20 Dark Connections

Davis' P.O.V.

"What are we doing here, Davis?"

Frank was the first in the group to speak. There had never been a time I had seen him intimidated, not even now in a room full of criminals and large men with even larger muscles. He had buzzed his black hair down for the summer, barely leaving any on his scalp. It only added to his tough demeanor as he crossed his arms, scanning the room with nothing more than disdain.

"I need a favor. Quite a few favors, actually. I am calling in what I'm owed."

"Must be pretty big for all of us to be called here," he mused, gesturing with his head around the room.

"Each of you has a specific set of skills that I need. Starting with you, Frank."

"I'm all ears, Dave," he smirked at me, using my least liked nickname. He was trying to get under my skin like old times. The man was annoying as hell, but the only one I knew who was able to hack into any security system around without getting caught.

"I need you to hack into Porter's business building security. Shut down the cameras, and once I am up, shut down the elevators."

"What exactly do you need me for?" Lucius asked.

He was the darkest of the ones I had called here. A mercenary I met while trying to find Grace's murderer. He had never lost a fight until he met me, and as such, stuck by my side like an unwanted blemish. He was someone I liked to keep at a distance. I had seen the smile that crossed his face as he heard his victims scream. It was one that still plagued my dreams at times.

"What you do best, Luc."

His evil grin stretched across his face like the Cheshire cat, a grin that lingers. His silver hair hung over the large scar that stretched across his face. He hadn't aged so well over the years, but that was easy to believe, considering his line of work.

His face now held a few wrinkles around his forehead and eyes. He may have aged, but his body still looks as physically fit as it did a decade ago. His muscles flexed as he fisted his hands beside him in excitement. The man reeked of evil, with an ominous aura that spread out around him like a thick fog.

"Who's the target?"

"Idris Porter," I said his name with such disdain, feeling it drip out of me like poison. A father who wasn't a father at all. A man turned evil to keep his business going.

"He's a pretty big figurehead, Dave. Can't make him disappear without questions, even if I hack his social media," Frank questioned me, as usual, always ready to pick me apart. Anything to try to show he was superior.

"Not trying to kill him, Frank. Just hurt him."

Even though I'd much rather kill him.

"What's to say he won't retaliate? The man has money to make us all pay," this time it was Derek that spoke.

He didn't like this plan, not one bit, but he knew it was the only way. He had been working through the ledger, but working on trying to turn everyone against Idris would take too long, and even then, some would be unwilling to cooperate with us.

"That's where Mandy comes in." I gestured to Mandy, who had been silently standing to the side in the darkness of the shadows. Not a single one had noticed her. That was what made her so special. She was so easy to miss because of her small stature and quiet nature. It made her perfect for what she did best.

"Mandy is going to get close to Idris and find dirt on him so that not even he will let it see the light of day."

Her small round face broke into a smile as her little legs strode towards us and out of the shadows she'd been hiding in. Her dark ebony skin mirrored that of Carter's, her cousin. She had short curly hair and hazel eyes that seemed to glow. Her smile made you think of someone kind and warm, which she could be when she wanted to be, but those instances were rare. She even strikes fear in Carter, and a little in me.

"I've already checked him out, and know just how to approach him." Her small voice made her seem sweet and innocent, yet she was anything but. She could bring a man down to his knees in an instant. I've seen her do it countless times.

"This hinges on her?" Frank laughed, pointing to her as if she was nothing.

Mandy took offense, jumping on him in an instant. She was like a rabid monkey, climbing all around him and punching him anywhere she could. He would go to grab her, but she'd climb out of the way. At one point, she was dangling from his arm, kicking him in the face.

"Alright, alright. I get it," Frank yelled, having had his ass handed to him, in front of us all, by little miss Mandy. He didn't even have time to strike back.

"Now that that's settled, let's talk about the timeline."

"I'm working on the judge now, but it seems Idris has something on him. If we can get our hands on that blackmail and make it disappear, then he'd be out of Idris' pocket," Derek informed us.

"Think you can find it while you're around him, Mandy?"

"Easy," she scoffed, as if offended I had to ask.

"Once we have the blackmail, and the judge out of his pocket, I'll call Frank and Lucius. That'll be the day we hurt him physically. Lisa will hurt his image throughout the week with whatever Mandy can find while she's around him as his new assistant. Lisa paid off the last one to quit and pushed Mandy's fake resume to the top. She's already been hired."

"I'm quite the charmer," she winked with a small chuckle.

Frank scoffed, obviously not finding her charming after she beat his ass. This only made Lucius laugh, and Derek smile in amusement. That only went on to sour Frank's mood further.

"Alright, enough teasing. Let's be serious. Do you guys understand what you need to do?"

"I always know what I need to do," Lucius replied with a cold smirk.

"Yeah, it's pretty fucking simple," Frank rolled his eyes as he spoke in an annoyed tone.

"I'm already on it," Mandy nodded.

"It's what I've been doing." Derek crossed his arms, leaning back, and staring at the door like he was ready to go already.

"Perfect. I'll keep in touch."

"I still don't understand why you have to go to their house." I was trying to be gentle as I spoke to Lisa, but it was hard, with my anger bubbling up inside me.

"It's the only way I am going to get what I need from dad," she responded simply. "I'll be fine, my Viking. I can handle myself better now, thanks to you and Izzy."

She was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn't working. I didn't like the idea of her being anywhere near those damn Darnell's. They were delusional sick assholes that should never be graced by her presence again.

She had a plan though, and who was I to deny her the revenge she so sought to accomplish? She had grown stronger. I couldn't deny that. I just wish I could be by her side, to help her, to support her, always.

"I know you can, Lisa, but it doesn't mean I like the thought of you alone with them."

"I have an idea for that," she smiled mischievously at me, piquing my interest immensely.

"Do tell," I smirked, pulling her close to me so I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin.

"I'll have Mandy come, too. She can come up with some excuse to interrupt our meeting, and I'll invite her to stay once she shows up. Dad won't send her away to save face with his new assistant."

I thought about it for a moment, feeling a lot better at the thought of Mandy being there with her. My fingers stroked her face delicately, brushing that beautiful black hair back. I leaned down to her, hovering over her lips for a moment.

"Okay, Lisa. I know you'll do great. Don't be afraid to blow the whole thing up if it goes sideways. I'll clean up whatever mess comes from it, I promise."

"Thank you, Davis."

She closed the small distance between us, kissing me so passionately it was like she sucked my soul out of me and joined it with hers. There was no removing her from me, from my heart, or even my skin. She was everything to me.

Lisa's P.O.V.

My heart was racing, but for once it wasn't because I was scared. Nervous? Yes. Scared? Never again, not for them. I knocked on the red door, greeted by Chris' younger brother. Why was he always answering the door? I really need to learn his name.

"Welcome to hell," he showed his youth as he spoke, stepping aside for me to enter. It was a nervous sort of dark humor he had. "He said you were coming, but I didn't believe it. Why are you here again?"

"Reasons."

I don't know him well enough to trust him with my true intentions. He helped us last time, but that could have been because he just wanted someone to beat his dad up for him. I guess we would see how he really was during this dinner.

"Reasons, sounds suspicious. I hope it's what I think it is."

I stared at him from the corner of my eye, watching him carefully. I recognized the mask he had placed on his face. It was the same one I would wear when I lived with dad. This place really was hell for him.

Poor kid.

"And what do you think it is?" I cocked my head to the side slightly as I met his eyes.

"To give Chris a beating this time?" He questioned with a shrug.

"Sadly, not this time."

"When you decide to do it, please let me be there."

I couldn't tell if he enjoys watching violence or if he just hates Chris and Daniel that much. The first was concerning. The second would make him an ally, one I could really use.

"Why?"

"He's an asshole, just like dad. I hate them both, with every single cell in my body."

I saw a darkness in him as he spoke, something deep and cruel. He had a deep hatred for his brother and father. Maybe there was a good Darnell in this family, after all.

"You and I both. Tell me your name. I didn't catch it when I was last here."

"I guess I sort of skipped that part when your friend told me about what dad did to you. My name's Grayson, but you can call me Jared. I go by my middle name just to piss off Dad. Mom picked it and he hates it." He had this childish smirk as he spoke, seeming happy to make his father mad.

"Okay, Jared. As you know, I'm Lisa and that friend you speak of? Her name is Izzy."

"Izzy," he whispered, as if he was in awe of it. I smirked, recognizing a crush when I saw one.

Good luck, buddy.

"Ah, Lisa, wonderful to see you again."

Daniel's voice registered from the top of the stairs as he made his way down. Each step was slow and intentional, trying to intimidate me, all the while holding a fake friendly smile on his face. He was still mad about what we'd done to him when we were last here. I was not sure what Jared did to keep him from pressing charges on us, but I was grateful for whatever it was.

"I can't say the same, Daniel."

The goal of today was to get them to hit me.

If I could get one of them to show their true colors while I was wearing this hidden camera in my broach, then I could hold it against them. If it got out that they hit women, they'd be ruined. So here I was being a bitch from the get go. At least I was great at pissing men off, so this shouldn't be too hard.

"Ouch, that hurts," he said, clutching his chest as if I had stabbed him with my words.

He feigned being hurt with amusement. He seems to be in a good mood, but I was not sure why. I didn't shy away, or back down as he approached me, leaning his head down to my ear to whisper.

"That is a very naughty video, Lisa."

Of course he watched it.

"Did you imagine yourself in place of your son?"

Taunt away, Lisa.

"Darling, I do a much better job than my son. You'd know that if you would have taken me up on my offer."

He backed away then, trailing his eyes down my body hungrily. I felt disgusted, wanting to shiver so badly, but I fought it off. I would not show any weakness, not even disgust.

"That's not saying much. Anybody could do a better job than your son. The worst sex of my life, that one." I rolled my eyes, surprising Daniel with my comment, and earning a small chuckle from Jared, who tried to cover it with a cough.

"I will let him know." Daniel narrowed his eyes at me as he leaned back a bit.

"Please, do. Spare that poor maid of his from anymore torture."

"What's gotten into you? You're not the same." Daniel noted, trying to piece me together.

"You're right, I'm not."

"Darling, I think your last visit has inflated your ego too much. Two against one isn't very fair." His hand stretched out towards me, grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it around his fingers. "Don't worry, I'll get you back today."

Just what I need. Go ahead, Daniel, hit me.

"I'll let you get one hit before I beat your ass again."

He laughed as if I said the funniest thing on the planet.

"What's so funny?" Chris' voice came from behind me. He had just stepped through the front door, seeing me, Jared, and Daniel together.

"You're future wife. She's a real comedian." Daniel shook his head, making his way towards the open dining room.

"Still whoring around with my dad, then?" Chris seethed, pushing past me as he walked towards the dining room after his father. He deliberately made his shoulder bump into my own.

"Not with your dad, never with your dad. I've seen your dick. I imagine your father is not much better. Very unsatisfying."

Chris was easier to rile up, seeing him halt his steps when he heard me. He turned with a clear fury in his eyes as he marched back towards me. His hand gripped my jaw hard, not easing for a moment.

"Keep it up, Lisa. I'll show you what I can really do with or without your permission."

"I'd like to see you try," I spat at him, but deep down, his threat made my blood run cold.

Rape seems to be the Darnell's kink.

Maybe not Jared's.

"Just wait, Lisa. I'll show you." He pushed my face back as he let go, walking back towards the dining room.

"Are you okay?" Jared asked, stepping closer to my side and looking at me with concern.

"Just peachy. Do me a favor?"

"Yeah, sure, what's up?"

"Tell me, what makes your dad really mad?"

Jared squinted his eyes at me for a quick second, trying to figure me out. He thought for a moment, looking at his father with trepidation. It would seem that behind that hatred he has for his father, he also holds fear, a deep fear.

"That's not a good idea."

"I can handle it. Just help me out."

He sighed, stepping in front of me so he could look at me head on. His eyes held worry as he took a deep breath and spoke.

"He gets angry at pretty much anything I do. He hates to be the smaller man at the table. Not to mention he goes crazy if you don't listen to his requests. He tries to make them sound like friendly ones, but if you refuse him, all hell breaks loose."

I thought back to the lunch we all had when I first met him. He'd forced me to order actual food. At first I thought it was his way of looking out for me, but now I see it was his way of testing me. Would I be obedient or not? Apparently, I would be. Not anymore though, never again.

"Got it. Thanks Jared." I squeezed his shoulder as I passed him, ready to enter the lion's den. Time to poke the lion and see if He would bite.

Sorry Jared, I may use you a little today.