Damaged Queen Read online

  How her life had gotten so fucked, she didn’t know.

  She took a sip of her cold coffee and stared out across the gardens. In the distance, she saw a couple of dogs in cages, and seeing that broke her heart. One of the days she’d been given a picture of a girl she had to approach, to lure her out to the car, she’d overheard the men talking. She shouldn’t have been listening, but she heard how they kept the women and girls locked up in cells, making them relieve themselves in their tiny cage, treating them like nothing more than dirt. Even knowing what those girls were going to face, and the degradation, she’d done it for Draven, for Axel, Buck, and Jett. To keep them all safe and to keep herself out of prison, with all the incriminating evidence Alan had obtained through blackmailing her. She’d cried herself to sleep at night, hating the very person she became because to keep four of her best friends alive, she had to put so many through hell. She wasn’t stupid; she knew they were to be sold. For their bodies, for their pussies, and what men wanted. They were not people anymore, just a commodity, and she had been the one to help ruin their lives.

  Was this the life Draven knew about? The one Alan told him? What other lies had he manipulated about her? She could only imagine what Alan would say. She doubted Draven knew the truth. She was starting to get a sense of her surroundings, of Draven’s new life. A life that his father wanted for his son.

  “What are you doing out here all alone?”

  Harper turned to see Axel heading her way.

  “Just thinking. No one stopped me on the way out.”

  Axel smirked. “Draven’s already given the order that you can walk around the grounds. You’re not allowed to leave.”

  “And if I do?”

  “Pain of death.”

  “Pain of death?”

  “Yes, the guard on duty that doesn’t stop you, will die. Simple as that.”

  “So you guys take lives now without a single care as to who you’re ruining in the process? What you’re doing?”

  “Harper, babe, we’ve always taken lives. You’ve just not seen us do it.”

  She shook her head. “You’re not killers.”

  Axel burst out laughing. “Who are you trying to kid? Yourself? I hate to break this to you, sweetheart, we’re killers.” He shrugged. “You’ve got to in this crazy old world, right.”

  “It’s wrong.”

  “So, the cops are easily bought. In this so-called right world, do you think that is right?”

  She gritted her teeth and didn’t say a word.

  “See, this world is full of hypocrites and bullshit.”

  “And monsters?”

  Axel smiled. “Exactly that. You’ve just got to see where you fit in the food chain.”

  “Where did Buck and Jett fit?”

  The smile he had disappeared. She wasn’t going to apologize. If he wanted to scream about how the world was divided then she wasn’t going to pretend that their very friends had succumbed to those monsters.

  “They’d been prey, right?” she said.

  “Be careful, Harper.”

  “Just like me.”

  “Those were good men. I came out here to keep you company.”

  “You’re keeping me prisoner here, Axel. Let’s face it, my end here is not going to exactly be all sunshine and roses, is it? You and Draven have got big plans for me.”

  “We’ve got plans, but you don’t need to worry about them.”

  He took a seat beside her, and she stared over at the cages again.

  Without asking for permission, she walked across the garden and straight for those cages. One look inside and she saw a dog had given birth to puppies. They looked to be a couple of weeks old, maybe even up to eight.

  She knew Axel had followed her, but she ignored him.

  Bending down, she touched the cage and smiled as all the pups came close to her, touching their faces near her fingers. They were so sweet, so innocent. In a horrible way, they reminded her of those girls. Their faces flashed before her eyes, making her pause. She shouldn’t touch the dogs. She wasn’t a good person, but vile. Shaking off the feeling, she smiled as one dog licked at her fingers.

  Without another word, she stepped into the cage, being careful not to step in any dog mess.

  One by one, the pups yapped at her feet, and she couldn’t help the laughter, the joy that flooded her body from seeing them. In the back of her mind, the guilt flared up, threatening to choke her up, but like so many times before, she pushed it down. She ignored the pain and suffering she’d inflicted, and focused on the puppies.

  They were all amazingly beautiful white Labradors, so charming, and the mother came up to her, giving her a sniff.

  Seeming happy that her pups were safe, she went and collapsed in the corner.

  Harper found a clean spot, and the pups moved toward her. One tried to climb into her lap, and she picked it up, pressing her face against the fur, and simply falling in love with the sheer beauty of them.

  “They’re all so beautiful,” she said.

  “Draven sells the bad ones.”

  “Bad ones?”

  “The ones that are not going to be cut out for scaring people, Harper.”

  She held the one in her arms a little tighter, hating that Draven would discard anything he didn’t see as having any real value.

  They were all magnificent, beautiful, and she loved them all—unlike the women who were sold into a life they didn’t want. The same women she’d helped to lead to a life of hell, just so Alan wouldn’t kill her friends, only to now know, one had already died, and another wouldn’t last much longer and get killed.

  Glancing back at the house, she saw several people were arriving, men and women.

  “Is there a party tonight?”

  “Something like that,” Axel said.

  She didn’t like how vague he was being and knew it would all be revealed soon enough, when they were ready to hurt her some more.

  Don’t you deserve it?

  Buck and Jett are dead because of you.

  No, she couldn’t think like that. Not now.

  They were not dead because of her. They were dead because of Alan. She had to remember that. Her life hadn’t caused death, but she tried not to think about the girls, because without her, they would still be alive. She thought about her mother and Ian instead.

  Cutting off each dead end, she focused instead on the puppies, the ones that were filling her with so much joy and love.

  “Axel, you can head inside now,” Draven said.

  She looked up, and sure enough, Draven was heading in their direction. Part of her wanted to plead with Axel not to go.

  For some strange reason, she felt oddly safe with Axel present. Alone though, she couldn’t trust herself. One look at Draven and she was already wet and begging for him.

  Get a grip, Harper.

  He wants to hurt you.

  He’s not your savior.

  This is not high school.

  One day he’s going to break you.

  To tear you apart and spit you back out again as if you’re nothing.

  Don’t let yourself fall for him, not even a little bit.

  Kissing the top of the puppy’s head, she waited to see what would happen.

  “See you around,” Axel said.

  Harper said nothing, watching Axel leave. He seemed too sure of himself in his movements, but there were odd fleeting glances where it didn’t seem to be the case.

  “You found the pups,” Draven said.

  She turned to him, and he was watching her.

  She didn’t like to be under his scrutiny, so she quickly turned her attention back to the pup in her arms. Nothing could be wrong with giving some loving to the pup.

  The other pups kept coming up and nudging her thigh. They were content with a head stroke and then would wander off back to their mother, or play in the cage.

  “You get rid of the ones you don’t think are good enough?”

  “Everyone does that,
Harper. It’s business.”

  “You and business. Were you ever like the guy I once knew?”

  Draven laughed. “That guy died a long time ago. Probably when one of his best friends didn’t make it out of a coma. Then, he died completely having to bury what was left of the other.”

  She shuddered at his last statement.

  What was left.

  Her heart broke a little more.

  “You were gone this morning.”

  “This is not a date, Harper. I have no intention of sticking around. We’re not together. You’re here for my amusement.”

  Harper didn’t say anything more. She stroked the pup in her arms and stared across the cages.

  The dogs were at the doors, wanting attention from their master. She knew what that was like.

  She missed the kind of attention she got from him that she used to. She’d give anything to go back to that day at her locker when dirt spilled out. It was odd. She truly believed that was one of the biggest turning points of her life. If she could ever make it back to that day, she’d warn him, warn him that Alan would come between them. He’d set a path in motion that would guarantee their destruction.

  Still, she said nothing like always, and pretended.

  For now, she couldn’t tell him what happened that day at the mall. There was no way he’d believe her.

  “You’re having a party?” she asked.

  “Yes, and you’re my plus one.”

  “Do you have a plus one when you’re hosting a party?”

  “You do for this one. Come on, Harper. It’s time to go and get ready.”

  He held his hand out, and she didn’t want to go with him.

  All the times he’d done that ten years ago, she’d gladly taken his hand, trusted him. This, what was about to happen, whatever it was, this didn’t make her feel comforted. It scared her, terrified her, and knowing Draven was doing this willingly unsettled her.

  She got to her feet, took his hand, and left the cage.

  One glance back and the pup she’d been holding was at the door of the cage. She wanted that pup more than anything, and walking away filled her with regret.

  She didn’t fight though, not as Draven took her through the kitchen where staff she hadn’t noticed on her way out were clearly catering to the party he was having.

  “Do you ever leave Stonewall?” she asked.

  “Only when I have to.”

  They didn’t linger, and he took her straight back to her room. On the edge of the bed was a box.

  “That is your dress for this evening. Don’t leave this room until I come and get you.”

  “You’re going to lock me up?”

  He chuckled. “Harper, get all pretty for me. You never know, I may reward you later.”

  She watched him close the door.

  Going to the box, she lifted the lid and behind it was a beautiful white evening gown. It was sheer, and as she looked in the box, she couldn’t find any undergarments.

  If she wore this dress, her body would be on display for all to see. At first glance, it looked like a wedding dress, only on the more revealing side.

  Running her fingers across the soft fabric, she could at least admire the beauty of it. The softness ran through her fingers.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she didn’t need any kind of warning to know tonight wouldn’t end well.

  Draven was going to punish her. He was going to make sure that when he came for her, she was under no illusions of who she belonged to.

  This was part of breaking her, just a little more.

  She didn’t put up a fight. Standing up, she made her way into the bathroom to shower. If he wanted to break her, then she’d go with him and let him try, but he wouldn’t succeed. She would do whatever he asked because she knew at the end of it, she would win. One way or another, Alan Barries wasn’t going to win this one. Not with her.

  Chapter Seven

  Men and women of all ages were gathered, enjoying drinks and some canapes. Axel looked bored as he always did at these parties. This was one of the occasions Axel couldn’t go by Jett’s name. Draven was very much aware of Axel using Jett’s name, mostly so he could be invisible, but at his house parties it was difficult. Not that this was any party and Draven was already very much aware of how pissed his remaining friend was.

  He needed to do this.

  After last night, he had to put some perspective on things. On this with Harper. She wasn’t here to be his girlfriend or even his mistress. She was a means to an end.

  The men and women here, each of them had been present during his father’s reign. Draven had not killed them for two reasons, one, their loyalty was to him, and second, they were damn good at what they did. He had no intention of killing people that helped him, and in this room were such people.

  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 f
riend. “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.

  It seemed rather fitting to him for her to be in white. He’d taken her virginity, and now he was going to completely destroy her soul, or at least, what remained of it.

  He wondered if Buck and Jett would welcome what he was about to do.

  Her hands were clasped together in front of her, her gaze on him.

  “You know, I didn’t run away,” she said.

  Draven sighed. He didn’t need to hear the lies or the bullshit. He had no wish to hear any of it.

  “That day at the mall I was taken from the bathroom.”

  “Cut the shit, Harper. I don’t care. You think I’ve not been warned about your lies. I saw what you did, what you’re capable of. You’re not a fucking victim here. I saw the pictures of you, carrying girls off as if it was a fucking game. You were happy for the men in this life, just so long as it wasn’t us, right?”