Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“Why?”


“Maddy just had her baby and she was so tough about the whole thing. I’m surprised she didn’t give birth in the middle of the grocery store then go back to picking up things for dinner. Next to her, I’m a weakling. Also, Farah is going to be all brave and awesome too. I don’t want to be the whiner.”

“First of all, Maddy’s got that natural breeder look about her. Some chicks are like that and you can’t let the exception be your rule. Besides, you’re having twins. You have more baby cooking to do than she did, so screw comparisons.”

“I just don’t want people to think less of me.”

“By people, do you mean Aaron?”

“We barely met and got married and now I’m getting fat and I’m tired all the time. I don’t want him to lose interest.”

“Oh, Lark, you’re so fucking stupid sometimes.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said, grinning. “We have that in common.”

“So true.”

“Mom said that I’m like her and she had a guy like Aaron and she suffocated him and he ditched her. I know Mom sucks, but what if she’s right and I wear down Aaron and he stops loving me?”

“Any man who would want Mom must be shit. Aaron isn’t shit.”

“I know, but I get scared of messing up everything I have.”

Kissing her forehead, I stood up and walked to the bedroom door. “Hey, Mister Clean, get over here.”

Laughing, Lark followed me into the hallway where Aaron appeared, clearly loving his new nickname.

“Listen up, Yule Brenner,” I said, sending Lark into giggles. “My sister is cooking up two kids that you stuck inside her. She needs more damn love than you’re giving. If you don’t do a better job of babying her, I’m going to have to replace you. Hmm, I just saw this guy Jake that I knew from high school. He’s ripped and works at the gym. The gym, Aaron.”

My brother-in-law stared unaffected until I finished then he gazed down at his wife. Lark must have known what was coming because she started giggling.

“My sweet muse,” he murmured and she laughed harder, “do you need more love than I’m giving?”

Aaron swept Lark into his arms and cradled her like a kid. “Poor thing. I’ll just need to pay more attention.”

As he kissed all over her, Lark stopped giggling and began moaning affirmations.

“Good thing you obeyed because I think Jake might be gay.”

After giving me a wink, Aaron gestured for me to go away. I was the one to obey this time. Leaving them to cuddle and more in the bedroom, I watched television and finished the popcorn. Professor joined me, but Pollack was wary. I think it was because I was always barking at her. In my defense, she started it.





Chapter Eight - Vaughn


Restless without a hot blonde in my bed, I stopped by Whiskey Kirk’s for a few drinks. I spotted more than a few possibilities for bedroom duty, but I wanted a particular chick and anyone else would leave me disappointed.

In a different life where I hadn’t made a split second decision to derail everything, I might have a chance to make a real life with Raven. Of course, if I hadn’t made that decision years ago, I wouldn’t have ended up in Ellsberg and met her.

Logic aside, if I could dig my way out of the hole I made for myself, I could go on a real date with Raven. Stop pissing around with the friends with benefits and be more. When she shared the shit about her dad, I saw how much more complicated and fragile she was than the badass bitch she showed me before. I wanted to know more. Hell, I wanted to know everything.

While Cooper could fix things with the Devils, I knew doing what needed to be done might not be in his best interest. Calling in a cleaner from Memphis might make him look weak or unstable. A war when he was a newlywed and still in school wasn’t what the kid needed. Had Kirk been in charge as things deteriorated with the Devils, he no doubt would have spilt blood by now. He enjoyed luxuries Cooper didn’t.

I wanted to daydream about Raven and the life we might share if I weren’t a dead man walking. Instead, the door opened to the bar and I saw the chick who made me into an outlaw.

Harlow looked healthy and happy thanks to the Todds. The blonde teenager no longer hid behind others and her smile came easier, but it froze once she saw me. Those blue eyes were like a deer in the headlights. Or an abused child faced with an angry parent. Harlow always stared at me like she was still waiting for me to kill her. Even when I made her laugh, she’d quickly flinch out of my way. I didn’t blame her for fearing me. Even hating me. I know I hated her a little bit too.