Devil’s Captive: Fallen Dynasty Book One Read online

  Devil’s Captive

  Fallen Dynasty Book One

  Isabella Starling

  Kelli Callahan

  Contents

  About the book

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  1. Violet

  2. Devlin

  3. Violet

  4. Devlin

  5. Violet

  6. Devlin

  7. Violet

  8. Violet

  9. Devlin

  10. Devlin

  11. Violet

  12. Devlin

  13. Violet

  14. Devlin

  15. Violet

  16. Devlin

  17. Violet

  18. Devlin

  19. Violet

  20. Devlin

  Exclusive sneak peek of Caged By Them

  Also by Kelli Callahan

  Also by Isabella Starling

  About Kelli Callahan

  About Isabella Starling

  About the book

  Bestselling authors Kelli Callahan and Isabella Starling present a new, sinfully dark romance series following the glamorous, filthy lives of the elite.

  There's a reason they call Devlin Windsor the Devil.

  He swore he’d own me, and when my family falls on hard times, one of his signature black envelopes arrives on my doorstep.

  The handsome, cruel, twisted Devil, who broke my heart years ago, is back.

  If I want to save my family, I have to sign my name on the dotted line…

  I don’t have a choice.

  I'm his captive now.

  His prisoner.

  His property.

  Devlin's going to do whatever he wants to me.

  And even though I'll deny it until my last breath... I can't wait for him to claim me.

  Devil's Captive is the first book following Devlin Windsor and Violet Cabot.

  Their story continues in Devil's Toy.

  Devil’s Captive (Book 1)

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  One

  Violet

  Present time

  “Come on, Miss Violet. You can’t sleep all day.” My maid, an older Hispanic woman named Maria, tugged on my curtains as she spoke to me.

  “I don’t want to get up—not yet.” I rubbed my eyes, but it was too late—the sun had already hit my face.

  “Happy Birthday, Violet.” Maria turned towards me with a warm smile once the sun was violating my vision.

  “Oh!” The sleepiness faded, and I felt excitement rushing through my veins. “It’s my birthday! I’m eighteen!”

  “Yep, enjoy it while it lasts.” Maria chuckled and walked over to my closet. “Do you want to wear that new dress your father bought you?”

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” I raised my eyebrows and grinned. “I have to eat breakfast before I even try to figure out what I’m going to wear today.”

  “Breakfast is coming.” Maria nodded and looked towards the door as it was pushed open by my butler, Henry.

  Maria and Henry had been working for my father at the Cabot Estate longer than I had been alive, and they felt more like family than hired help. They had also been secretly dating for at least five years, and I was helping Maria plan the wedding—they just had to find a way to tell my father that they both needed time off at the same time. I was pretty sure the whole estate was going to fall apart while they were away on their honeymoon, but I could worry about that later—it was my birthday, and it was time for breakfast in bed.

  * * *

  “Delicious as always, Henry.” I smiled and put my empty plate on the tray beside me. “But, I know the cake you’re baking for my party is going to be even better!”

  “I’m trying something new this year—I think you’ll like it.” Henry gave me a slight nod and started pushing the tray towards the door.

  “Now you have no excuse not to get up.” Maria walked out of the bathroom that was attached to my bedroom, and I heard the water running into my large oval-shaped tub.

  “I guess not…” I pushed the covers back and headed towards the bathroom.

  I bathed, with Maria’s help, and then got dressed for my big day. I had been looking forward to my eighteenth birthday party since I finished the last slice of my cake from the previous year. I was officially an adult—as much of an adult as I could be living in the Cabot Estate, where luxury was the only world I knew. I was aware that I was incredibly spoiled and had a life that some people only dreamed about, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. The real world would be different—and I was prepared for that. I couldn’t be Hugo Cabot’s little girl forever if I wanted to have my own identity one day—and run Cabot Enterprises once my father retired.

  * * *

  “Daddy!” I smiled as I walked into the lavish living room, which had been decorated for my birthday party.

  “Hello, sweetheart.” My father’s warm smile always made my heart melt when I saw it. “Are you ready for your party?”

  “I don’t know.” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Did you get me a pony?”

  “You have two thoroughbreds in the stable, young lady—I hardly think you need a pony.” He suppressed a laugh, but he still chuckled.

  “Ugh, fine. What did you get me?” I rolled my eyes, but my tone reflected the fact that I wasn’t serious about my request.

  “You have to wait for your party.” He pointed at the table near the entrance of the room. “A few people couldn’t make it, so they sent their gifts ahead of time.”

  “Wow, that’s a lot more than last year. Is anyone coming?” I felt a bit of concern when I saw the stack of presents.

  “Yes, probably more friends than family this year, though.” He exhaled sharply. “Georgia said she might be late.”

  Hearing my older sister’s name sent a chill through my body, but it wasn’t because of her. It was her husband I didn’t want to see. He was a creep—the kind of creep that thought money gave him the right to do anything he wanted, and that included trying to put his hands on me once. I showed him that I didn’t appreciate his advances with a swift knee to the groin, and I guess you could say that our relationship had been strained ever since. I tried to tell my sister, but she didn’t believe me for a second and called me a spoiled brat. If she skipped my party entirely, I wouldn’t be that upset.

  “Wow, yeah—there’s going to be a few empty chairs this year.” I scanned the names on the gifts, feeling disappointed that I wouldn’t get to see a few people I liked, but excited to find out what they got me.

  I saw a gift sitting near the edge of the table from my brother, Rhys. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t be coming to my party, but seeing his name on one of the gifts confirmed it. His relationship with our father was—complicated. Rhys wanted to be his own man and had no interest in working at Cabot Enterprises. My father always expected his only son to be his successor at the head of the table. When Rhys declined, it left a rift in our family.

  At least I wouldn’t have to worry about them coming to blows before I ever opened my first gift.

  Two

  Devlin

  2 years ago

  Little Violet Cabot was all grown up.

  Granted, it had been a few years since I’d seen her, but even I couldn’t have anticipated her blossoming quite so beautifully. She’d gone from a duckling to a perfect swan, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  “What are you staring at?” she asked playfully, sticking her tongue out at me.


  “Nothing at all,” I replied with a prim smile. “Are you almost done, princess? I don’t have all day.”

  “Almost,” she promised, disappearing back into the changing room. “Just three more dresses to go.”

  I groaned, but secretly, I was pleased. Any extra time I got to spend in the pretty brunette’s company was a welcome distraction from the fuck-ups I had to deal with at work.

  Violet was only sixteen. And goddamn, did I need that reminder.

  At twenty-four, I was too old for her and should know better than eyeing my father’s business associate with hungry eyes. She was jail-fucking-bait, plain and simple.

  And I couldn’t fuck up the task my father had given me – to accompany poor little rich girl Violet and help her pick a prom dress since Daddy dearest was too busy to do it himself.

  I could see the disappointment in her eyes when she realized her father wasn’t coming, but like a selfish prick, I was pleased when she jumped into my arms, holding on tight. It was as if no time had passed at all.

  “I haven’t seen you in so long,” she whispered in my ear. “I thought you forgot all about me.”

  When she pulled back, I was once again mesmerized by her. Those clear green eyes, the mane of dark brown hair and her pretty, porcelain-skinned face…

  She wasn’t just a looker, she was a beauty you remembered after catching a single glance of her. And she was only sixteen. The thought of what she’d look like in a couple of years made my cock jump to attention.

  “I could never forget you,” I told her honestly, and when her pout broke out into a smile, I knew I’d been forgiven.

  I’d been busy with school and business. If I was honest with myself, I was busy being my father’s bitch, and I fucking hated every second of it.

  Normally, I would have objected to the errand he’d given me, but who could resist a pretty girl in a gorgeous little dress? I wasn’t about to deny myself the pleasure.

  The curtains opened and out she came again, this time in a white two-piece number that made her look angelic.

  The lace clung to her body, with the top part of the outfit revealing inches of her smooth navel, and the tight skirt hugging her hips overlaid with a sheer layer of white lace.

  “What do you think of this one?” she asked, turning around in front of the mirror.

  You look fucking good enough to eat, princess.

  I swallowed the words on the tip of my tongue and offered her a charming smile in response.

  “I think it’s as perfect as the other twenty-seven you’ve tried on.”

  “Four,” she reminded me with a giggle. “I’ve only tried on four others.”

  “Why is this prom thing so important to you, anyway?” I asked. “As far as I remember, you never seemed to give a shit about high school activities.”

  She smoothed down her skirt in front of the mirror, critically eyeing her reflection. I wanted to tell her how perfect she looked, but I had to bite my tongue again. She wasn’t ready. Two more fucking years.

  “I’m going with a boy I like,” she finally blurted, the words coming out in more of a whisper.

  I stood up from the bench in the luxurious designer changing room.

  “Excuse me?”

  She rolled her eyes and turned to face me, a vision in her little outfit.

  “I knew you’d freak out,” she said. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

  My hands formed fists at my sides as I fired off questions.

  “Who is he? Do I know him? Is he a nice guy? Do I need to beat some sense into him?”

  Violet’s melodic laughter echoed in the changing room.

  “Yes, I think you do know him,” she finally admitted. “I think he’s one of your friends’ little brother. Matthew Hill?”

  My eyes darkened. I knew Matthew’s brother, Calvin, alright. And he wasn’t a very nice guy. Then again, neither was I. But Violet deserved the best.

  And if I couldn’t have her, nobody fucking would.

  “I don’t like that you’re going with him,” I told her plainly, and she narrowed her eyes at me, putting her hands on her hips.

  “Well, forgive me if I think you don’t get to have an opinion,” she told me. “You’ve been gone for what, two years now? Not a single call, not a single text, Devlin. How could you forget about me like that?”

  I could tell she was hurting, but I couldn’t tell her the truth.

  “Been busy,” I got out through gritted teeth.

  “Yeah, use that excuse with someone else.” She rolled her eyes before checking out her reflection one last time. “Just help me pick this dress so we can leave already.”

  Her tone was hurt, upset. And I was pissed with myself for making her feel that way, but I didn’t have a goddamn choice. Fuck you, Dad.

  “Try on the next one,” I told her, trying to make my tone placating. “The red one you picked out. I liked that one.”

  She rewarded me with a tiny smile before disappearing back behind the curtain.

  I found myself trying to catch a glimpse of her in the mirror, chiding myself for being such a perverted fuck. But how the hell was I supposed to resist her? I’d been protective of her since we were kids. The only reason I’d disappeared was because my father had noticed. He warned me against ever touching her.

  I had an inheritance to think of.

  A family to please.

  And as my father explained, no pussy was worth betraying your family for.

  Sometimes I hated his fucking logic, even though I knew it made sense. It was especially annoying when it deprived me of the sweet, forbidden fruit that was Violet Cabot.

  “Devlin!”

  I turned in the direction of the voice, finding Violet peeking from behind the pale pink curtain, a smile lighting up her face. She looked so pretty. So innocent. So fucking wrong for me.

  “Yes?” I growled.

  “I think this one’s a winner!” she exclaimed, all grudges forgotten as she pulled the curtain open and sashayed into the waiting area.

  She was wearing a beaded red and black cocktail dress with a deep V-bodice and a lace fringe at the bottom, and she looked breathtaking.

  The dress was cut provocatively, revealing her décolletage and her toned arms, not to mention those mile-long legs. She wasn’t tall, but her body was sinful.

  Whoever this Matthew was, he was goddamn lucky he’d scored her as a date to prom.

  “Can you help zip me up?” she asked, lifting her mane of dark hair above her neck and exposing her bare back to me.

  I swallowed my groan and approached her, touching the cold metal of the zipper and being careful not to brush my fingers over her skin. That would have been a fucking death sentence. My cock was already throbbing in my pants.

  I zipped her up, taking a step back and eyeing her in the mirror.

  She looked good next to me. Like we were made to be together.

  I cleared my throat and stepped aside, muttering, “Yeah, just pick one already. I have a party to get to.”

  She shot me a disappointed look, then nodded without saying a word and retreating into the changing room. Once she emerged, she gave me the red and black dress without meeting my eyes.

  I paid for it with her Dad’s credit card, ignoring the sales assistant flirting with me as she packed up Violet’s dress. I handed the pale pink cardboard box with a huge black satin bow to my girl, and she beamed up at me.

  “We’ll drop you off at your house,” I told her. “You got shoes to go with your dress?”

  “I do,” she said with a nostalgic smile. “My mom was the same size, so I was going to wear one of her Louboutins.”

  “Good girl,” I muttered before I could stop myself.

  A glance at Violet revealed her pleasure at being called those two little words. It was all the proof I needed. I had a feeling she’d turn out to be a submissive doll and seeing her react so readily to my words only cemented my feelings.

  The ride back to her place was
spent with her chattering about the dance and me stewing in my own jealousy. Once we reached the Cabot Estate, she climbed out and blew me a kiss.

  “Have fun at your party, Devlin,” she said with a bright smile.

  “Yeah,” I grunted. “You too.”

  Three

  Violet

  Present time

  “Annie, I’m so glad you made it!” I walked over to greet my best friend as she walked through the front door and removed her designer sunglasses.

  “Do you think I would miss a Cabot party?” She looked around the room. “Where’s the alcohol?”

  “My father is not going to serve you alcohol.” I giggled, grabbed her arm, and lowered my voice so nobody else could hear what I was about to say. “Maria is serving drinks, and I told her to put something extra in your cup.”

  “I knew you were my best friend for a reason.” She nodded in understanding and walked with me towards the room where the party was being held.

  There were a lot of guests that I recognized, but most of them weren’t my friends. A party at Cabot Manor, even if it was for my birthday, required invitations to people my father did business with. They would have felt snubbed if they didn’t get an opportunity to decline, and some of them came because it meant they might get some one-on-one time with a father—a rarity for most people. I walked around the room, greeting people I knew, meeting the new significant others I didn’t, and hugging the few members of my family that had been able to come. Nobody from my mother’s side of the family came, but that wasn’t a surprise. She passed when I was five, and I only knew most of them by name rather than appearance. Some of them would have been strangers if we passed on the street.