Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

They had all hated his father as well. The power Alan wielded had come crashing down the moment Draven killed him, and in doing so, these people had sworn their loyalty to him. In return, he rewarded them handsomely.

Today would be one of the days he rewarded them.

“For a display of power, you’ve done really well,” Ian said, surprising Draven.

Not that he showed it. He turned to his lawyer and smiled. “I don’t recall sending you an invite.”

“You don’t recall a lot of things right now. I want to see Harper.”

“If you mean to take her away from me, be very careful here, Ian. I’ve got no problem killing you where you stand, or better yet, making you a mockery and sucking all the cock and pussy here. This is a dirty lot, and they love a good show.” He winked at him.

“I’m begging you not to do this.”

“And I have no interest in hearing you.”

“Harper is back now, Draven. She’s not leaving you. Can’t you just let this vendetta go for the both of you?”

“Her leaving killed two of my friends at different points, Ian. If you don’t want to see your daughter naked and punished later, I suggest you leave.”

Silence met his request, and he saw Ian was staring at him, really looking at him.

“Your father did finally break you.”

“Are you getting sentimental?”

“No, I just know that Harper will wake up and see this side of you. You’re going to break the only good thing in your life, and ten years ago, Draven, you cared for her.”

“Like you did with her mother?” Draven asked.

He watched as Ian flinched. He had no problem throwing and casting stones where necessary. When it came to Harper’s mother, they all knew the reason she killed herself.

“You think I don’t know why she ended her life? Why she took a blade to her wrists?”

“And that Harper found her. Don’t forget that part. Remember the part where your daughter had to pull her out of the bath.”

“Don’t you dare even try to pretend to me that you give a shit about my daughter when your sole aim is to hurt her.”

“I give more of a shit than you ever would,” he said. “Remember I was there for her. I knew how she was hurting. How she was breaking. You just wanted the young pussy my father had fed you. What he’d fed a lot of men over the years.”

“And you think throwing that in my face is going to help you?” Ian asked. “After whatever it is you have planned tonight, the hold you have on Harper will disintegrate. She will never look at you the same way, and I will give you this warning, you continue down this path, it’ll be you finding her in the red bathtub. I’ve lived through it. I picked Hannah, but not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did. I made my bed, and I’m lying in it, day in, day out. With Harper, I fucked up. She hates my guts, and I accept that. I’ve got no choice. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”

Before Draven could say anymore, Ian left. He watched the old man go, his grey hair disappearing into the distance.

“You think there’s a chance of that?” Axel asked.

Draven finished his whiskey and turned to his friend. “There’s always a risk.”

“You’re willing to take it.”

“I think you mistake me for someone who gives a fuck.”

“Damn it, Draven. I know you loved her once. I know you loved her all those years ago and that a part of you died having to share us with her. We all saw it. You didn’t tell us to stop. You were determined for us to have our shot, but that didn’t stop you from loving her. Not even for a second. This, you could lose her. I need to know you’re ready for that.”

“Axel, keep our guests occupied. This conversation is boring. I’m going to go and get the star of the show.”

Draven went to leave, but Axel grabbed his arm. “I know right now you don’t care. She betrayed us, and you want to see her hurting, maybe even dead.”

“Your fucking point?”

“Are you ready for that? You’re my best friend. The only person I’ve got in this world, and I need to know that you’re not going to do something I can’t reverse. You lose her, kill her, I can’t bring her back from the dead.”

He smiled. “Axel, stop being a pussy. Harper’s getting everything she deserves. I don’t love her. I feel nothing for her.”

Axel cursed but took over, mingling with the crowd.

Draven finished his drink and made his way up to Harper’s room. He didn’t knock and just entered the room. He found her sitting on the bed.

Part of him had expected her to rebel, to not let him see her in the dress he’d specially picked out.