could even knock someone out with just a touch. Chase learned how to sneak drugs into drinks; how to hide said drugs so not even a trained cop could find them.

He was deadly, but only when he needed to be. He hated being the next in line for the Don. The training was bad enough, and he possibly couldn’t imagine what life would be like once he fully took over.

His father was tough, but he knew what buttons to push to get Chase to do what needed to be done. Chase was thankful that his mother had some sort of say in how he was raised, and when he was to learn certain things. With his mother in his life, he slowly learned the skills to survive, to live. He learned to keep his emotions under control, so only family could see them. But also, he learned how to treat women with respect, not matter what their status was.

At the age of seven, Chase learned how to take down a man by a simple touch in one’s neck. And unfortunately, not shortly after he learned that trick he had to use it as he had been almost kidnapped by a man he would have the pleasure of killing himself one day soon. At the age of ten, he not only knew how to shoot a gun, but how to clean and hide one. At the age of twelve, he learned about drugs, and how deadly they could be when mixed with certain chemicals and other drugs.