The Dark Prince (The Dark Prince Trilogy #1)

by Autumn Winchester

Summer only ate a few spoonfuls of her soup, not finding it something that she liked. She knew without a doubt that Chase wouldn’t be mad about wasting such expensive food. Even though she hated the thought of wasting it.

  After paying the bill, the three headed towards the arcade that was about a mile from their hotel they were at. They took the monorail once again, as it was easy access. Normally, Chase would have a driver and bodyguard, but knew he was safe here. No one would dare touch him or his wife. And with Asher keeping tabs on his enemies that would be near, he felt safe enough without having to go all out.

  Plus, Chase could kill a man in less than a second if need be. He was trained by his father and a few other men. Soon, he’d need to work on getting Clare and Summer to know how to handle a gun to hopefully get out of a sticky situation. With being tied to him, Chase knew that the two girls would need to know how to protect themselves.

  Chase wanted Summer to have fun, and be herself. That would be hard to do if they were constantly followed. Although, there was a man that was following them, which Chase knew about. He wasn’t the best at being secretive about it either, which both men thought was laughable.

  “After we leave, can you take care of the dog?” Chase asked as they entered into the busy arcade and out of the hot humid sun.

  “Yep,” Asher replied, paying for coins at the counter for them all to use.

  Summer stayed quiet, not sure what they were talking about. But from what she knew, there was someone doing something that wasn’t allowed in Chase’s company.

  Inside the arcade, there was a number of game machines to play, each giving out winning tickets to buy a prize. Summer wasn’t sure what to do with so many options once again. She had never been to a place like this; didn’t even know it existed.

  Chase picked one, seeing that Summer couldn’t decide on which game to play first. He started off in the quieter part of the arcade. Here, there was a few ball games where they had to throw balls at a circle, trying to hit the middle target to earn the most points. Of course, Chase and Asher could do it each time. Summer tried a couple times, not sure what the big deal was. She sucked.

  Summer was nervous as she felt like she was being watched. It was the first time in weeks she felt like that. She wanted to tell Chase, but wasn’t sure how to voice it, although he picked up that something was off about her all of a sudden.

  Maybe it was being in a place that she hadn’t experienced yet and that they were the oldest group in the entire arcade, so Summer pushed it off, trying to keep her panic from rising. It did help with the meds in her system to keep it lower, but being watched always put her on edge. She remembered all too well all the times she was watched like a hawk in every single home she had been in before. Either to use the bathroom, cooking, cleaning. Every movement had been watched in some sort of way. She had never felt like she could relax.

  Chase tried to talk Summer through each game, telling her the way to win the most but gave up after the fourth one, seeing that his wife wasn’t into the whole thing. He even stood behind Summer, helping her aim the water gun as a little yellow duck that was on the backboard. She gave a shiver of pleasure as his front was pushed up against her back. Once their turn was over, Summer was disappointed when he backed away with a tender smile.

  He happened to glance up and looked around the room, his eyes landing on a man he knew all too well leaning against a machine towards the shadows. The man was unmistakable. Chase knew that the man didn’t know that he was spotted, so Chase acted as though he hadn’t seen him.

  “Listen closely,” Chase said, putting Summer in front of him and acting like he was telling her how to play the game that they stood in front of. His voice was loud enough that Asher would also be able to hear from his spot next to them. “There is a man in the shadows by the animal crane machine. He’s the right hand man for Jason Meads.”

  Summer instantly froze, her body going stiff. Her breaths were still even, though her body began to shake. Why did it seem like every time she got used to something, someone or some other thing had to jump out at her? Why? She felt like falling to her knees, crying, at the unfairness of it all.

  “I won’t let him near you, honey,” Chase said. “But he’s watching. I’m pretty sure how he knows we are here.”

  “Troy was taken out last night,” Asher spoke up with a laugh, trying to make it look like the new comer wasn’t seen, nor him effecting their outing. To the two men, the watchful eyes weren’t affecting their outing. This was a calm occurrence for once.

  “That is probably why he is here. I’m guessing White let it slip before our meeting yesterday,” Chase sighed.

  “What’s the plan, boss man?” Asher asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

  “Nothing right now,” Chase said, shooting Asher a look. The young boy liked to take men down just as much as Chase did when the time called for it. But here in a roomful of people wasn’t the place. “Too many people. But Summer, I want you to pretend to be happy; smile. I want him to think he’s following the wrong people. He will know how you have behaved before. When we leave here, we will go to a different hotel. I always make a second reservation for cases like this.”

  “Then what?” Summer asked, trying to tamper down her fear. Her eyes looked up at him wide as he flung his arm around the top of her shoulders and pulling her to him. She felt some of the stress leave her body from just his touch.

  “Then I make a few calls and we leave as soon as it’s safe,” Chase answered. He sounded like this was no big deal. And to him, it wasn’t. Nothing he wasn’t able to handle.

  “That easy?” Summer asked, not understanding why it would be so easy. Nothing was ever that easy. She glanced up at him, worry covering her face.

  “Yep,” Asher said. “I play my part, you play yours.” He shrugged. Easy as pie. Summer simply didn’t understand how it could be so easy.

  “We will go cash our tickets in,” Chase said, taking the ones that came out of the machine. “Asher can keep the coins to use for another time.”

  Chase pulled Summer to his side more so she was flush against him, as Asher laughed, knowing that the man was watching their every move, every expression. Chase whispered to Summer to smile and act happy that she could get some stupid surprise. She forced a smile as they went up to the ticket counter. Chase handed over the tickets, and after they were all counted, he urged his wife to pick out some prizes. There were only a few tickets for the half an hour they were there.

  She randomly picked out a few things, such as play necklaces, sunglasses, and some sort of ugly stuffed animal. The ticket counter person bagged the items, and wished them a good day. She kept her fake smile on her face as the left through the door, passing the man as he watched them. Chase laughed, punching Asher lightly on the shoulder.

  Chase knew that it wouldn’t take long for the man to realize that he did, in fact, have the right people, but he hoped to buy some time. He nodded his head in greeting at the man, thanking himself for wearing a hat. He watched as the man’s eyes clouded in confusion.

  The man had dark watchful brown eyes. His body was well endured from many years of working out. His tanned skin glistened from the sunshine as he stood half in and half out of the sunshine. Once outside, Asher acted like he had a phone call, hanging back from the two as they made their way to the second hotel.

  Summer couldn’t help but glance at the tanned man, doing a double take. She knew him, but yet she was unable to place where she knew him from.

  “Asher will catch up after scaring Jackson Hawk off,” Chase said. “We will walk with Mr. Hawk following us a little bit more closely as we get to the hotel. Asher already gave me the card and room number, so it won’t be an issue with getting into the room.”

  “You thought of everything, didn’t you?” Summer asked, glancing up at him, surprise lacing her voice. But also, her voice was filled with awe. He really did go out of his way to keep her safe.

  “Always,” he said, pressing a kis
s to the side of her head. She couldn’t help but melt into him as they walked down the sidewalk. Asher had slipped the card into his pocket the day before without anyone knowing, or seeing. Being a pocket picker had its uses.

  It wasn’t long before they entered the hotel part of MGM Grand, since the arcade was connected closely. Chase and Summer bypassed the casino and stores, going straight towards the elevator. She happened to look behind her, spotting Jackson not far behind, but looking down at his phone, his expression mixed with fury and stress.

  “When we get into the elevator, I’m going to pull you into a hug. I’d kiss you, but I don’t think you’d like that too much,” Chase said, keeping his voice low as he pressed the up bottom for the elevator.

  Summer took a deep breath as the elevator came, the silver doors opening. Chase stepped in, his front facing the opened lobby space, and saw the man do another double take as he glanced up from his phone. She followed her husband in and went willingly into his arms, knowing they would take her fear completely away. She melted into him, and on impulse without thinking, stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his.

  Summer gave him credit for not acting surprised as his lips molded to hers, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her into him tightly. Her lips were soft, gently asking for entrance as they kissed his, not going too far. Once the doors had shut and the elevator began to move, Summer pulled back, embarrassed for acting like she did. Chase smiled at her sweetly, cupping her face in his hands.

  “You can do that any time,” he smiled, pleased that she didn’t let Jackson ruin her time here. He could see the fear in her eyes, but also the thrill of doing something without being pressured.

  “Now what?” she asked once they rose to the floor number thirteen. Her lips tingled from the kiss, and she barely resisted pressing her lips to his once more. He was addicting.

  “Find our room,” Chase whispered.

  They found the room number easily on the sixth floor, and Chase held the door opened for her. The room was much less fancy than the other hotel, but served its purpose. There was just a king sized bed, a couch against the window, and a large mounted TV. There was, of course a bathroom that had a nice, but regular shower and bathtub.

  “I know, not much,” Chase shrugged. “But works for now. We shouldn’t be here for more than a couple of hours at most.”

  As Summer crawled up on the bed, hugging a pillow to her body, her eyes watching her husband as he pulled out his phone. She could feel the panic, the fear, but it wasn’t all consuming. It was manageable and taking deep breaths, knowing that Chase was keeping her safe, and wouldn’t dare let anything happen to her calmed her more than anything else would ever be able to. Well, maybe his strong arms around her would help too.

  He was not pleased with being followed, and by one of Jason’s men either. He wasn’t sure how Meads figured it out, but had a good idea on how.

  “I need a Jet out by the end of the day,” Chase barked out into the phone. Money always talked, and no one would dare tell him no. Not now.

  Quickly, a jet home was booked and would be ready in just under three hours. It was much earlier that he had wanted, but it had to be done. Next, he sent a text to Asher, asking for the luggage to be delivered to them, but kept the words to a minimum, just in case. A fast reply that would be from only the Asher he knew came in just a fast.

  Next, Chase called Trent, who answered on the second ring.

  “Yep,” was his one-word answer.

  “Meads knows. Valerie was being paid by him in a roundabout way. Rat taken care of. We will be home by nightfall,” Chase said, keeping to the point.

  “Alright. I’ll be there to pick you up,” Trent answered before hanging up.

  That was the nice thing about having such great family members, no matter if they were blood related or not. They always dropped everything, no questions asked, when Chase requested. He didn’t request things often, either. Once business was taken care of once more, Chase made his way to his wife. He sat on the bed, bringing her to him as he wrapped his arms around her like she craved.

  He let her lean against his body, his legs laid out in front of him. He briefly felt old as his knees popped, but ignored it as Summer finally let her tears go. She was afraid, and not just for herself. She feared for her husband, who only wanted a nice time away from issues for just a few hours. And now that her father knew where she was, it was only a matter of time before he’d come knocking at Chase's door.

  She wasn’t scared of Jackson Hawk, per say. Sure, he wanted to marry her years ago, but Jason flat out said ‘no’. The younger boy, now man, was always nice to her, and treated her with respect. But he did seem a little different when compared to his brother, Alex Meads. Alex had chosen to take on Jason’s last name, while Jackson refused to change his.

  What Summer feared the most was that Chase would be taken away from her, and she was growing attached to the man. He had shown her more kindness than she ever knew before. She didn’t know what the feeling was called that she felt towards him, but it was there, and as he held her tightly, her tears soaking his shirt, she didn’t care. All she cared about was that Chase wouldn’t ever let her go. No matter what.

  Chapter 22

  Summer dozed with her head resting against Chase’s chest. He held her tightly to him, knowing it calmed her. It calmed him too, as he kept his arm wrapped around her waist for the past two hours. He wasn’t able to sleep, as he was on high alert. He knew that Asher was more than capable of taking care of Jackson, but what if there was more than just person? What if Asher was outnumbered by some chance?

  Chase had been forced to hide out in a different, cheaper hotel that was not up to his standards under a different name once before. Chase wasn’t worried about his own life as much as he was Summer’s.

  Sure, he had cared deeply for his parents and close cousins, but with Summer it was different. His feelings were different. He had never been so protective over someone like he was with his wife. He knew he loved her, hell, his entire family did. But it was more than a familiar love, and that frightened him deep down.

  He fell more in love with her each day, each hour that he was with her. She didn’t care about his money or his titles. Summer only tried to get to know him as who he was as a person. But she also didn’t try to be someone she wasn’t. She was simple, shy and quiet. She was like a breath of fresh air with her reactions and thoughts. Although, he had to draw her thoughts out word for word, but she was smart. And Chase couldn’t wait until he got to know her more.

  He was prepared for a lot of things, but not this. Chase never once been prepared to fall in love. He married Summer partly to bring her father down, and knew that it would bother Jason Meads more than anything else. Chase also married her to save her from what would surely become of her if he didn’t. It wasn’t a secret that Summer would have been left for dead if it wasn’t for the Prince. But somewhere along the line, he found something he had never sought out.

  Love.

  He didn’t want to think about it; forced himself not to. But now, as he lay with his dozing wife who had been to hell and back more than once, he couldn’t not think about it. His feelings had never been stronger. What he said the other night in a way that he knew for certain that Summer would not be able to understand, he had never said truer words. He would move the world, and would do anything to make her happy.

  As long as he was able to see her smiling face, he knew without a doubt he would be the luckiest man alive. He loved her. He wasn’t sure when he truly fell in love with the blushing shy girl, but he loved her. His heart sang for her, beat for only Summer. He was so close to telling her, too. But just barely, he had been able to hold back. He was sure she wasn’t ready to hear such words from him.

  Chase didn’t know what to do with such feelings. He didn’t have anyone to really talk to about it either. He could always talk to his mom. But maybe, if Chase had Zinna help him get Summer to a better place, if the Summ
er was willing. Zinna was in a similar situation once, so she had more than enough experience to help his wife get her thoughts sorted out. And maybe even his own.

  He had things in place to get Summer set up for life once she was able to function like a normal adult and had her education. His plan was to let her go, free herself of him. He would make it like she never had been in his life. But now? Now he couldn’t do that; not unless she asked him to. He wouldn’t let her go easily now that his feelings were at the surface. But he would if she asked him too, even if it killed him to let her be free of him and his lifestyle. He’d do just about anything to make sure she was happy, no matter the price.

  That is what scared him now. He didn’t want her hurt because of who he was. It wasn’t an option to back out, since Jason most likely knew by now. There was no way out for either of them, unless death took them. It was almost like a Romeo and Juliet story. One family hated the other, but the two pawns in the game were in love with one another and would fight till death to spend the rest of their living days as one.