Page 43 of The Darkest Prince

“My boys,” Dad says, leading us into the house. “You did well on the island. I watched all the footage and couldn’t be more proud of you.”

I cast a sideways glance at Bash. He shakes his head, disgusted with himself for all of the horrible shit our pledge class was forced to do in the name of The Devil’s Knights.

I’d killed plenty of men, but this time, it was different. The prisoners on the island were vile criminals. But the “bonding” exercises were the worst. We could only complete tasks as a group. Most of the time, that meant enduring hellish conditions without food or water. Sleeping in filth and blood with rats clawing at our skin in the darkness.

Dad ushers us into the sitting room, stopping in front of the bar to pour himself a glass. He hands one to each of us, and we salute to us becoming Knights. We have four more months of the six-month training. But we can finish the next part while we’re at Harvard.

I’m not the same man who left Devil’s Creek two months ago. The shit they put us through on the island changed all of us. Even Bash isn’t very talkative, and he’s usually the most normal of the three of us. He’s been reserved and hasn’t spoken much, not even on the plane ride home.

Luca took everything they threw at him in stride and never complained. It didn’t matter what our pledge class was forced to do, he did it. We all did, but even I was ready to throw in the towel a few times. If not for Bash, I don’t know if I would have made it. I’m not sure he would have lasted that long without me either.

Our dad’s phone rings, and he leaves the room to answer the call. Business as usual, he never takes a day off. It doesn’t matter that it’s Sunday. Doesn’t matter he hasn’t seen us in months. Arlo Salvatore loves money more than anything in this world.

Luca kicks his feet up on the table, leaning back in the armchair like a king. “We’re not visiting Alex in Providence.” He drinks from the high ball glass, downing half the contents. “No calls. No texts. No contact. And by the time she sees us again, she’ll be compliant.”

She left our estate after Bash kissed her, refusing to speak to Luca. Her act of rebellion set Luca off before we left, and he’s been stewing over it ever since.

Luca hates her again.

“Alex texted me earlier,” Bash tells him.

“Me, too,” I add.

Luca nods. “Yeah, I got her text. But I don’t care what she has to say.”

He’s going to make her life a living hell, and this time, he will use us to help him. We’re always pulled into his plans.

“Get over yourself,” Bash snaps. “You fucked with her head and screwed us over in the process. Alex has every right to be mad at you.”

“I don’t give a fuck.” Luca drains the glass and slams it on the table, eyeing up Bash with those cold, blue eyes. “She needs to learn her place. That girl has gotten away with too much shit because the two of you let her. You went fucking soft on me in high school. That’s why I laid my claim to her. I did that for both of you.”

Bash shoots up from the couch, cheeks flushed with anger. “I’m not in the mood for your shit right now, Luca.” He turns his back to us, walking toward the exit. “I need a fucking shower and a nap before I can talk to you.”

I’m left alone with Luca’s miserable ass since Dad hasn’t returned.

Luca gives me one of his challenging glares that says,Are you going to run like a scared bitch, too?

So I stay.

I’m not afraid of him.

“You’ll do what’s necessary.” Luca rests his elbow on the armchair, eying me up. “Talk some sense into Bash. This is the smart move. Alex needs to learn her place. No more babying her. No more treating her like a spoiled princess. If she’s to become the Queen of The Devil’s Knights, we need her to toughen up.”

He has a point.

Our girl isn’t ready to become our queen. But one day, she will be, and she has to learn how to swim on her own.

ChapterEighteen

Eighteen months later…

It’s been toolong since we were in the same room as Alex. Well, too long since she’s known we were there.

But tonight is a special occasion.

Alex has finally stopped waiting for us to make an appearance in Providence. She hasn’t texted us, asking when she will see us again.

We ignored her texts.

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