The Devil’s Chaos (The Brotherhood #2)

17. Seventeen

17

SEVENTEEN

HAVEN

T hroughout the day, I tried to distract myself with cleaning and mundane tasks, but my mind kept drifting back to Kai. I could still feel his mouth on me, his tongue buried inside me. He had left an indelible mark on me, and as the sun started to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, I found myself locked in a fierce struggle with my thoughts. Each moment that ticked by felt like an eternity, stretching the memory of Kai's touch to the point where it became unbearable.

Restless and desperate for release, I paced around my room, chewing on my cheek—a habit I picked up after my mother passed away. The orgasm Kai gave me with his mouth was mind-blowing, but I had felt his erection and was so close to having him inside me before he left. I constantly checked my phone, hoping for a message or call from him.

Nothing.

But then that would require us to actually have traded numbers, which we have yet to do.

“Sure, Haven, get eaten out by your stalker and family enemy, then expect that he’s going to call you. Get a grip, girl,” I scolded myself, plopping down on the end of my bed.

The doorbell rang, and I hopped up to answer it. Running my fingers through my hair, I opened the door calmly, half-expecting to see Kai standing there as promised.

But instead, it was my brother.

“Hey, baby sister.”

My heart sank as I took in his bandaged nose and bruised face. Behind him stood Bruno and Rocco—Bruno’s head wrapped in a large bandage that barely covered the wound from where Kai had hit him after I stabbed him with his own knife the night before. Neither one met my gaze, but I could feel Bruno’s anger radiating off of him.

Fuck.

“Well, aren’t you going to let us in?” my brother asked flatly.

Swallowing hard, I reluctantly stepped back to allow them inside. As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, I knew no one could save me now.

I was utterly alone.

With a heavy heart, I followed them into my living room. My brother settled onto the couch while Bruno and Rocco loomed behind him like two towering trees. I stood at the edge of the room, feeling small and vulnerable under his gaze. He was dressed differently than usual—no crisp suit today, just a white button-down shirt tucked into black pants. His hair was slightly messy, giving him a more unhinged appearance.

“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked nervously.

“Sit,” he commanded, gesturing to the spot next to him.

I hesitated before slowly making my way over, keeping a safe distance between us.

Bruno and Rocco remained behind him like two menacing shadows. As I settled onto the cushion beside him, I met my brother's intense gaze. It felt like I was being scrutinized under a microscope, one of his favorite tactics, before punishing me. He would watch me closely, waiting for a confession or slip-up, but I had learned long ago that it was futile; the punishment would be severe regardless. So I remained stoic, bracing myself for whatever was to come, hoping he would leave me alone afterward.

After what felt like an eternity, the intense staring contest between us finally came to an end. Alex’s voice was calm as he broke the silence.

“Care to explain why you decided to interfere with my little operation to bring down The Brotherhood?” Alex asked coolly.

I shifted nervously on the couch, avoiding his intense gaze. “There were innocent people there.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Innocent people, huh? Which ones? The ones snorting lines off a girl’s ass, or how about the ones fucking in front of a bonfire right in front of the party?”

Kai.

He knew about Kai and the blonde girl. Did that also mean he saw Kai and me come out of the forest together? If he did, I was a dead woman.

My face drained of color under his scrutiny, and my sweat beaded on my skin as nerves consumed me. He wrapped his hand around my neck, yanking me into his lap.

“Are you innocent, little sister?” His grip tightened around my throat as he shouted in my face. “Are you fucking innocent, little sister, or are you just a whore that likes to play games behind my back?”

“Alex, please…you’re hurting me.” I struggled to speak as his hold began cutting off the oxygen to my brain.

He squeezed my neck harder, his blue eyes bloodshot and bulging out of his skull. Just as I felt the familiar haze of unconsciousness flirting with me, he released his hold, and I fell to the ground, gasping for air and holding my bruised neck.

Alex watched me struggle to catch my breath before snapping out of his enraged state, his eyes softening slightly. He reached down to help me up and gently brushed his fingers against my skin. “Come, Haven. Let’s discuss how you will make amends for your traitorous behavior.”

“My—my traitorous behavior? What are you talking about?” I looked up at his face, searching his unreadable expression for any hint of what he was referring to specifically.

“Not only did you delay me, but poor Bruno felt your treachery when you decided to stab him.”

“I—It wasn’t personal. All I wanted to do was help those who weren’t involved in this war before they were killed. But I—I failed.” I looked down at my hands, and they were again covered in Delilah’s blood. I felt tears prick my eyes. “I just wanted to do something right for a change.”

“It was personal though. At least for Bruno. Hell, even for Rocco, who could have lost his twin brother, who he’s been bonded to since birth. What you did wasn’t very nice, was it?” He stared at me with a hint of hatred in his eyes before shaking his head.

I stared up at him with hate and shook my head. He wouldn’t stop until he made his point. “What do you want from me?”

“I’m glad you asked. See, I thought about how I could punish you for your insubordination. And the only thing I could think of was making the situation right by having you on your knees, repenting for your sins,” he guided me to my knees in front of him. This was his favorite thing to do to me. He loved me on my knees in front of him, my mouth wrapped around his cock.

I started to unbutton his pants, but he stopped me.

“Look at you, my eager little slut. Luckily for you, I told Bruno here that as a reward for his loyal service and the trauma he’s endured—you know, when you stabbed him—he gets to have you any way he wants you.”

“Wh—what?”

Alex nodded toward Bruno, and when I saw how he looked at me with a wicked grin, I knew things were about to get really bad for me.

In a hushed tone, he leaned in close to me and whispered, “You know, Bruno really is a fan of ass play, and word on the street is he’s hung like a bull. We’re talking at least as thick as my arm.”

Alex forcefully kissed me, then spoke again, “You’re lucky I decided to let you live. But let this be yet another lesson for you. You stay out of my business, or else I won’t be forgiving next time. And you wouldn’t be the first Benson woman to be escorted to an early grave.”

The last part hurt, and I cringed, my sweet mother springing to the front of my mind. And as Bruno pushed me down on all fours, positioning himself behind me, I clung to her memory. To the moments we had before she was taken from me. My father and brother may take everything else from me, but they could never take my memories. Especially not those I held onto like a life preserver, clinging to them for dear life just to make it through a few more moments of torture.

"Do not leave any marks on the outside of her. Everything else is fair game, am I clear?” Alex said to Bruno.

“Don’t worry, bella ragazza. ” Bruno sneered as he prepared himself. “Bruno is going to take his time with you.”

I gripped the velvet cushion beneath me, bracing myself for his violent assault. You can make it through this. They can’t break you. Just breathe.

The sound of Bruno's belt loosening made bile rise up in my throat, but before I could even think about vomiting on my couch, my brother's phone rang. He answered immediately.

Bruno spit on his hand and began stroking himself behind me while Alex spoke with our father.

“Yes, Father. I understand. I’m on my way now.” Alex hung up and turned toward Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. “Let’s go boys. It appears we will have to commence this spiritual awakening at a later time.”

“Boss?” Bruno questioned.

“Did I stutter numbnuts? Someone hit the warehouse! Get the fuck up!” Alex screamed, clearly agitated.

I held my breath until I heard the door lock behind them, signaling their departure from my apartment. Only then did I allow myself to move, slowly standing up and stumbling toward my bedroom, where my phone was ringing. My legs felt weak, and my hands shook as I answered the call.

“Hey, girl. What are you doing tonight?” Olivia’s voice blared through the phone.

“I don’t have anything exciting going on,” I replied, clearing my throat.

“Well then, come out with me. Some guys from a frat on campus are throwing a huge party. I guess they’re trying to make it up to the girls who didn’t get chosen for The Devil’s Hunt put on by those stuck-up shitheads from The Brotherhood,” she said with a sarcastic tone.

“I’m sorry…The Devil’s Hunt?” I questioned, intrigued.

“I thought I told you. You know, the little hunt the boys put on at the manor where they pick girls from St. Mary’s and chase them through the woods. Whoever wins gets to be their sex toy or…whatever else they want. Which honestly sounds way better than working for your brother,” Olivia explained.

Olivia graduated from St. Mary’s last year, but she stayed active at the parties on and off campus, often trying to convince me to party with her. She was still bitter that she had never been Chosen , so I didn’t fault her for her sarcasm. Growing up with private tutors and no social life, I never had the opportunity to experience the private school thing. I was only twenty-two now, but I often wondered what being born into a different family would be like. If only life were as simple as attending class and partying until you throw up on the weekends. That life was stolen from me. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t pretend, right?

“So, The Devil’s Hunt is happening tonight?”

“Normally, it’s on Halloween, but they started it early for some reason.”

“And the members of The Brotherhood organize it?” I clarified.

“Yep, only three brothers this year.”

Archer.

Kai.

Theo.

It’s not that I expected Kai to tell me about The Hunt just because we made it to third base. But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t irritated that he was out there fucking everything that walked while I stayed in my apartment waiting for him to come back and finish what we started. Instead, he was chasing girls through the forest, probably balls deep inside them at this very moment, leaving me at home like a good little girl. Except I was the furthest thing from a good girl, and I was young and single. Nothing was stopping me from going out with Olivia and drinking until I forgot all about my brother and everything that almost happened tonight.

“Okay.”

“Okay? Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“Woohoo!” Olivia squealed. “I’m just finishing my hair right now, and then I’ll come get you!”

“Great.”

“Oh, and wear a mask. It’s a ‘fuck you’ homage to The Brotherhood and their Hunt,” she told me, bitterness still very evident in her tone.

“I don’t know if I have any masks to wear.”

“What about that white one you wore last Halloween when you were an angel?

“The one with the feathers and glitter?”

“Yes! Wear that hot little white number with it.”

“Olivia, are you sure it’s that kind of party?” I asked nervously. That outfit left little to the imagination.

“Hell, yes. Are you kidding me? The less clothing, the better.”

After a grueling forty-five minutes, my long hair was transformed into loose, tousled curls, half of it haphazardly pinned up while the rest cascaded down my back. My emerald eyes smoldered with intensity, framed by thick black eyelashes and dramatic winged eyeliner. Ethereal highlighter danced across my forehead and cheekbones, casting an otherworldly glow on my already-radiant skin. A shimmery lotion left a trail of glitter in its wake, giving my bare skin a radiant luster that seemed to glow. The little white number that Olivia mentioned was a stunning white glittery bodysuit adorned with ethereal feathers that sprouted from the bodice and draped over my shoulders like angelic wings. I slipped my feet into crystal-studded stilettos and laced up the satin ribbons around my calves, tying them into tight bows just below my knees. Finally, I grabbed a sleek, white clutch, secured my phone inside, and rode the elevator down to the parking garage, where I waited for Olivia.

She screeched to a halt in her silver Lexus, the roar of the engine vibrating through my bones. With a wild grin, Olivia bounded out of the car and slammed into me with an excited hug.

"Holy fucking shit, Haven. You look like some divine creature. I can't even handle it," she exclaimed, practically bouncing with energy. I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, grateful for her unwavering support.

"Thanks," I replied modestly, taking in her outfit—a hot pink corset adorned with a matching mask that perfectly complemented her bleach-blonde hair. "And look who's talking! You're like a sexy Barbie straight out of an X-rated movie," I teased her.

Her eyes lit up at my compliment, and she squeezed my hand before getting back into the driver’s seat, revving the engine, and peeling out of the parking garage in a cloud of smoke and burning rubber.