Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

The computer, the paperwork, the pens, all of it was thrown across the room.

“Draven?”

“Don’t, Axel. Do not come near me. He killed everyone who could tell me the truth. Who could look me in the eyes and tell me that he took my woman from me. He’s the reason Buck is not here. He’s the reason Jett is not here. It had to be him that set that man on him. We were the only ones that knew what he was fucking doing!”

Draven dropped to his knees.

“I … I had her tied up. I had her whipped and put on display.” Tears fell down Draven’s face, and he wiped them off.

“You got to get a grip, man. All of that shit happened, but Harper’s still here,” Axel said.

“Do you want her?” Draven asked, looking up at his friend.

“What?”

“Do you want to fuck her? To take her as yours. Is that why you did what you did?” he asked.

“No. I don’t want Harper. I never really did. Sure, it was fun with the whole initiation and what we thought would happen. It might have worked too. I know Buck and Jett adored her. She’s not my type.”

“What’s your type?”

“I like my women who don’t attack me. I saw the way she was in the ring. It was fucking fierce, but I guess I like a lady.”

“You like a lady?” Draven asked.

“Come on, Draven, you were never going to share her long-term. We all knew that.”

He said nothing. What could he say to make anyone else think differently when he didn’t even know anything more himself?

“You believed her?” Draven asked.

“I had a … feeling. I don’t know. I just didn’t think it was as clear cut as your father told us. I’d seen Harper grow in that short time, and to be honest, I never entirely believed him.” Axel shrugged. “Now we’ve got our proof. It was the last place I looked.”

“Where did you look?”

“The cave.”

“The one from the story?” Draven frowned.

“Yes. I didn’t think to look there.” He shrugged. “Why would I? At least the truth finally came out. I’m out of here.”

Draven didn’t stop him. He stared at the office that had been his for so long now. This wasn’t his place.

Stonewall didn’t belong to him. It had been his father’s.

Turning to the television, he stared at the man who’d taken everything from him.

Harper.

Buck and Jett.

His plans.

It was all wiped out in a single day.

Alan had known it, had known with Harper around, he would have never gotten what he wanted. Draven wouldn’t have unleashed a hell that had changed the course of his life forever.

He knew what to do.

First though, he was going to have one night. One night where he wasn’t this man. Where he wasn’t accusing Harper and threatening to kill her.

He left his office and went to his room. He took a long shower, cleaning the cuts from his hands until they stopped bleeding, and when he was clean and fresh, he changed into a robe and made his way down to Harper’s room.

Draven found her sitting on the edge of the bed, crying. Tears fell down her cheeks, and his heart broke for her, for what he’d done.

He moved toward her side, and she stood up.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I’ve not come to start a fight or to do anything.” He held his hands up in surrender. “I just want to spend some time with you. I know you’re not going to marry me. I’m not going to ask you to. Just come here.”

“What?”

“Please, come here.”

She looked around the room, clearly looking for a reason not to even approach him. He waited, and finally she relented, getting to her feet and moving closer to him.

When she stood right in front of him, he stared into her eyes and smiled. “Fire.” He’d not broken her.

They were both a little damaged, but he’d not broken her. The fire in her eyes told him that.

He held her chin, turning her face this way and that, staring into her beautiful bright eyes. She looked so beautiful, so fresh, so warm, so amazing.

Harper hadn’t changed, not really.

“You know, seeing you again after all these years, I knew I couldn’t let you go.”

“Draven?”

“I don’t care who was there before me. I love you with all my heart. I have done for some time.” He took her hands and kissed each of the knuckles. Ones he’d seen bleed from fighting. “I’ll always be sorry for what happened here. What happened between us.” He cupped her cheek, wiping away the tears. “I’ll never ask for forgiveness. I don’t deserve it.”

He ran his thumb across her lips, staring at them.

Damn, he wanted to kiss her so much, to taste her. He wanted to wipe the memory of all that he had done to her and let her know he was so very fucking sorry.