The Dark (DEVON) // ✔️ // [NEWADULT]

|| Chapter Thirty-Five - Like marriage but not...||

   Devon's breathing was ragged and wheezy, his face was set in an expression of pure malice, his eyes focused on the road in an almost predatory way.

   It hit me. It hit me then.

   This is what they were. All of them. Predators. They weren't each other's prey they were just competition, there was no real prey in this situation - the innocents were just collateral damage. They were guilty. They were all criminals.

   And I was guilty by association.

   Everything came rushing back to me all at once and I felt my throat tighten;
My father was murdered, Isabelle was tied to Jensen because of me, Isaac doesn't have my mother and wants me captive, Victoria is running rampant and out for my blood...
Who could blame her? After everything.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." Devon croaked. Dropping his head into his hands. Reuben - sensing the atmosphere, raised the soundproof panel between us and him. I wish I could be ignorant to all this as well.

"No, it's not you-" I began, Devon interjected.

"It is!" He screamed, "If I'd have just LEFT you... you wouldn't be dealing with all this right now. You'd be dead already." His voice drifted off, silence ensued.

I'm better off dead.

A pit formed in my stomach.

Noted.

"Well... we have a day to-" I took in a breath, "we can make arrangements I'm sure." Devon looked startled, watching me unflinchingly through tired eyes. His face was bloody and bruised, his features set deep in his face after weeks of worry and sleeplessness.

This is killing him. It's killing all of them.

And it's all for me.

"If I'm gone. This is over." I croaked.

The silence continued, I could almost feel the air thickening and tensing up around me as I waited for him to say something - anything. Anything at all.

He never did.

Instead, he undid his seatbelt and slid over to me in one sweeping movement, captured my face in his hands and brought my lips to his own.
This wasn't desperate. This was meaningful. This was long awaited. This is his point of no return.

At patriarchal as it sounds - from everything I've seen and heard, intimacy is important to gangs. If a member is intimate with a female member - that's it, you're claimed. If you get away... you're followed, you're stalked, you're mercilessly targeted until they get to you again and finish the job. Otherwise it is an unforgiving marker of shame.
It's much like a marriage. However also nothing like a marriage. The consummation of such isn't a sign of "love" but of "ownership". Which is far more valuable in a dark part of the world like this one.

We continued the promiscuity until we reached the gang house. When we did. Devon opened the doors, grabbed my hand and dragged me into the house without so much as a second glance at his fellow members.

Medically trained members rushed to Harrison's side - as did Jodie - who screamed and hurled obscene abuse at Devon as he stormed off with me in tow.

I didn't say anything to him.

I didn't break our own personal blanket of silence, within it whirred a thousand unspoken words, intentions, desires...
It was just us for now.
Until tomorrow.

Once in his room, Devon released me and locked the door behind him. One glance at me and I could tell he was stripping me bare with his eyes - analysing, calculating... what do I look like underneath my clothing, what do I feel like, what do I taste like.

Devon began undressing himself, I could see his biological blessing growing as he did so, never taking his eyes off of me as I began doing the same. Starting with my jacket, then slowly removing my top, trousers...

Yeah you get the picture.

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The next morning I woke up absurdly warm, weighed down - I soon realised, by a muscular arm that was draped over my waist. I blushed, closing my eyes against the flashbacks of the evening.

Virgin Aria - WHO? I don't know her.

However, just as soon as I allowed myself to smile genuinely for the first time in what feels like forever. The reality of today came flooding back.
Harrison. Timer. Mother. Victoria.

Devon stirred beside me, I could feel him tilting over me, to examine whether I was awake or asleep.
I didn't want to lose this all too soon - so I shut my eyes and relaxed my face, smoothing my breathing out to long, slow breaths.

I felt him kiss my cheek, brush my hair off my face and chuckle to himself, before turning on his side and holding me close to him. Tighter than ever before.
It was easy to dose off again in his company.

I can worry when I wake up later.

For now, I'll enjoy what time I have left with him.

•

So hey!? I know this chapter was a bit naff, trust me... but considering everything that is going on in the world right now, I wanted to get back into this book and ultimately give everyone something to read (and hopefully get excited about) during these scary times.

Also, just a quick update. I was wondering if anyone had any questions they'd like to submit to me for a Q&A on this book? Please, send in any questions for any character and they'll answer you!!! Just comment on this line. And I'll arrange it!

Stay safe everyone :) its good to be back!

Katie x

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