“Speaking of Marcel, why isn’t he here?” Fayth shot off next. She hadn’t even begun asking half her questions.
“To keep me safe, I have to be here. To my understanding, he’s in hiding somewhere too. Well, that was until you had that article pulled up. Now, I have no idea,” Summer answered, looking at the redhead with wide opened eyes. “I haven’t talked to him for over two months. I have no clue to what he is doing.
“When I saw the news, I thought he was dead,” she went on, recalling all too well how devastated she was. “It wasn’t until Gabriel showed up that I knew Chase was alive, but still it wasn’t something I was prepared to face.”
“I remember reading about that,” Fayth mused, sitting down next to Summer. “But that doesn’t excuse him from not being here. You’re pregnant! He shouldn’t be anywhere else!”
“We are both doing what needs to be done,” Summer said, staying calm. “I’m learning as much as I can to defend myself and to protect this little one. Whatever he’s doing, I know it’s to make sure I can come back home to a safe home with no more threats.”
“I don’t give a fuck!” Fayth shouted, standing up from her seat, outraged. “Princesses don’t get left to fend for themselves!”
“I’m not a princess,” Summer said with a shake of her head. “I have no ties to it. And I won’t until Chase comes to get me himself.”
Summer made that choice. She didn’t want to be tied to the Marcel family, as it would be an easy target on her back. She was just herself here, and nothing more. She would go back to being a princess, maybe, if it ever became safe enough.
“You are a princess, Grace,” Fayth said, taken aback that the stubborn girl thought otherwise. “I can see it; the entire world can! You are full of so much light. How dare you say otherwise.” She threw her hands up in the air, not sure what else to do.
“Fayth,” Summer said, sighing out the name, leaning forward slightly. “I can’t be that person. I am in no way strong enough for that role. I have never been. I am only that person with Chase standing by my side. And even then, I’m not really someone for people to look up to.
“I haven’t even figured out what my role in that family is,” she shrugged with tears in her eyes. Stupid hormones.
“The same as it is here,” Fayth said with a bemused look. The people in Summer’s past really did a number of her self-esteem. “You are amazing. Smart, pretty, appealing, and a wonderful friend. People look to you for advice, friendship, even a role model. You have so much potential, Grace. How can you not see that? Yes, when you came here and the first time I saw you, even as you looked like you had been thrown under a rock somewhere, you drew me in. You have changed for the better. And now, look at how strong you are!”
“I have wonderful friends that have helped me get to where I am now,” Summer said with a proud, but shy, smile. “I have a reason to try to become strong in all ways possible.”
“Going through what you have, you’d have to be strong,” Fayth said, charmed by the girl. “I haven’t known you all that long, but I don’t want to lose you, either. I’ll stand with you, and help you with whatever you need.” She then took a seat again, grasping Summer’s hand tightly. She’d be there, whatever the future would bring. Hell, she’d even travel the world if need be.
“Thanks, I think,” Summer said, giving Fayth’s hand a small squeeze in return.
“So, what’s the deal with Bash being so . . . fatherly?” Fayth had wondered a time or two why the man was so protective, more so than a normal man would be, over Summer. Knowing her history helped, but that didn’t explain why he was going so out of keeping her safe and giving her ways to protect herself.
She had seen how Bash looked at Summer. It was like a father looking at his daughter with a fulfillment, and hope for a better way of life.
“When he took me from my father when I was about nine or so,” Summer said, trying to remember exactly. It had been so long ago. “He wanted to raise me as his own, teach me the way of life to survive this lifestyle.
“In the long run, it didn’t work out so well, as I was taken away and given to another household. But I guess he felt strongly for me, like a daughter. I don’t remember a lot from my time there, only that he was nice, really kind. He’s different now than he was then, of course. I’m sure he feels the same way about me as he did years ago. Maybe even more so, I’m sure that’s reason enough to be more protective over me,” Summer finished with a shrug.
“Do you feel the same way?” Fayth asked softly, her expression open.
“I . . .” she paused, thinking. Sebastian had shown Summer time and time again that he would be there, that he cared for her like a daughter he never had. She knew he did; he’d say as much a number of times. But did she feel like he could be a father? Or was he still a stranger to her?
“I think so,” she finally answered. “I mean, he’s been there for me, proving that he can be that person for me. I don’t know how to be what he wants.”
“Be yourself,” Fayth said with a small smile. Summer didn’t think it was that simple. Nothing ever was. Fayth knew that this girl didn’t need to try to be anything else. “You don’t need to be anything you aren’t. You are Summer, the Princess of the Marcel family. You are Grace, a friend, daughter, and wife. And soon to be a mother. You don’t need to try so hard, sweet cake.”
“That’s what I’m doing. I’m trying to find myself, figure out what I am, who I am. Here, there are no expectations of me. I know Chase would never ask such things from me, but I want to be worthy of being his Princess,” Summer said, blinking back tears.
“You are worthy of that sweetie,” Fayth said sincerely. “You will see it soon enough.”
Summer gave Fayth a tearful smile as Fayth’s cell phone rang. She dug it out of her pocket, huffing before she answered with a clipped ‘hello’.
After a moment, Fayth handed Summer the phone, but not happily. She still had questions, but at the same time she didn’t.
Summer took it, confused, bringing the iPhone up to her ear.
“Hello?” she asked, her voice weak still with tears.
“Grace,” Sebastian said, relieved. His voice was low like he was in hiding.
“I’m fine,” Summer said with a small smile, feeling relieved herself. She hadn’t realized she had worried about him so much until that moment.
“I’m glad,” Sebastian breathed out. “I’m almost finished here. Can Fayth drive you back home?”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” Summer replied. “Did Gabriel find you?”
“Of course,” he grunted out. “I’m glad he listened to you. I did need his help.”
“I had a feeling you did,” she confessed. “You okay, though?”
“For the most part,” Sebastian answered. “I’ll meet you back at the house within an hour.” With that, he hung up.
Summer pulled the phone from her ear, confused, before handing it back to Fayth.
“Everything okay?” she asked, taking and pocketing the phone.
“I think so,” Summer answered. “Can you take me home soon? Sebastian seemed . . . I don’t know.” She had a feeling something had happened. Her heart was heavy in her chest once more. It almost felt like it was sinking below her stomach.
“Of course,” Fayth said, her voice calm. “Let me check the dogs, then we can go.”
“Can I help?” Summer asked, needing something to get her mind off her family. Off Sebastian mostly.
“Sure,” Fayth said, bounding up from the seat. “Big dogs first. A few aren’t too friendly towards strangers, though.”
“Grouchy dogs are my least concern,” Summer muttered following Fayth.
“Oh, what is your plan now? Will you be staying here? Leaving? I ain’t gonna let you leave without me, of course.”
“I don’t want to leave,” Summer said in truth. “I won’t leave, except to go home. I want to go home, but I like it here.”
“Sebastian won’t ever say no to you,”
Fayth laughed. “He’ll let you stay, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure too,” Summer laughed as they came to the first dog, a black mixed mutt, who was wagging its tale.
Summer knew, in her heart and soul that it was beyond time to get this show on the road. She wanted Chase. She wanted to move on, get over her past and her fears. She wanted to be a person worthy of being married into the Marcel family and name. She would do just about anything to get her husband back.
More so, Summer would do everything she could to keep her family and friends safe. She was someone. Someone everyone wanted, therefore she had the power to do something about this fucked up way of life she was born into.
Chapter 17
He couldn’t believe he had gone with this absurd plan. Chase was livid at his father for considering this, then even forcing him to leave not only his family but his wife too. He had no way of knowing if everyone was okay, and that was literally driving him mad.
Chase couldn’t believe his father could be so cold hearted, making him, the Prince of all people, go into hiding!
It had been two long weeks here in this loft. It wasn’t anything he was used to, but it did have what he needed for now. It didn’t help that his father was there, making sure he didn’t dare leave the unidentified place.
A stocked two-sided white fridge, full cupboards, and a bed. The bed was horrible to sleep on, which could be accounted for his horrible mood he was in.
The kitchen was nice, updated for the most part. It had a black cooktop and a dishwasher. The counters were in need of replacing, but workable for the most part. The older hardwood floor matched the cabinets.
Chase was under strict orders to not leave, not even for a gallon of milk or carton of eggs. He thought it was stupid, as no one here would possibly recognize him.
After Gabriel helped fake his death, and scaring the shit out of everyone, Chase had been forced to endure a makeover. Haircut and a new wardrobe.
He was on longer Chase Marcel in any type of way. He was now Anthony Brown. And he detested the name.
Gabriel had done exceedingly well with staging the death of Chase and his father, even making it look like the Prince had lost too much blood for there to even be any chance of surviving such a gunshot wound. Or any other type of painful, but quick, death.
Chase was not harmed one bit, although he hated even pretending that he was dead, knowing his wife was worried beyond belief about him. He had no way of getting in touch with her. His phone was trashed after Gabriel ran it over with his car towns away.
Yes, Gabriel did promise to let her know he was fine, but he didn’t fully trust the man that could have easily killed him that night.
Hell, he didn’t even have any access to the internet to know what type of stories or possible outcomes people may have come up with concerning his ‘death’.
“Would you stop pacing the dang house?” Ivan, who refused to go by a new name, grunted out as he sat in the chair, sipping whiskey right out of the bottle. He didn’t give a fuck; he wanted to be drunk since there was no other family around. He’d deal with his own wife’s fury when he got back if he did get back.
Chase still couldn’t wrap his mind around that he had to have a new name while his father got out of it.
“Will you stop trying to get drunk off your ass?” Chase shot back hotly, running his hands through his hair. It only made him more frustrated at not having much hair there anymore. There was only a dusting now, just enough to show people that he had it cut as short as possible without going completely bald.
“Touché,” Ivan said, raising his drink up to take yet another swallow, feeling the burn down his throat. He was fed up with his son, and what better way to deal with the moody youngster than to be drunk?
Chase kept his pacing up, from the windows that were covered by cream colored window blinds that let some sunlight into the front room of the loft area. He didn’t know what else to do to waste time.
He felt trapped here with no way out. It was almost like the walls were starting to press down on him. He was slowly going insane, not knowing how his wife was doing. He needed to hear her voice.
Had this been what Summer felt when she had been held captive for so long?
“Fuck!” He cursed loudly, ignoring his father’s snort of impatience.
Chase couldn’t seem to find the energy to keep calm, let alone try to figure out what the hell they were doing here, of all places.
Gabriel had brought them to Nevada, almost on the border of Colorado in a large town he never thought to visit. The streets were covered in thick piles of snow, cars going by as fast as they dared. The wind blew loose snow from the housetops, coating the air into light blizzards.
“Have a drink,” Ivan said, holding up the bottle as Chase made another pass.
The Prince simply shook his head. He wasn’t about to touch that hard shit right now. He’s already made too many stupid choices with alcohol in his system, and if something were to happen, he wasn’t going to dare break his promise to his wife. He’d get back to her in one piece with his heart still beating.
“Your loss,” the older man said with a shrug.
Chase had no idea what had gotten into his father, who would never drink like this. Growing up, he couldn’t ever recall his father drinking more than a few shots, and that was only when he was absolutely positive nothing was going to happen. For the past two weeks, he’d been pretty much drinking non-stop.
Gabriel’s words still rang in his mind loud and clear.
“Don’t leave. Don’t look out the window too closely. And most of all, be prepared for anyone finding you. People talk, they search high and low. John will not stop until he has proof that you are dead.”
So why was Ivan not himself? Why was he so willing to be drunk when there was still a threat, literally on the other side of that door? Chase couldn’t wrap his mind around it; it made no sense.
With another sigh, Chase made his pass along the window, happening to glance out, seeing a black van parked along the street with tinted windows. He didn’t think anything of it, as his thoughts turned back to his wife.
Was she okay? Was she healing from whatever Jerry and his men had done to her? Was Gabriel really with her, as he had said he’d be? And what was Sebastian up to?
So many questions, so many worries, and concerns plagued his mind as his father drank himself into a drunken stupor of false serenity.
He knew in his gut that something wasn’t adding up right, and it wasn’t Gabriel. His father was the cause of it; it had to be. As he was the only one that knew what was out there, the reason for them to be here, now.
What the fuck was his father planning? Or was he planning at all?
“Shit!” Chase fumed, running his hand along his face. “Why?”
“Why what?” Ivan asked, tilting his head to the side, his voice strong, proving he wasn’t as drunk as he was trying to play. There could be many answers to that little one-word question, but he wasn’t willing to just spill anything without more information.
“Everything!” Chase shouted, raising his hands in the air. “Why now? Why are you here instead of at home? Why?”
“Many reasons,” Ivan said with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter one bit.”
“The hell it doesn't!” Chase growled. “Fuck you! Fuck everyone!”
He then went to the door, grabbing the doorknob.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Ivan said, nearly singing the words out.
Chase ignored his father, tired of the threats that went nowhere. Tired of the lies he lived in. He was tired of not doing shit about the way things had gone. This was not part of his plan.
His plan was to have his wife by his side, helping to change the world, and seeing everyone change the way they did things. No more sales of drugs. No more slavery. No more unneeded deaths.
He was the Prince, and he would rule the world! Fuck staying in hiding, waiting for other people do what he needed to do instead.
&nbs
p; No one would be able to keep his family safe expect for him. It was what he was raised and trained to do, and to hell with everyone who thought they could walk over his rules that he had set in place. His commands that were already in session.
And most of all, fuck his father to hell and back for ever thinking he could stop his son from doing just that!
With a hard glare at his father, he opened the door that Gabriel installed to not open unless there was a fire in the loft. The door had just barely opened, and a sound of gunfire rang out, causing Chase to slam it shut, pulling out his gun with a thumping heart in the same second.
“Told you,” Ivan said as a few bullets embedded into the hard door with a shake of his head. He then muttered something about the Prince never following orders.
Princess of Darkness (The Dark Prince #3) Page 12
