Page 116 of The Devil's Chaos

“Me too,” Mila quipped. “I wouldn’t be sitting here right now if it wasn’t for her.”

Cassian leaned back in his chair as he swirled the wine in his glass thoughtfully. “Very well. If Archer and Kai vouch for you, then you have our support as well. But be warned, Haven—The Collectors will not take kindly to your betrayal. You must be prepared for the consequences that will ultimately affect The Brotherhood.”

I nodded solemnly, fully aware of the gravity of his words.

“Good thing she now has The Brotherhood’s full protection and support. Right, Mr. King?” Kai said through gritted teeth.

Cassian smirked at Kai before he raised his glass, his expression softened slightly. “Of course, Haven, you have our protection and support. We stand together as a family, and you are now a part of that family.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at his words. Evelyn smiled warmly and raised her glass as well. “To family,” she toasted.

“To family,” we echoed, the tension in the room dissipated a bit as we clinked our glasses together.

As the main course was served, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Mila regaled us with stories of her and Archer’s wedding planning—her eyes sparkled with excitement as she described the floral arrangements and the guest list.

I found myself relaxed and enjoying the camaraderie and the feeling of belonging that surrounded me. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself, a family that would stand by me no matter what.

As the evening wound down and we said our goodbyes, Evelyn pulled me aside, her expression serious. “Haven, I knowwe got off to a bit of a rocky start, but I want you to know that I truly am glad you’re here. You make Kai happy, and that’s all any of us could ask for. Kai is like a son to me.”

I blinked back tears, touched by her words. “Thank you, Evelyn. That means more to me than you know.”

She hugged me tightly, and I allowed myself to sink into her embrace. It had been so many years since I had felt a mother's hug, and my throat tightened with emotion.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Your father’s cruelty knows no end. We have all felt his reach at one point or another.”

I pulled back while I searched her face for any hint of what she implied. “What do you mean, you’ve felt his reach?” I asked cautiously.

She sighed, her eyes flickered with an old pain. “Years ago, when Archer was just a boy, your father tried to do business with Cassian. He wanted access to our resources and connections. When Cassian refused, there were…consequences.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “What kind of consequences?”

Her gaze drifted to Archer, who was laughing at something Mila had said. “Let’s just say that your father made it clear he was not a man who took being turned down lightly. He would not be trifled with. We lost…people, good people, and so much more because of him.”

My heart clenched at the thought of my father’s cruelty extending beyond our family. I’m sorry, Evelyn. I had no idea.”

She patted my hand reassuringly. “It’s not your fault, sweetheart. You weren’t even born then. But now, you know the depth of his cruelty.” She paused but didn’t let go of my hands. “I must admit, there’s something so familiar about you. I can’t shake this feeling like I know you.”

I shook my head slightly, confused. “I don’t think we’ve ever met before tonight. Perhaps I remind you of someone?”

Evelyn studied my face intently as her brows furrowed in concentration. “Perhaps,” she murmured, though she sounded unconvinced. “Forgive me, it’s just that when I look at you, I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu. It’s as if I’ve seen your eyes in another time and place before.”

I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. Before I could formulate a reply, Kai appeared at my side, his hand rested gently on my lower back. “Everything alright over here?” he asked as he glanced between Evelyn and me with a hint of concern.

Evelyn smiled. “Of course, darling. I was getting to know Haven a bit better. She’s quite the remarkable young woman.”

Kai grinned and pulled me closer to him. “That she is,” he agreed as he kissed my temple softly. “I’m a lucky man.”

“That you are. We will see you at Archer and Mila’s engagement party right?” she asked.

“We’ll be there,” Kai responded and leaned in to hug her.

Whatever Evelyn had seen in me, whatever connection she thought we shared, the familiarity she had hinted at left me feeling uneasy.

As we said our final goodbyes and returned to the car, I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that had taken root in the pit of my stomach. Evelyn’s words echoed in my mind, her insistence that there was something familiar about me, that she had seen my eyes before. It didn’t make sense, but I couldn’t dismiss it entirely.

Kai must have sensed my unease because he reached over and took my hand in his, gently squeezing it. “Are you okay, baby? You seem a little distracted.”

I forced a smile, not wanting to worry him. “I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a long day.”

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