Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

He headed out into the garden, down the steep path, and across the small field.

“Draven, what are you doing? Please, stop. You’re scaring me.”

He didn’t let go even as he heard the fear in her voice.

Ten years ago, he’d have pulled her into his arms, protected her, stopped her from feeling fear or pain, or anything. All fucking four of them would have been there for her. She’d belonged to all of them, but she had to go and throw it in his face, in all of their faces.

Now, he relished her fear, wanted it.

He wanted her to experience everything he’d felt in the past ten years, but also, what he’d had to deal with after she left.

“Will you stop and just talk to me?”

Talking was over.

He got to the building. This was where they kept the disobedient women that were brought here. A couple of days out here in the winter, and well, some women died because of it, men too.

Oh, yes, rather than fight the inevitable, he’d expanded into men but taken kids off the menu. He had some morals still at least.

Harper fought him, trying to pry his fingers from around her wrist. Draven held her tightly and pulled her down into the cells.

Opening one up, he threw her inside and locked the door. Harper cried out as she landed on the hard ground. He held the bars of her cell tightly, staring down at her. She looked so small, so fragile, breakable.

Draven intended to break her. He was going to hurt her. This was just the beginning.

She got up, and the sound of a rat scurrying echoed in the small space. She turned her head, and he saw the tears fall down her cheeks. She looked pretty when she cried.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

He smiled. “What happened to me?”

“You heard me.”

“Nothing happened to me, Harper. I grew up. I saw that there was no point in fighting this. Fighting who I am.”

She stepped toward the cage, and he saw she limped.

“Who you are?”

He smiled at her.

“You’ve become the exact monster your father wanted.”

“You want to talk about my father?”

“Where is he? Is he laughing right now? Joyous in knowing he got what he wanted.”

Draven smiled again. “My father is dead.”

“Oh,” Harper said.

“Yes, I killed him.”

She swallowed and looked away.

“What’s the matter, Harper? Can’t handle it?”

“You killed your own father and yet you’ve let mine live?” she asked.

“Oh, yes, you see, my father betrayed me. He didn’t like that not only did I take this place, and expand, I moved him from the top. When I decided to help him, to make all of this mine, my end game wasn’t the same as his. I’m a fucking king, and there’s no way I’d work to put someone else in my place. I don’t follow. I lead.”

“And now you own Stonewall.”

“Yes, I do. People bow as I pass.”

“And my dad?”

“He’s your dad now?” Draven chuckled. “You called him out of the blue a few days ago. What makes you think he’s your dad?”

“He told you about the phone call?”

Draven burst out laughing. “No. Not until I was at his home, asking him. Hannah, his trusty little whore, told me. You know how she works for me. Poor guy though, she’s let herself go, and well, I wouldn’t want to ride that.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Be careful, Harper. It’s nearly winter. It’s getting a lot colder. I leave you in here too long, well, the outcome would be what I want but a little different.” He winked at her. “I’m going to go now. It’s a little too cold for my taste. I like something warm.”

He turned on his heel, and even as she yelled his name, he ignored her.

Stepping back in the direction he came, he walked into the kitchen and found Axel, eating a sandwich.

“She’s out in the cells?” Axel asked.

“She’s where she belongs.”

Axel laughed.

“You knew where she was all this time?”

“No. I didn’t. I recognized the number, and I recalled Stephanie going on and on about a chick she employed. To be honest, unless it involves my dick, I didn’t pay attention.”

“So, what happened?”

“I was fucking the shit out of her, and well, Harper returned with their lunch, and now we’re here.” Axel took a bite of his sandwich. “Her bag’s in the car. I’ve also dealt with the fiancé.”

“How did you manage that?”

“Got her to break up with him over the phone.”

“I’m going to need more information,” Draven said.

He didn’t like that she had a fiancé. That she’d had a chance at a happy future.

“Like what?”

“Does he know where she comes from? Does he know about Stonewall? Will he be coming here to find her?”

“Shit, I didn’t find out any of that information. He was a persistent fucker.”

Draven clenched his teeth but didn’t say a word. He was pissed off. Of course he was.