Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

His driver climbed behind the wheel, and Draven gave him the order to take him back home to Stonewall. Sitting back, he thought about Harper. Even now, after ten years, he was so fucking angry.

The last time he saw her, she’d been smiling at him, giving him no hint that she intended to run.

While they’d been trapped in the mall with a lunatic, she’d been running away. He’d been fucking scared. Terrified. Instead of helping Buck, he’d gone to the bathroom to find she’d left.

If he’d not wasted so much time, things may have been different. His father had told him she’d gone to their enemies, men who wanted to know the inner workings of their world, and had sold their secrets. Then, he’d seen the proof. The way she took random girls as she worked for their enemies, looking so fucking happy with her life away from him. Every time he saw her smiling face in the photographs, he’d wanted to destroy her.

Cutting off his thoughts, he stared out of the window. What happened, happened. He wasn’t going to change it.

His driver parked on the driveway, and Draven was already out of the car and heading up to his home. Still no sign of Axel.

Taking a seat in his sitting room, he poured himself a large whiskey and waited. The cigars his father used to love were locked away in a safe. Draven never smoked them as he hated the taste.

He drank the entire glass of whiskey and poured himself a second. The time ticked by, and he waited. His patience was wearing a bit thin, but he stayed patient. As with all things in life, patience always paid off.

Axel’s car sounded in the driveway.

In a few seconds he’d see Harper for the first time in ten years.

Sitting back in anticipation, he heard the door open.

“Oh, Draven. Come out, come out, wherever you are?” Axel yelled for all to hear.

He didn’t say a word.

“Let me go.”

Ah, her voice.

The fear echoed down the hall. He heard her release a gasp, and seconds later, she appeared in his office, Axel holding her arm.

She was clearly hurting.

Draven didn’t say a word.

He stared. There was no mistaking this was Harper.

Her raven hair was lush and so much longer, it fell to her waist in ringlets. Her blue eyes shot fire and ice just like always. Her curves were still there.

If he was to put her up on the auction block, she’d fetch him a fortune. Shame she wasn’t a virgin. He’d have gotten triple for her, but then, he’d taken care of that pesky cherry years ago.

They stared at each other. The clothes she wore did little to hide the woman beneath.

Standing up, he took a sip of his whiskey and stepped up to her. The scent of citrus still clung to her. She either used a fragrance or soap. Where once it turned him on, it now offended him.

It reminded him of a time long ago, and he hated the stench.

Reaching out, he grabbed her jaw, turning her face to look at him.

“Draven,” she said. Her words were almost impossible to decipher as he held her still.

“Hello, Harper. Long time, no see.” He turned her face this way and that. “Completely unharmed.”

Axel nodded down at her neck.

Releasing her face, Draven pulled the collar of her shirt away to reveal the bruises.

“Was she naughty?” Draven asked.

“She tried to run from me. Thought she could get away.” Axel laughed. “You know, she’s been working for that florist I’ve been banging. Fucking tight pussy and dirty to the core.”

“She has.”

“Yes. I guess it was one of those things where we constantly missed each other. Shame, this could have happened months ago.”

Axel stepped away from Harper, and he heard the sound of glass on glass, pouring himself a drink.

Harper stood. He saw how awkward she looked. Unsure. Nervous.

“Look, I can see that you’re pissed.”

“You think I’m pissed.”

“What happened ten years ago, I can explain.”

“You want to explain to me why you betrayed me. Betrayed all of us?”

“I didn’t betray you.”

He stared at her. The urge to hit her was strong, but he wasn’t going to. If he started hitting her right now, he wouldn’t stop.

He had big plans for her.

“I don’t want to deal with you tonight.”

Putting his whiskey down on the counter, he grabbed her arm and pulled her along the corridor. He passed men who didn’t even look at him.

He forced their loyalty, tested them relentlessly. They all knew not to interfere with his dealings. People who came onto his property were always handled by him.

Draven only employed people who were loyal to him. Those that were loyal, were always handsomely rewarded, and those that weren’t, suffered. He made sure every man and woman were given the option. Those that failed didn’t live to see another day.