Page 48 of Into The Darkness

“Fuck you,” I spat. He chuckled again.

“Go run back upstairs before I tell him you got curious enough to take a peek.” Ew. I did not . . . Did I? It was definitely an accident . . . right?

Fuck. Yes. Yes, it was absolutely, one hundred percent an accident and not because I was curious at all.

I huffed and stomped down the hallway back up the stairs into Ash’s room.

Taking my place next to him, he rolled over and mumbled, “You okay?”

“Just had to pee,” I whispered, then stared up at the ceiling, wondering when the cloud of embarrassment would disappear.

Chapter nineteen

“Wake the fuck up,” someone screamed as they pounded on the door.

“What?” I blinked, and swore the morning light had just started to filter in. Ember stirred next to me, and I jumped up as my door slammed open.

“What are you doing?” I whisper-yelled at him when I pointed at Ember sleeping next to me.

“Get fucking dressed and get downstairs immediately,” he demanded. Rain never spoke to me like this, so I shifted off my bed, not wanting to wake Ember.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I shoved jeans on.

“You have a visitor.” It wasn’t a surprise when some of the fathers or other visitors showed up because Saturday was the day we threw our party for the week. What was a surprise was Rain’s reaction.

“I’ll meet you down there.” Then Rain stomped out of the room and down the stairs.

“Everything okay?” Ember asked groggily.

“Keep sleeping, mi sol. I’ll be right back.” I didn’t want to freak her out, but I needed her to stay up here. Whoever was downstairs, didn’t need to know about Ember just yet.

I finished getting dressed, closed the door behind me, and headed down the steps.

I could hear Rain and Pico and looked at my watch, knowing it was early as fuck.

“You know my son, he is always somehow fucking up and needing Daddy to pick up the pieces,” my dad crooned from the kitchen table. His voice made me fucking sick, along with the way he was speaking.

“Hello, Father,” I said as I rounded the corner. Sure enough, there was my dad splayed out on the chair like he was the fucking leader of this house. He was dressed in a suit, his brown hair slicked back, which meant it was a quick visit and he didn’t intend on staying.

“Ash.” My dad gestured to the open chair next to him. Rain shot me a pointed look, as if to say keep your fucking head down.

“What do we owe this surprise visit to?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.

“I wanted to check up on you. After dropping the bomb on me earlier, I figured I could come by and see how our plan was going.”

“It’s going well,” I stated, and Pico and Rain shared a quick look.

“We’ve got the bonfire on the horizon, marking the end of the year. That’s the only time the two fraternities venture into the woods together.” My father leaned in, resting his elbows on the table. He was always planning well ahead.

“I’m well aware, Father,” I countered, settling back in my chair. He won’t rattle me. I won’t let him sow fear into my core.

“For three years we’ve been plotting to isolate Walsh for the final act of revenge, to settle the score,” he continued.

“I’m still not entirely clear on why the hell we’re locked in this never-ending feud between our families.”

“We’ve endured years of this conflict, Ash. They’ve undermined our business at every turn, even aligning with our enemies, causing harm and death to our men and families. As the head of the cartel in the States, each life they’ve taken feels like a personal affront to me,” my father explained. “Don’t you feel, as a leader, that when one of your own falls, it’s your duty to avenge their loss for the sake of their loved ones?”

“Indeed, I agree with you, Dad. I never said I didn’t. I’m just struggling to fully comprehend the scope of this vendetta, considering we’ve also taken our share of their men over the years. It seems like a grudge that’s been festering for too long.”

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