The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1)

by Autumn Winchester

  This little girl was so . . . . tiny. He went to school, so he knew that girls shouldn’t be so thin that the skin was almost transparent. Her pale blue eyes were sunken in with dark circles under them. It sort of looked like a mask was covering her eyes with how dark the circles were. He was tempted to call her raccoon because of it.

  Either she was sick with something that Chase couldn’t understand at his age, or she was born into the wrong family. Kayla was well known for helping the abused.

  “Please, Emma, I can help. We can help,” Kayla said, almost begged. “We have connections. We can get you both somewhere safe. Never to be found again by anyone.”

  “He’ll find her. I have no choice but to let him have her,” the woman was in tears, running a hand through the messy brown locks of the girl. Chase met her frightened blue eyes, and knew that her life was different than his. Her mother felt she had no options in keeping her safe.

  The little girl’s eyes will filled with fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the past. His heart hurt just looking at her, knowing she, of all people, had to go through the hands of fate such as this.

  “Oh, Chase,” Kayla said, seeing her son peeking his head around the corner. He was hard to miss with crazy hair and his bright green eyes that were framed with dark lashes. “Would you mind taking Summer outside while I talk to her mother?”

  “Sure, mom,” Chase said, happy to maybe make a friend. Maybe he’d even come up with a way to get the little girl to not be so afraid. His mother always told her was the smartest boy alive.

  “Go on,” the girl’s mother urged, patting her back gently. The girl nodded her head before slowly following the older boy out to the back yard, his drink forgotten.

  “So why are you here?” Chase asked, wanting to know everything about the girl. She looked so small in the oversized clothes she had on. Clothes that were once his, even. But he didn’t care. For such a pretty girl, he’d happily let her have anything of his. With just one look, she already has his heart.

  “My daddy wants me, and mommy doesn’t want me to go to him,” she answered with a shrug, her voice sweet. “I don’t like daddy. He hits me.” Her chin trembled at the thought.

  “Daddy’s don’t hit,” Chase said, sure the girl was making up stories.

  As they got outside, Jackson waved at them, a happy smile in place. But Chase only had eyes for the sad girl. He took note that as the bright, hot sun touched her hair, it glistened with red highlights.

  “He does. He doesn’t like it when I talk, or make noise. So he hits me when I’m too loud,” she said, tears gathering in her eyes. “He told mommy that if she didn’t let him have me, he was going to kill me and make her watch.”

  “Well, you know what? I’m a Prince and one day when I take over for my dad, I’ll make your daddy pay. Pretty girls like you shouldn’t be hit,” Chase promised, seeing how her cheeks tinted at his praise. “Or taken from their mother and forced to be with someone they don’t want to be with.” He could see that she was meant to be a Princess. His Princess, he declared.

  “I’ll make you my Princess, Summer,” he said, his voice strong.

  At the time, being so young, the thought was simple, easy. Little did Chase know that years later, he may not be able to keep those promised words, but his goal was still the same making sure that the little girl would have the best life he could give her.

  From that first moment, Summer had him wrapped around her pinky, and he’d keep his promise, even if he took his last breath to do so.

  But also, he had no idea what types of trials he’d face not only within his family, but between his friends.

  ~oOo~

  Summer cooked the noodles in the boiling water she had just removed the cooked chicken breast from, cut the cheese into cubes in a skillet with the can of Rotel letting it come to a simmer and then took the now cooling chicken and cut it up into bite sized pieces. She removed the cheese sauce from the heat then prepared to drain the noodles. Chase watched as she dumped the chicken and sauce into the pan stirred it together, then spread it into a green two handled casserole dish. She then sat it in the oven to finish cooking together.

  She took her time cleaning the counter, putting the dishes she used into the dishwasher. She kept an eye on the man, making sure he wasn’t upset at her or needed anything. His gentle touch sent warmth through her, touching her bones it seemed. He made her feel things she didn’t know how to explain. Feelings she didn’t know could be there.

  “I’ll go wake Clare up,” Chase said, breaking the silence before standing and giving the girl a soft longing look. Once Chase had left, Summer began to set the table, setting out glasses of water and plates.

  She tried her best to make sure everything was perfect, as she didn’t want the man upset at her. She couldn’t remember talking last night, but knowing that he enjoyed her voice did strange things to her that Summer couldn’t explain, once again.

  She could remember the exact time she stopped talking. Her father threatened to cut her tongue out if she kept it up. Summer knew that Jason would do just that if she kept it up.

  The oven beeped and Summer was quick to grab the oven mitts before opening the door, taking out the dish to sit on the top of the stove. Clare and Chase returned right as she turned off the oven.

  “Need any help?” Clare asked through a yawn, standing next to Summer to see what needed done.

  “Salad,” Summer whispered, only loud enough for the other girl to hear. The scrape of Chase’s chair against the floor was heard as Clare got the salad ready to be served. The younger girl didn’t comment about her sister talking, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

  Once everything was set on the table, they began to eat. Summer stayed quiet, trying to keep her thoughts from wandering. She didn’t want to think about how she noticed certain things all of a sudden. Like how Chase’s lips wrapped around his fork. Or how his long fingers gripped around the cold glass of ice water. Summer briefly wondered if the drugs were still in her system, as she never once noticed such things before.

  What had he done to her? What did Valerie give her, exactly? Did she even want to know?

  "Summer, dinner is wonderful. I have never had this dish before, thank you for preparing it,” Chase said as he looked at Summer. “Maybe one day you will tell me what it is called." Summer bowed her head as she blushed with happiness. No one had complimented her on her cooking skills before.

  “Clare, I have some papers printed out and on the dresser in your room about the school programs. None of them start for another four weeks, but if you could look them over and see which ones you like best, we can look into them more,” Chase said after a few moments between the clinks of the forks on the plates.

  “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 t
hing.”

  “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.”