Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“Look who went and got uppity,” he said, scratching at his beard. “Nothing worse than a bitch who shows you her cunt then acts like she’s too good to fuck again.”


Glancing around, I wasn’t sure what to do. I could walk away or ask for help. Those sounded right, but I was afraid no one would believe me. This man was like the men around me. He was part of their culture. What if they blamed me for what happened? What if Judd decided I was too embarrassing to date anymore? A little part of me even wondered if I might get passed around. Saul was thinking the same thing.

“You looking for someone to double team you, baby?” he asked, grinning. “If I remember right, you could even take three at a time.”

Staring into his eyes, I wanted to run away and hide. Instead, I spit out the word.

“Pervert.”

Grabbing my forearm, he glared at me. “What did you fucking call me, whore?”

His voice was raised just enough to catch the attention of people around us, though the rest of the bar went about its business.

“Rapist pervert freak,” I said louder, even though my voice sounded too high pitched and odd to be mine. “You filthy raping pervert!”

“Cunt!” he roared, noticing the eyes on him. “Slutty bitch!”

Watching his hand rise to strike me, I knew I couldn’t stop it. He was older than I remembered, but he was still bigger and stronger. His hand never came down on me though. The rapist and I both looked at where his hand was held in place by Vaughn.

“This cocksucker loved every minute of it,” Saul told Vaughn as if they would agree and share me now.

A fist exploded against Saul’s face and I was startled to find Judd next to me. I hadn’t noticed him move from the bar. Yet, once I realized he was close, I breathed easier.

Saul fell to his knees, coughing up blood and teeth. As Judd and Vaughn stood over him, I noticed the rest of the bar had come to a halt. Someone even turned off the music and the silence was eerie.

“He’s one of them?” Judd asked, never taking his eyes off Saul, even as he caressed the back of my hair.

My voice gone now, I only nodded.

“What’s this about?” Kirk asked, appearing next to Vaughn.

“He and his gang violated my woman,” Judd said in a low tone. “Cooper’s woman too. This fucker’s gotta die.”

“Fuck that,” Saul said. “Those girls loved it.”

Judd’s fist came down hard against the guy’s face again and more teeth were soon on the floor.

“When was this?” Kirk asked casually.

“Almost six years ago,” I whispered, trying not to think of everyone staring at me.

“He’s gotta die, Kirk,” Judd growled, his gaze hard on the injured man.

With a look of indifference, Kirk shook his head. “No. We take him to the barn first. Have Cooper meet us there, so we can find out about these others. Jodi, baby, can you take Tawny to see Farah?”

Jodi and Bailey appeared next to me. While her mother looked calm, Bailey was a ball of emotions and I’d never seen her eyes so huge.

“Judd,” I whispered.

Finally, he really looked at me and smiled tightly. “We’re going to finish this, okay? You go be with your sister.”

Nodding, I didn’t want to leave him. Some part of me thought Saul would say or do something to make Judd stop wanting me. It was stupid to think Judd would listen to such a freak, but I feared he would never hold me again.

Yet, I left because the room was full of agitated bikers while Kirk was exuding the hostility he used to keep people in check. Saul was going to disappear and no one would mention ever seeing him. If someone did mention what happened, that person would disappear next.

Kirk didn’t have to say those words. Not after years in the business, first for the Memphis mob then with his own motorcycle club. People understood a reckoning was coming and they needed to get the fuck out of the way.

Once in the backseat of Jodi’s SUV, Bailey lit into a round of obscenities. She was so loud next to me that I flinched away from her. Finally, when Jodi reached a light, she turned around and told Bailey to calm down. Mother and daughter exchanged frowns then Jodi motioned to me as if reminding Bailey why she was upset in the first place.

Turning towards me, Bailey sighed hard like she was still revving up for more cussing.

“That fucker needs to die.”

“It’ll be taken care of,” Jodi said.

“The motherfucker will scream. He’s going to piss himself in pain. He’ll beg to die.”

“Bailey, calm down,” Jodi warned again.

This time, she listened to her mother and the car felt too quiet without Bailey raging. Minutes passed as we neared the house. Next to me, Bailey trembled and I finally looked at her. Her wet eyes were huge again.

“What’s the right way to handle this?” she asked, her voice breaking.

“You’re doing fine, Bay.”

Nodding, she started bawling while rocking me against her. “I wish he was dead a million times.”

“Me too.”

“He’ll be dead soon,” Jodi promised from the front seat.

“I wish he was dead before he ever met you,” Bailey whimpered. “I wish they all were.”