The Devil’s Chaos (The Brotherhood #2)

44. Forty-Four

44

FORTY-FOUR

HAVEN

I was settled into the passenger seat of Kai’s blacked out Range Rover, fidgeting with my sleeves. I had entertained the wealthiest, most elite men that society had to offer, but the thought of standing in front of Kai’s father,the police commissioner, had me anxious. Kai didn’t say anything, but instead, he put his hand on my knee, interlacing his fingers in mine, a small gesture of reassurance.

As we pulled up to the sprawling estate, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. The imposing wrought-iron gates slowly swung open, and Kai guided the car up the winding driveway lined with immaculately trimmed hedges.The house loomed ahead, a grand Victorian mansion with towering pillars and ornate windows that seemed to stare down at me, judging my every move. We exited the car and went up the stone steps to the front door. The door swung open before he could reach for the knocker, revealing a tall, imposing figure.

“Norman, good to see you,” Kai greeted him.

Norman was a bald older man with brown eyes that seemed to bore right through me. He gave a curt nod to Kai before his gaze settled on me, his expression unreadable.

“Mr. Montgomery,” he acknowledged. “This must be your guest.”

“Yes, this is Haven Benson,” he introduced me, placing a reassuring hand on the small of my back.

I managed a nervous smile, extending my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Norman.”

He shook my hand firmly. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Benson. Please, come in.”

As we stepped into the foyer, I couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur of the interior—high ceilings, intricate moldings, and a grand staircase that seemed to go on forever. The house was a testament to the commissioner's wealth and power.

“Your father is in his study,” Norman informed Kai. “He is expecting you.”

Kai nodded, leading me down the hallway lined with classical-era paintings. Our footsteps echoed on the polished wood floors, which seemed to stretch on forever. Kai gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as we approached the heavy oak door of the study.

He knocked twice before a deep, authoritative voice called, “Enter.”

Kai pushed open the door, and we stepped into a room that seemed to embody the very essence of power. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled with leather-bound volumes and various accolades. A massive mahogany desk dominated the center of the room, and behind it sat a man whose presence commanded respect.

“Father, I’d like you to meet Haven Benson,” Kai’s tone was respectful, yet firm.

Commissioner Montgomery rose from his chair, buttoning his tailored suit jacket as he approached us. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and he was even more imposing in the suit he wore. His silver hair was impeccably styled, and his blue eyes seemed to see right through me.

“Kai, my boy,” he greeted, his voice a rich baritone. “Miss Benson.”

I swallowed hard, extending my hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Commissioner Montgomery.”

He took my hand in a firm handshake, and I watched his gaze assess me coldly. “I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

I glanced at Kai, wondering how much his father knew and whether or not I should be concerned. His expression remained neutral, giving nothing away.

“Please, have a seat,” the commissioner gestured to the leather chairs in front of his desk. “I believe we have much to discuss.”

As I settled into the chair, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this meeting was more than just a simple introduction. The commissioner’s eyes held a glint of something I couldn’t quite decipher, and I had a sinking suspicion that the bloodline I was fighting to escape was about to catch up to me.

“So, Miss Benson, I understand you’ve been…entertaining my son,” he began. His tone was neutral, but it didn’t take a genius to hear the undercurrent of disapproval.

“Yes, sir. Kai and I have been seeing each other for a few months.”

The commissioner leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “What exactly are your intentions with my son, Miss Benson?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“I’m sure you’re aware of our family’s position in society and the expectations that come with it.”

I felt Kai tense beside me, but I held the commissioner’s gaze steadily. “With all due respect, sir, my intentions are simply to care for and support Kai in whatever way I can. I understand the pressures and expectations he faces, but I assure you, my feelings for him are genuine.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “And what of your family?”

“What about them?”

“Well, I hardly think it’s appropriate to simply ignore the elephant in the room. It’s certainly no secret to myself or any of the other leaders that you are the daughter of Abel Benson, the biggest scumbag in New York,” he stated before continuing.

“Commissioner Montgomery, I understand your concerns. But I am not my father, and I have no intention of following in his footsteps. I’m working hard to distance myself from both my brother and my father and this cursed legacy I was born into.”

The commissioner leaned forward. “And yet, here you are in the company of my son. The son of the police commissioner and member of The Brotherhood—the rival entity to your family’s legacy. One can’t help but wonder if there isn’t some ulterior motive at play.”

I felt a flare of anger at his insinuation, but I fought to keep my composure.

“Speak carefully, Father,” Kai said through gritted teeth.

His gaze shifted to his son. “Kai, you know I only want what’s best for you. And I have to consider the implications of your association with Miss Benson, given her family’s…reputation.”

Kai’s jaw clenched. “Haven is not defined by her family, Father.”

“Even still, you can’t possibly expect me or anyone else to embrace the enemy with open arms.”

“How can I prove my intentions are pure when my very bloodline seems to condemn me?” I scoffed, my frustration palpable.

“I’m not an unreasonable man, Miss Benson. But you must understand my position. The Benson family has caused immeasurable harm to this city. As police commissioner, it’s my duty to protect the people of this city, even from threats wrapped in pretty paper. Including the ones that are using that pretty pussy between their legs to confuse my son.”

“Confuse me?” Kai’s eyes flashed angrily as he stood up, his fists clenched at his sides. “Father, you’ve gone too far. Haven is not using me or confusing me. My feelings for her are real, and I won’t sit here and let you insult her.”

The commissioner’s expression hardened. “You are blinded by lust, Kai. This woman comes from a family of criminals and lowlifes. She will bring nothing but shame and scandal to our name. How can you not see that she is using you for information for her family?”

I rose to my feet, my voice trembling with emotion. “I understand your reservations about me. And I would have reservations if I were in your position too. I see so much of Kai in you, sir. But I assure you, my intentions for him are pure. I care for him deeply, and I would never do anything to hurt him or his family.”

“Empty words from the whore?—”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Kai reached over the desk and grabbed him by the collar. “You will not call her a whore again.”

“Or what, boy?” The commissioner stared back at Kai, unflinching even as his son’s grip tightened on his collar. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats and simmering anger.

“Or you will lose me, Father,” he told him. “I love Haven, and if you can’t accept that, you will no longer have a place in my life.”

Shock flickered across Asher Montgomery’s face before his expression hardened once more. He roughly shoved Kai’s hands away, straightening his collar with a scowl.

“You would choose this woman over your own family? Over your duty and legacy?”

“Yes. I choose love and happiness, Father. Something you seem to have forgotten in your obsession with power and control.”

I stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Kai’s arm. “I don’t want to come between you and your family or The Brotherhood. That was and never will be my intention.”

He turned to me, his gaze softening as he took my hand. “You are not coming between us, Haven. My father’s prejudice and narrow-mindedness are what’s driving us apart.”

The commissioner slammed his fist on the desk, causing us both to flinch. “Enough! I will not stand by and watch you throw your life away for some prostitute. Cassian and Thane agree. But as you are my son, they are letting me handle it before taking additional measures to preserve the integrity of The Brotherhood and its members.”

I stood frozen. I was torn between the desire to defend myself and the fear of causing an irreparable rift between Kai and his father. But his eyes flashed with a dangerous intensity I had never seen before. He stepped forward, placing himself between me and his father. “Additional measures? Is that a threat, Commissioner?”

Asher Montgomery’s face was a mask of cold fury. “It’s a promise. The Brotherhood will not tolerate any threats to our organization, even if they come from my own son’s ill-advised dalliance.”

“I won’t let you or anyone else hurt Haven,” Kai declared. “She is under my protection now.”

The commissioner let out a harsh laugh. “Your protection? She’s not your wife. Your protection means nothing. She’s nothing more than a pretty face and a warm body. The fact still remains that she is Abel Benson’s daughter, The Brotherhood’s enemy—a liability and a threat.”

Kai shook his head in disgust. “Then I guess we’ll see you at The Ceremony.”

“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, for me… 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.”