Page 102 of The Devil's Chaos

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, but I would, Father. Even The Brotherhood can’t refuse to honor The Ceremony,” Kai smirked.

“The Ceremony is a sacred tradition, not some game to be played to spite your father.”

“If marrying Haven is the only way to prove my love for her and protect her from your prejudice and The Brotherhood’s threats, then that is exactly what I will do.”

I gasped and stared at Kai in disbelief. “Kai…”

The commissioner cleared his throat, his face turning an alarming shade of red. “This is madness, Kai. You can’t possibly think The Brotherhood will accept this…this farce of a union.”

Kai turned back to his father, his jaw now set in determination. “Fuck The Brotherhood. The Ceremony is a binding contract, and once Haven and I are married, she will be under the protection of The Brotherhood, whether they like it or not—whether you like it or not. An attack on Haven is an attack on me and punishable by death.”

“You are making a grave mistake, son. One that you will come to regret.”

“The only mistake I made was thinking I needed your permission. Come on, Haven. We have a Ceremony to prepare for.”

Kai took my hand firmly and led me out of the study, leaving his father standing there. As we strode down the hallway, my mind was reeling with what had just transpired in his father’s study. Kai had stood up to his father, the powerful police commissioner and one of the leaders of The Brotherhood, forme… He had declared his love and intention to marry me, to protect me from The Brotherhood he was a part of.

“Kai, wait,” I grabbed his arm before getting into the car. “Are you sure about this? While I admire your chivalry, really, I do, I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret to protect me.”

He turned to face me and cupped my face in his hands. “Haven, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Marrying you isn’t just about protecting you from my father and The Brotherhood. It’s about you and me. That’s the only thing that matters in this fucked up world we live in.”

“You love me?”

A wide grin spread across Kai’s handsome features. He leaned in and captured my lips in a passionate kiss that made my knees go weak. When we finally parted, breathless and flushed, he pressed his forehead against mine and whispered against my lips. “The truth is, you could slit my throat, and with my last breath, I’d tell you I love you.”

45

FORTY-FIVE

KAI

My father’s disrespect had me fuming the entire drive home. I felt like a hypocrite preaching to Archer about duty and responsibility when I would forsake it all for her. Haven sat silent, staring out the window, and I worried about what was going on in that mind of hers. As I pulled into the driveway, my anger had not abated. The tires screeched against the stone as I slammed on the brakes, stabbing my finger into the ignition button. I threw open the car door and stormed toward the house, my fists clenched at my sides. Haven trailed behind me. Her footsteps were soft and tentative. I burst through the front door, intent on having a conversation with Archer and Theo.

The house was quiet, but I heard muffled voices from the living room. I strode down the hallway, Haven’s gentle footfalls echoing behind me. As I rounded the corner, I saw Archer and Theo engaged in a heated discussion, their faces drawn in tension.

They both looked up as I entered, Archer’s eyes narrowing at the sight of my clenched jaw and tense shoulders. “What happened?” he asked, his voice cautious.

“My father summoned Haven and me.”

“Uh oh,” Theo sighed, looking over at Haven and then back at me.

“He had the audacity to question my commitment to The Brotherhood, to my responsibilities because of my relationship with Haven.”

“My father mentioned it when I saw him earlier too,” Archer mentioned nonchalantly. “Her ties to her family are of concern to our fathers, and admittedly, they were to me at first too. But that’s because I didn’t see the two of you together.”

“You’re saying you understand where they’re coming from?”

Archer held up his hands in a placating gesture. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. Just hear me out.” He glanced at Haven, who had moved to stand beside me, her hand resting gently on my arm. “When I saw the two of you together, I realized that your bond goes beyond mere infatuation or rebellion. There’s a depth there, a connection, like what Mila and I have.”

Theo nodded in agreement. “I’ve seen it too. They just need more time with her. Then they will see what we see.”

“We’re a team, a family. We stand together no matter what.”

“Yeah, fuck the patriarchy,” Mila’s voice sounded behind us as she walked into the room. She went to Archer, standing on her tip-toes to kiss him. “I love a little plotting before lunch.”

I felt Haven’s hand slip into mine, her touch soothed the rage that burned within me. I squeezed her fingers gently, grateful for her presence and the support of my brothers.

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