Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

Remembering what Judd said about Memphis backing Kirk, I understood Cooper’s threat. Caleb understood it too and proceeded to cuss like he was dying and only the word fuck would save him.

“Fine. Let’s keep playing this fucking game,” Caleb said, pointing at Cooper. “You won’t like the ending though.”

Once Cooper shrugged, Caleb flipped him off and stormed out of the bar. The rest of the Devils followed their leader, but I didn’t watch them go.

Instead, I watched Cooper’s guys who were mostly pissed. Some looked angry at Caleb while a few seemed irritated with Cooper. They all tensed when violence looked imminent. They all relaxed when the Devils left.

Except for one older guy who remained steely-eyed during the exchange. His expression never changed, even as things grew heated. When my dad was selling a lie, his expression would freeze to avoid giving himself away. Kirk’s guy was the same way. A rock through the whole showdown, he acted like a man who knew how everything would end.

I’d found the mole.





Chapter Twenty Two


After telling Cooper my theory and making a quick stop at the store for essentials, Judd and I enjoyed the rest of the day by running around his condo naked. The next day I had no work, so we took a ride on his Harley. Judd drove us around Ellsberg then out towards the Johansson property. We passed it and kept riding. Turning off the highway, Judd glanced back and told me to hold on tight. We were soon on rough ground, following a dirt path through dense woods. Even tightening my grip on Judd as I bounced on the back of the Harley, I enjoyed the crisp autumn day.

As the Harley slowed near a creek, Judd pulled over and turned off the engine. Glancing back at me, he grinned.

“Your cheeks are a sexy pink.”

Something about the way he was looking at me caused the words to leave my mouth before my brain processed them.

“I wish you were inside me right now.”

Judd’s smile faded and he exhaled hard. “I’ve never been this horny in my life. It’s like my dick is addicted.”

“Be still my heart, you charmer,” I teased, sliding off the bike. “What are we doing out here?”

“I’m thinking I should be doing you,” he said, adjusting himself after climbing off the bike.

“You drove us way out here for that?”

“No, I drove us out here for this,” Judd said, removing a gun from his holster. “You need to learn to shoot.”

For the slightest second when the gun appeared, I imagined it was meant to be used on me. The fear didn’t last long, but that moment must have registered on my face because Judd frowned.

“Tawny,” he said as if simply my name would express the irritation he felt at my even considering he might harm me.

“Yes, Judd?” I asked innocently.

Rolling his eyes, he walked toward the creek. “Vaughn and I come out here to shoot. I called ahead and let Jodi know I was bringing you out here, so they wouldn’t freak about the gunshots. Now, come over here so I can teach you.”

Judd stood at the edge of the creek and fired at a tree, hitting a well worn hole. I watched him until he glanced back at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said, realizing he was hurt by my fear. “It’s a reflex.”

“I know. I just hate that look on my angel’s face. You’ve had enough fear in your life that I can’t be someone who adds to it.”

Walking to him, I gave him my best smile. “With you, I feel safer than I’ve ever felt. Even in that room full of bikers, I felt like I would be okay because you were with me. I really believed you’d use Cooper as a shield to protect me.”

Judd laughed. “I would so shove his ass in front of you to take a bullet. He knows it too. It’s why he’s not being a bitch about our relationship anymore. He knows I’m not fucking you. I’m…”

Unable to finish, Judd just stared into my eyes and I hoped that look meant what I thought it did. Instead of talking about feelings, Judd handed me the gun and showed me the basics. Soon, I was holding it with both hands and aiming at the target across the creek.

“Relax so the recoil won’t hurt you,” he said as his body pressed behind me. “Let yourself focus on the target, not on how you want to hit it.”

The first shot went off into the woods, never getting anywhere close to the tree. Imagining one of the bikers from years ago, I focused on the idea of him standing on the other side of the creek. I didn’t focus on hitting him, only saw him mocking me. Firing once, I chipped the tree.

“Nice,” Judd murmured, leaning down to nip at my earlobe.