Page 34 of Into The Darkness

“So, tell your dad you are dating her. It’s the only way to get close enough to her. It seems logical,” Rain stated. I thought about it. There was some logic to his reasoning. My dad would buy that I needed to get closer to her to get to Walsh.

“How is that going to get Walsh out?” I asked. Though, anything I did to Walsh would affect Ember’s and my . . . thing or whatever it would be. I couldn’t think of that right now. Walsh needed to be dealt with.

“Because he is ultimately going to find out that she’s hanging out here. Bring her to the parties, keep her here, then you will lure him into the woods eventually.”

“Shit,” I responded, not sure why I hadn’t thought of this before. It seemed so simple and obvious. “You are a fucking genius.”

I got up and gave his shoulder a bump before he shook his head at me.

“Ash?”

“Yeah?” I turned at the door to look at him.

“You have to be careful. She can’t actually fall for you because outside of Isles, there isn’t a world where you two could exist together. The cartel and the Mafia have never gotten along and never will.”

“I told her that. She knows.”

“You too, Ash. You cannot fall for—”

“Do not chastise me like my father does. I know what my role is in this fraternity and life.” Rain offered me a tight smile and nod, but I knew he didn’t believe me because I didn’t believe myself.

He stood. “Let’s go tell the brothers the plan before you call your dad.”

We went to the dining room where most men in the frat were gathered. There were roughly twenty of us at any given time in the fraternity, depending on who was enrolled in school and who’d taken on a few extra jobs in Dansport, so it wasn’t always easy for us to get together as a big unit, but we often just had whoever was still on campus come to the meetings.

Rain sat with everyone as I sat at the head of the table like a true leader would. I would be President of the US division of the Cartel—whether I wanted to be.

“Gentlemen . . .” I outlined the plan, leaving no room for doubt. Once I addressed them, it was understood that I was their leader, and none dared to challenge my orders.

They all nodded when I finished telling them the situation.

“Let me make it very fucking clear. If I see any of you lay a hand on Ember, you are fucking dead. I will kill you with my two hands and bury you in the woods myself.” Quiet murmurs broke out before Rain shushed everyone. “When she is at this house, none of you are allowed to look at her unless I have given you consent. She belongs tome,” I growled, a tone that dared anyone to defy me.

Everything had shifted. Ember was now within my grasp, a pawn strategically positioned in my hands. The task ahead was twofold: persuade my father this revised plan was optimal and convince myself as well.

Mine.

Chapter twelve

It had been an odd few days with no sign of Ash. The memory of his hand in mine lingered, along with his caution against falling for him. The audacity of his assumption was remarkable—to think I’d even entertain developing feelings for someone so unpredictable. I didn’t even have his contact number, for heaven’s sake. I was in the dark about him, and he held the one crucial piece of information I needed. A secret he couldn’t share, and I couldn’t give myself to him.

He was good enough for me, though, regardless of the script he had written for his life, thinking he was the morally gray character undeserving of love. When you got to know Ash, something about him was enticing. He was beautiful, and there was so much more to him. Being used to living in a dark world had clouded the light that lived within him.

It was Friday, so I knew I would see him in Professor Connolly’s class. Dr. Connolly had requested to see me sooner, so I was heading to class early, this time opting to drive and park nearby in case the weather changed its mind. It wasn’t raining, but the fog was thick overhead.

When I pulled up to class, I adjusted my outfit. I had chosen one of Maddy’s dresses that clung to my curves and paired it with an oversized cardigan and my favorite pair of Keds. Flinging the door open to the building, I realized it was especially eerie, with the fog keeping any light from filtering in.

Opening the classroom door, I saw Dr. Connolly at the bottom, working at the small desk in the corner where he beckoned me to come over.

“Ember, you look radiant today,” he said when I walked over, and a weird chill cast over me. That was such a strange thing for your professor to say to you.

“Oh, um, thanks.” I offered a tight-lipped smile. “You asked to see me early today?” I tried to redirect the conversation.

“Yes, Ember. You know when you interviewed this summer, I saw so much potential in you, but I do believe that maybe some private one-on-one sessions between us prior to class would be helpful to . . . fling you up the ladder of success.” Wow. I wasn’t expecting him to offer to tutor me before class to make sure I was caught up with the upperclassmen.

“Thank you so much. I would very much appreciate that.” Relaxing, I sat in the chair on the other side of Dr. Connolly’s table.

“But I need you to understand what this is going to mean,” he said, standing from the chair, then leaning on the desk in front of me. His thighs were on each side of my body. I felt caged in and uncomfortable with his crotch at eye level.

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