Black Promises: A Dark New Adult Romance

by B. B. Hamel

  And at the end of the day, the man was still her dad.

  I could relate. I loved my parents still, even if I also hated them.

  Jarrod banged around in the shower then got dressed before coming out. He sat on the chair and stretched his legs out with a sigh. Robyn gave him a nod and he nodded back, and we fell into a comfortable silence as Anchorman played on TV.

  This was not the direction I pictured for my life.

  When I imagined a life post-murder, there was only a blank, gray expanse. Right after the killing, I struggled to find meaning, and drifted along with whatever, mostly because I didn’t know what I wanted. But slowly, Jarrod brought me out of my shell and made me see that life was worth living, even if I had trauma in my past, if bad things happened to me, I couldn’t let those things destroy me.

  I could accept it and grow. What Dr. Silver did to me would never disappear. What he did to Sam and all the other victims was etched in time, immutable and unchanging. Each was its own moment, a new branching path.

  I wouldn’t remain stuck there.

  Jarrod grinned at me midway through the movie and I smiled back. I knew what he was thinking—he couldn’t wait for Robyn to leave so he could strip me naked and do all the filthy things I loved.

  And I adored it. Although we’d only been living together for a little while, just a few short weeks, his flame hadn’t dimmed one bit. It was like every day was new, and we went on little adventures together—or sometimes found adventures at home in our bed.

  He was mine and I was his.

  It was that simple. Our life together was founded on blood and horror, but we forged something better from that together. If I had taken Dr. Silver’s life on my own, I never would’ve survived what came after.

  But with Jarrod, I could grow.

  I could be a better person. And hopefully help him to become a better man.

  After the movie, Robyn said goodnight. I hugged her outside. “Are you sure you want to leave?”

  “You two need privacy. I caught the look he was giving you.”

  I blushed, extremely embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him about that.”

  “No, it’s okay. You two are really in love, aren’t you?”

  I nodded slowly. “What we did brought us together.”

  “I bet it did.” She took a deep breath of the frigid air then shoved her hands in her pocket. “Just be careful, okay?”

  “I will be, I promise.”

  We never exactly talked about Dr. Silver. She knew Jarrod and I killed him, but I’d never explicitly said so, and she never wanted me to. That worked enough—she had plausible deniability, and I could pretend like my best friend didn’t see me as a murderer.

  I hugged her and she got into her car and left. I went back inside and crawled into Jarrod’s lap.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “Barely holding on.” I kissed his neck. “I’m worried about her.”

  “I’m sorry. Can I do anything?”

  “I don’t think so. Just try to be patient. She’ll probably be over here a lot.”

  “That’s okay, so long as when she leaves, you’re all mine.”

  I kissed him, slow and deep. “I’m always yours.”

  “That’s right, little freak.”

  “You’re still calling me that?”

  “Only because you love it.” He grabbed my hair and pulled.

  God, it hurt, and it felt good.

  He was right.

  I really did love it.

  Epilogue: Robyn

  One Year Later

  Dad’s sentencing was a nightmare.

  Local reporters camped outside the courtroom and ambushed my mother and me as we approached the steps. The guy was a portly jerk with a camera, a microphone, and an ugly smile.

  “Are you proud that your father murdered a pedophile?”

  “Did your father kill Dr. Silver because of his involvement with children?”

  “Will the judge be lenient because your father murdered such a heinous man?”

  We pushed past them and went inside. The courthouse was big and spacious, a glass-walled mausoleum. Men and women in suits walked around with purpose, carrying briefcases and file folders, while bored-looking security guards lounged around near the metal detectors.

  Mom didn’t say much. She hadn’t said much since Dad went to prison. There was no trial—Dad took a plea bargain, despite maintaining his innocence the whole time. The hearing was a formality, and I only showed up for my mother, who insisted on going.

  We knew he was going to jail for at least ten years.

  I led Mom into the courtroom. She sat down and clutched her purse against her chest. Her eyes were red and puffy from lack of sleep.

  She didn’t cry anymore.

  I didn’t either. I wasn’t sad Dad was going to prison—I only wished he were going away for the right reasons.

  They brought Dad out in cuffs and prison browns. He smiled at me and Mom, and I didn’t smile back. I thought of Jarrod and Cora back in their trailer, drifting through their days in bliss, while Dad was stuck behind cold concrete walls.

  He deserved it. But he didn’t kill Dr. Silver.

  Cora never came out and said it. Jarrod never exactly admitted it either, but I knew. They were the ones who murdered that pedophile asshole, and I wasn’t sad about it.

  The only thing I regretted was that the world would never know why my father deserved to be in prison.

  He’d also gained something of a reputation. People liked the story of a local man taking the law into his own hands and punishing the guilty. Not everyone, of course—but some people online started calling him the Pedophile Killer, and it started to stick in the local media.

  I hated those people. Dad didn’t deserve it.

  He looked like hell. Skinny, pallid. Slightly yellow. He sat bent over, glaring at the table.

  The judge sentenced him to ten years as expected.

  Mom turned her back on him as they led him away.

  I watched my father go and knew I might never see him again. He was young enough and could survive prison for ten years, but I didn’t think I’d ever go see him when he got out. I certainly wouldn’t visit him there.

  Mom slumped against me as I led her into the hallway.

  “That was hard,” she said softly, staring ahead with a faraway gaze.

  I wanted to feel bad for her, but it was tough.

  She enabled my father’s abuse by not doing anything about it.

  “It’s over now. Dad’s going away.”

  She nodded and put on a weak smile. “Ten years isn’t so long.”

  Ten years would wipe her out and bleed her dry.

  I didn’t want to go back outside. The reporters would be there again with their questions, and I hated them. I hated everyone.

  I was never a bitter person. Even when my father used to whip my back bloody with his belt, I didn’t resent the world. I did my best to see the good everywhere.

  I was angry now.

  Jarrod talked about justice. He talked about people getting what they deserved.

  There was no justice in this world.

  I stopped walking. Up ahead, standing near the elevators, was a lone person leaning against the wall. He wore a slim suit, navy blue, with a perfect shirt and tie. His eyes met mine and a strange smile quirked his lips.

  Calvin Solar. What the hell was he doing here?

  “Do you mind if I talk to Calvin for a second, Mom?”

  She looked up, blinked, and shrugged. “Go ahead. I could use the ladies’ room before we go.”

  “Thanks.”

  She disengaged herself and walked off.

  Calvin came to me then, his eyes locked on me, like a shark drifting toward a school of unsuspecting fish.

  I’d known Calvin for years. He’d been friends with Jarrod, and of all the Horsemen, he was the least objectionable. He never joined in on their taunting and teasing at least, and even sometimes spoke
up for me. I never understood why.

  Until six months ago, the letters started.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I knew your father was getting sentenced today. I thought it might be difficult for you.”

  I struggled not to lose my temper. “I told you already—”

  He moved closer. Calvin was like a panther—beautiful and deadly, and all kinds of wrong for me.

  “And I told you, Robyn, I don’t give a damn what you want.”

  My jaw snapped shut. I took two deep breaths to keep myself from screaming at him. I didn’t need this right now—not today, not on one of the worst days of my life.

  I had too many mixed emotions coursing through my veins, and Calvin was the worst of it all.

  The letters were like a jackhammer in my brain. Each word stung, and each word enticed. I pulled them from my drawer every night and drank it down like poison, reading them again and again as I slipped my hand between my legs and writhed, heart pounding with hate and lust—

  He came closer. Calvin was beautiful in all the ways I hated. Perfect and clean.

  But beneath that facade, I knew something rotten grew deep.

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  I tilted my chin up. “You have nothing I want.”

  “What if I said I could make sure your father was never released from prison?”

  I tried not to show my shock. I knew Calvin had connections, but this seemed like one step too far.

  And yet I drifted nearer. I spoke quieter. I stared into his eyes, feeling a disgusting eagerness take shape.

  “How?”

  One word. One question to damn me to hell.

  “Don’t worry about how. Just know that it can be done. Ten years isn’t such a long time, my little bird.”

  I bristled at the nickname. He knew I hated it. He used it anyway.

  “What do you want in exchange?” I was wary now. Calvin could do a lot of things, but they all came at a cost.

  I was afraid I couldn’t afford him.

  “I need your help. You know that my father’s been sick?”

  I nodded slowly. Only because of his letters. The Solar family was notoriously private, despite dripping with intergenerational wealth.

  “You said it was bad.”

  “And getting worse. I’m afraid he won’t be around for long, and there are a lot of loose ends that need tying up before he goes.”

  “I’m not sure how I can help with that.”

  He was quiet for a moment, watching me, studying me. Calvin was like that—so observant, so serious.

  Sometimes I wanted to peek below his surface and see what made him move.

  “My family isn’t normal. Our world is based on tradition and formality. It has helped keep us in power for as long as we have, and my father insists that all the correct forms are followed.”

  “Once he’s gone, what will it matter?”

  “He’ll still have some control.” He spoke bitterly and looked away. “There’s one thing you can do for me. One thing that will make this transition much easier. And if you agree, I’ll make sure your father never leaves prison.”

  “What?” I whispered, so afraid of what he was about to say.

  “Give me an heir.” He stared at me, eyes dark and foreboding. “Become my wife.”

  I took a step back. “You’re joking.”

  “My father won’t let me inherit control of the business until I am married and my wife is pregnant. Until that time, his advisors and trusted partners will keep control. I have no power until—” He stopped himself, eyes blazing. “I have no power until you’re my wife and filled with my child.”

  “No,” I said, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

  He was offering me something many women would die for. The chance to join the Solar family alone was worth the price of marrying him—though I knew that price was a low one, considering how handsome and popular and rich he was. On top of that, he was offering to keep my father locked up, which I wanted so desperately it hurt.

  And yet I couldn’t do it. Calvin scared me, terrified me really—those letters burned in my chest like hot coals.

  “You don’t have to answer now.”

  “I can’t marry you.”

  He came closer. “You will.”

  “There are a thousand girls that would gladly throw themselves at you.”

  “And there’s only one you.” He stopped his advance. “I’ll give you a week to say yes.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  He tilted his head. “I dare you to find out.”

  Without another word, he turned and walked away. I watched him go, stomach churning, hands shaking.

  One week to say yes. And if I didn’t—

  I thought of the letters. All those explicit, filthy letters.

  I hated him for them. Loved him too.

  “Where’d Calvin go?”

  I jumped and turned. Mom stood there, frowning at the hallway.

  “He left,” I said and my voice sounded shaky.

  Mom didn’t notice. She didn’t notice a lot of stuff these days. I put my arm around her and she leaned on me.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said softly. “I can’t stand this place.”

  “I’m right there with you.”

  I steered her to the elevators.

  I don’t know when Calvin decided he wanted me. Maybe when the letters started, or maybe before. I couldn’t say for certain—but he didn’t hide his desires.

  He spelled them out, one filthy word after the next.

  One week to say yes.

  And if I didn’t?

  I had a feeling Calvin would drag me through hell until I finally gave him what he wanted.

  Sign up for my newsletter and get a free book plus other exclusive bonus content! >> Click Here to get started!

  Looking for your new obsession? Start the Valentino Crime Family series! The Killer’s New Wife is a steamy, over-the-top mafia romp full of steamy scenes and lots of page-turning suspense. >>Click Here to start reading!

  Also by BB Hamel

  All my books are standalones, extreme steamy, and have a guaranteed Happily-Ever-After!

  Click Here for the whole catalogue on Amazon!

  Series include Daddies, SEAL Team Hotties, Hate to Love, Second Chances, Baby Daddy, Miracle Babies, and more.

  Thanks so much for reading! As an indie author, your support means absolutely everything to me.

  XO, BB