Page 6 of Into The Darkness

“Thanks for setting everything up for me. That was really nice of you.” I offered a tight smile, and she burst into the kitchen, threw on the light, and grabbed a beer from the fridge.

“Want one?” she asked me before offering my dad and brother one. God this girl was so different. She just offered a beer to someone underage, and right in front of my father.

“You know she’s—”

“I am good, thanks.” I shot a warning glare at my father, who shrugged.

“Anyway, we gotta get going, but Maddy, you and Ember are welcome to come over to the Alphas at any time. I’ll make sure to put your name on the list,” Walsh said, and her eyes lit up like she had been given a puppy on her birthday.

“You a-are part of the Alphas?”

“Yeah.” My brother smiled, but his lips were pulled tightly.

“That is so fucking cool and an invitation that I absolutely will be taking you up on . . . so will Ember.” She gave me what I could tell would be her signature smile.

“Mm-hm, see you guys soon, then.” Walsh gave me a quick pat on the shoulder before exiting the apartment. My dad lingered for a bit, shuffling from foot to foot. I hadn’t seen him this anxious in a while . . . probably since Mom died.

“I’ll be okay, I promise,” I whispered so Maddy couldn’t hear.

“Please, whatever you do, if you need anything, you call Walsh right away,” he blurted out.

“I know, Dad.” I rolled my eyes. This was part of the speech I had heard for months.

“Whatever you do, you are not allowed to fraternize or go to any of their parties. Stay away from—”

“The Den.” I finished for him, my voice barely above a whisper because I didn’t want my new roommate to hear my father lecturing me.

If I went to the Den, I knew that would be the end of Isles for me.

“Please, this is embarrassing.”

My dad laughed. “Okay, okay. I am only a phone call away if you need me or Carlo.”

He wrapped me in his arms and gave me one last hug. He was the only person I appreciated physical affection from.

“I love you, Dad.” I smiled as we pulled away.

“Love you too, honey.” My dad meandered out of the apartment. I was often alone at home but always surrounded by a million people. It was the first time in my entire existence I was truly on my own. I thought I would be scared, but it felt . . . freeing? There was something so freaking empowering about being solo.

As the door shut, it felt like a prelude to my new life. There was a tinge of bittersweetness, but I knew my father would make it on his own. He was so consumed with the family business he would barely notice my absence. Plus, I would go home at any opportunity I could—not that I would ever want to. Because it felt like I was finally stepping out of my shell and into the person I was supposed to become.

Chapter two

An eeriness filled the room once my brother and dad were gone. For the first time in my life, I was on my own. I never expected I would be in this position again, without my father’s tight security, but this newfound freedom felt . . . good.

“Okay, now you really gotta drink this beer, or take a shot with me, at the very least,” Maddy barked from the other side of the living room. “Everybody drinks when they come to college.”

I gave her a side-eye. That statement felt very much like peer pressure, but I let it go because I was here to make friends. That was one of the goals I had in trying to live alone on campus.

“Okay, but just one small glass.” I needed to do the college things.

“To your freshman year,” she said, raising the glass in the air. I clinked the edge of the beer bottle with hers, then brought it to my lips and took a swig.

Then I spit it out. It tasted like what I imagined piss would.

“Ew. Who voluntarily drinks this?” A resounding laugh came from Maddy.

“Tequila tastes better. Don’t you worry.” I somehow didn’t believe that.

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