Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

He got to his feet, dropped the cigarette to the floor and stood on it, rubbing his boot along the floor to rub it out.

“Why did you tell me that?” she asked.

“The clock’s ticking, Harper. The wedding is fast approaching, and you can’t enter a marriage with someone you don’t have a fucking clue about. That’s all I’m going to tell you.”

He brushed past her, and she looked toward him, watching him go. Axel was so different from who she remembered. Staring at the cells, she rubbed her arms, feeling a chill seep into her bones. Women had been killed here; she just knew it.

The question was, how far did Draven take his father’s life?

Stepping out of the cells, she made her way back to the house, to Draven.

She didn’t go to his office but went to the library, pulling out the first romance book she could find. She took a seat, curled up, and read.

Chapter Thirteen

It took Draven three weeks before he mentioned going to visit Tillie at her club. He wanted her to go with him. Harper was torn as he stared across the dinner table at her. She was very much aware of Axel staring at her. He had yet to make a decision if he wanted to kill her or not.

Whenever she asked him what he’d found, he kept saying he was looking.

She didn’t know what was taking him so long, but for now, she was just happy to still be alive.

“What?”

“I’ve got to head out tonight on business, but I’d like you to see something. I’m going to take you to Tillie’s.”

“The woman who used the whip on me?”

“Yes. You will play nice tonight, Harper.”

“Do I have much of a choice?” she asked.

“None. You don’t have a single choice with anything. You’re going to do as you’re told.”

“I am,” she said.

“Please, Harper. I want to show you something, that’s all.”

“But you’ve got business.”

“It’s another side of that whip,” he said.

“Fine.” If it hadn’t been for Axel’s warning, she wouldn’t have even questioned him.

Draven’s cell phone rang, and she watched him step away to take the call. Since her conversation with Axel, she found herself more and more curious about him, about what he did. The full extent of what Alan had done to him, to them.

“Remember to go to the basement,” Axel said.

“Will you stop already? I don’t think I can handle this.”

“Harper, do you love him?” he asked.

She stared at him without saying a single word. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“He’s in love with you, Harper. It’s why he never stopped wanting to hate you.”

“He doesn’t even believe me.” She got up. “I don’t want to have this conversation with you.”

“Harper, you need to be ready. What you’re going to find out, you’re not going to like. That’s the only warning I’m going to give you. Draven won’t kill you, he can’t. You two are both too fucking stubborn to see the truth? Well now, I’m giving it to you, plain and clear, for you both to see.”

With that, she left, going straight to her bedroom.

Did she love Draven?

She didn’t like the answer that entered her head the moment she thought of the question. He’d been in her thoughts for years, but that didn’t actually have to mean anything, did it?

Running a hand down her face, she tried to clear the fog that was there. Everything was moving so fast. Draven, the wedding, life, everything.

She’d been dragged out of her life and thrown into this one, and it scared her. Especially as she knew without a doubt she wasn’t going to like the truth. Alan had always been a bad person, but had Draven taken over? Was he just as bad? She put the whipping party aside, as she truly believed it was because he’d been pissed at her, angry. She even felt like she deserved it, after all that she’d done, and she never truly believed Draven was a bad guy.

There was no way she could stay at home, lingering on her thoughts. She took a long shower and prepared herself for the night ahead. She was terrified.

When he knocked on her door, she wanted to run.

She didn’t run though.

Harper got up and met him at the door. Straightening her spine, she was ready for whatever she was about to find out.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“You clean up really well yourself. I didn’t mean to cause a fight at the table.”

He cupped her cheek, tilting her head back, and kissing her. “Already forgiven. You don’t need to worry about another thing. I promise.”

“You always know what to say. Don’t leave me alone with Tillie.”

“She’s not too bad. Mostly with her, it’s all about business.”

“Have you slept with her?” she asked.

“No. I’ve never slept with her. Jealous?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Don’t be.”

He took her hand, and there was no turning back. Not as they left the house, or she climbed into his car. Even when he fastened her seatbelt, she stayed perfectly silent. In her mind, she kept imagining the basement door. Wherever they were going, she’d need to find it.