Page 1 of Darkness Falls

Prologue

Callie

"Mom?"

A tear rolls down the side of her cheek, but she doesn't say anything. She just sits there, not making any attempt to come over to me. It doesn't make sense. How is she alive? I watched my father shoot her. I saw the blood pouring from her chest. I didn't see her die, but surviving that would be nothing short of a miracle.

My father reaches over and slaps his hand on her shoulder, roughly shaking her. "I'm so glad you like the surprise I arranged for you, Callie."

"Mom?" I whisper again, but she refuses to speak to me. She just stares, eyes wide with tears freely flowing down her cheeks. Finally, she breaks eye contact with me to look down at her lap.

"Your mother will only be speaking to you with my permission. Isn't that right, Natasha?"

"Yes, sir," my mother says.

I hear her soft, fragile voice for the first time in years, and it feels like a knife to the chest.

Anger floods my body. I shove my chair out to stand up and slam my fists on the table. "What the fuck did you do to her?!"

"Sit down, Callie. NOW!" my father grits outfiercely.

"I won't! Look at her! She's your wife, and she's terrified of you."

"Your mother needed to learn what happens when someone goes against my will. She helped you leave. That could not go unpunished. Not in my house.”

"You've been fucking torturing her!" I slam my fist on the table again, and the dishes make a clanking noise.

"Watch your mouth when you're speaking to me, girl. She needed to be taught a few lessons. No need to be so dramatic about it. Now that you're back home where you belong, you will need to learn some things as well. It seems as though you have forgotten how to behave like a proper lady." A sadistic grin crosses his face.

Julian, I mean Damien, grips my arm and pulls me back down to my seat. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the man I spent almost an entire year of my life with lied to me and ended up being the psycho my father wanted me to marry at eighteen. He was able to play the part of the kind, sweet, and loving man so easily.

I'm glad I met the Monroe Brothers and moved on from him. Thinking of the brothers makes my heart ache. Finding out about Damien's true identity would have messed with my head so much more if I hadn’t met them. I still can't believe Damien was working with my father the entire time.

I spent over six years running from my father and his society. Everything was going perfectly until it wasn't. My fatherhired Barrett, Sebastian, and Kyler to kill Damien’s father in exchange for information on Maxton, but he never planned on telling them anything. He was actually the one who killed Maxton all along.

When my father didn't live up to his end of the deal, they took me as their captive. I was their path to revenge for his betrayal. Most people would say being kidnapped by three men is the worst thing that could happen to them. For me, it was the biggest blessing. Those three men changed everything.

The Monroe Brothers helped me process my grief for Maxton and finally heal as best as I possibly can. Kyler was always a willing shoulder to lean on when I needed to vent. He was caring and attentive. He made sure I knew that even though he stalked me and was completely obsessed, my needs mattered too. Barrett taught me how to take control of my pain. It doesn't need to be a weakness; it can be a strength. Sebastian taught me patience. While I may not be in love with Seb like I am with Kyler and Barrett, he grew on me, and I respect him. He puts family over everything, and I know he will give his life to protect the people closest to him. I just wish I knew what happened to them and if they are still alive.

Damien leans in to whisper in my ear, reminding me of my current reality. "Are you done with your little temper tantrum? It's going to be so fun breaking you, Callie."

I clench my jaw, refusing to acknowledge him because he isn't going to break shit. The guys are going to come for me. I have to hold onto that hope.

"Would you like to know what happened after you ran away?" my father asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I clench my fists under the table, grinding out, "Obviously."

"If you have any desire to speak to your mother again, you will stop being a disrespectful brat," he snarls.

I bite my tongue, wanting to tell him to shove it up his ass, but I also want to talk to my mom. I never thought I would see her again, and I grieved her death. If playing nice is what I need to do in order to talk to her, I’ll suck it up and do it.

"I'm sorry for being disrespectful," I say softly. It feels so wrong coming out of my mouth, but I’m doing it for my mom, regardless of the way my father is smiling over his little victory.

"Your mother was shot that day. It might not have been one of my wisest decisions, but she shouldn't have stepped between me and the boy."

I have to stop myself from acting out because that boy he’s talking so casually about shooting was the future he stole from me. He was my first love. Maxton.

"She was lucky my shot was rushed; it didn’t hit anything vital. After you ran off, I heard her mumbling and realized she was still alive. Members of the guard heard the gunshots and rushed to inspect the situation. I had one of them apply enough pressure to her wound to stop the bleeding while another carried her back to the compound. We called in the doctor, and it was touch and go for a while, but he managed to stabilize her. In time, she was nursed back to health. Isn’t that right, Natasha?"

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