Damaged Queen (Darkness Within Duet 2)

“I remember when we were younger, before the initiation, you came to my place, snuck into my bedroom. You were a fucking mess. You told me that you couldn’t handle it. What they did to the women. It sickened you. You begged me that if we ever took over, we’d make changes. We’d be monsters with morals. I fucked everything up. I can change that now. We can’t go on like this.”

Axel was silent for several moments. “I’m with you. I’ve been wanting out for a while, but you’ve always been so fucking in it, I didn’t want to abandon you. I know these guys would kick my ass if I even thought of it.” He rubbed his chin. “Then I guess we’re going to start a war.”

“You’re ready?”

“No, not a chance. I’m not ready, but I’m going to do it anyway, because that is what I do. No one messes with us, and they’ve been doing it long enough. It’s time for us to take charge.” Axel held out his hand. “Even if we die, it has been one hell of a life.”

Draven shook his hand.

“You got a plan?” Axel asked.

“Yep, and it starts with Tillie. I’m thinking it’s time to have another get-together. You know, a new meal.”

“A bloodbath? I like it. I’ll make sure to take care of the appetizer.”

Draven stared at Buck’s and Jett’s graves. He owed it to them to make this right.

He would make it right, and then, if he was still standing, he’d go and deal with Harper. One way or the other, he wasn’t going to do another deal or kill another innocent person again. That life was done, it was over.

Alan Barries had gotten his way for too long. It was his time now, and he wasn’t going to allow that son of a bitch to have his way. Not now, not ever.

Chapter Sixteen

Two months later

Harper closed her eyes as she inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers before her. Some were roses and a few daffodils that had started to appear. All of them were so bright and shiny, and making her feel full of warmth.

“I’ve never known you to appreciate flowers so much,” Stephanie said, coming out of the back.

Harper tucked some hair behind her ear and shrugged. “I guess I discovered a new love right here.”

After Ian had taken her to a hotel, she’d asked him for one request and that was to take care of her mother’s grave, to treat her with care even though he had fallen out of love with her.

Once he agreed, she hugged him tightly.

“I’m never going to see you again, am I?”

“No. I’m not coming back to Stonewall. I’m moving on, and that means I can’t look back. Goodbye, Dad.”

She hadn’t gone back nor had she talked to him.

Like ten years ago, she had cut all contact off from Stonewall, and she didn’t go looking for any news either. She didn’t need to see what was going in that world. Not anymore.

Draven had seen to that.

“I’ve always loved flowers. They’re so beautiful, and they give so much to the earth. I know we cut them up, but I feel in some way I bring a little beauty to the world.”

“You never told me if you hear from Jett.”

“Oh, him, he broke up with me not long after you took off. It was a bad time. He told me that I wasn’t what he was looking for. I wasn’t his type.” Stephanie shrugged. “It was fun while it lasted.”

“Men are idiots.”

“You don’t like men anymore?”

“Nope.”

“What happened to Ethan? I know you broke up with him. He came here wanting to talk to you.”

“It’s all a little fuzzy, to be honest. I didn’t want to see him again. It had all moved too fast. The engagement. The wedding. I didn’t want any of it, you know? I just wanted some time. The most important thing, I didn’t love him.”

“And now you know you can’t marry him?”

“I can’t marry someone I don’t love, and I don’t love him.” She never did. Stephanie liked to talk constantly about feelings. For Harper, she enjoyed the peace and quiet when Stephanie wasn’t around, but she wasn’t about to tell her very nice boss to shut up.

“I’m starting to think love is overrated, Harper. You need to get back out there. Meet some new guys. You know, have a blast, fall in love. Meet new people.”

“One day, when I’m ready. For now, I am content to work, shop, and eat.”

They got busy, and Harper used the time to excuse herself to go and get lunch. Stephanie already had something, so Harper decided to eat out. She went to a burger stand, ordered something tall and greasy, took a seat, and watched the passersby as she ate her sandwich.

With most times when she was alone, she allowed herself a few moments to think about Draven. She wondered what he was doing. How many women were being hurt? If he was happy.