Page 115 of The Devil's Chaos

Evelyn’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked like she had seen a ghost. “Please, call me Evelyn. We don’t stand on ceremony here. And the pleasure is all mine. I’ve been eager to meet the woman who has captured the heart of our dear Kai. He’s like a son to me.”

I glanced at Kai, who gave me an encouraging nod, his hand rested reassuringly on the small of my back.

“Thank you for having me. Your home is beautiful,” I said sincerely, glancing around at the opulent surroundings.

“We do our best to maintain a certain standard,” a deep, masculine voice interjected. I turned to see a tall, distinguished man with salt-and-pepper hair and gray eyes. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. Archer looked so much like him but had Evelyn’s green eyes.

Cassian King.

His presence was both commanding and intimidating.

Kind of like Archer’s.

He extended his hand to me, his grip firm, and his gaze assessed me like Evelyn's, albeit much sterner than hers.

“Miss Benson, welcome to our home,” he said. “I must say, I’ve been quite intrigued by the stories I’ve heard about you. It’s not every day that someone manages to maintain one foot inside The Collector’s organization while simultaneously infiltrating the inner circle of The Brotherhood and come out unscathed.”

I forced a smile, trying to ignore how my stomach twisted at the mention of my family. “Who said I came out unscathed?” I replied, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly, and I got the distinct impression that he saw right through my bravado. “Indeed,” he murmured, releasing my hand. “I hope you are healing well from your unfortunateaccident.”

“I’m healing very well, thank you.”

“Well, shall we adjourn to the dining room? Dinner should be served momentarily,” Cassian quipped as he pretended like it was business as usual.

As we followed Cassian and Evelyn through the winding halls of the mansion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their interest in me than mere curiosity. The way Evelyn had looked at me, the intensity of Cassian’s gaze as he assessed me…it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t quite fit together.

The dining room was just as grand as the rest of the house, with a long mahogany table set with gleaming silver and crystal. I took my seat beside Kai. Archer and Mila sat to my right; Evelyn sat across from me next to Cassian, who sat at the head of the table.

“Are you okay?” Kai whispered.

“I’m fine,” I gave him a small smile as I unfolded my napkin and placed it gently on my lap.

He kissed my cheek softly, “You’re doing great, baby.”

As the first course was served, a delicate soup garnished with fresh herbs, Evelyn leaned forward, her eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I couldn’t help but feel like I knew her somehow, but I couldn’t have.

“So, Haven, tell us a bit about yourself. Archer mentioned that you’ve been working with The Brotherhood for some time now.”

I took a sip of the crisp white wine, hoping it would calm my nerves. “Yes, I’ve been assisting them with intel on my family for a few months now.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “And what made you decide to turn against your own family? That couldn’t have been an easy decision.”

“Father,” Archer gave a warning look in his father’s direction.

“It’s fine, Archer,” I smiled in his direction. “I’m aware that many of you have questions, and quite frankly, I don’t blame you. I would have questions, too, considering I am the daughter of your family’s enemy.” I turned to look back at Cassian. “It wasn’t easy to turn against my family. I’ve lived as a prisoner since I was six years old, maybe sooner, but my mother protected me from a lot before she…passed away.” I felt sick saying it out loud. “When I met Kai, I realized there was a life outside of where I was, far away from the torture, the abuse, thecontrol. I want to bring my family down. I want to prevent them from hurting and selling women.”

I felt Kai’s hand rest reassuringly on my thigh beneath the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I drew strength from his touch as I met Cassian’s gaze again. “I understand your family’s and organization’s reservations about me. I think it’s smart to be cautious. However, I am committed to Kai and now The Brotherhood, and I doubt there’s anyone in this room who wants to see my brother and father choking on their blood more than I do.”

Cassian gave me a long, hard look as if trying to peer into the very depths of my soul. I could see where Archer got it from. After what seemed like an eternity, he gave a slight nod. “Your conviction is admirable, Haven. It takes a great deal of courage to stand against one’s own blood, especially when they hold such power over you.”

Evelyn reached across the table and placed her hand gently over mine. “We don’t doubt your commitment, dear. It’s just that we’ve seen the destruction The Collectors are capable of firsthand. We want to ensure you’re not putting yourself in unnecessary danger.”

I glanced at Kai, who gave me an encouraging smile before returning to Evelyn. “I appreciate your concern, but I’ve lived in danger my entire life. This is my chance to make a difference, to help put an end to their reign of terror. I can’t walk away from that.”

Kai cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Haven has proven herself time and time again. She risked her life to rescue Mila from her brother and almost died in the process. She has provided valuable intel to The Brotherhood that we wouldn’t have without her. She willingly participated in The Ceremony as required by The Brotherhood and completed her blood oaths to meandThe Brotherhood. I would appreciate it if everyonewould stop questioning her loyalty. She’s proved herself more than most that she belongs here.”

“I agree. I trust her implicitly,” Archer voiced.

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