Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“There are eight of us and one of you. Easy isn’t a concern.”


“She’s living at the Johansson place. If you hurt her, Kirk will put a contract on your head and there will be no place to hide.”

“If we were worried about Kirk, we wouldn’t be willing to kill his man in his territory. The old man is retired and his kid is in charge. Word has it, Cooper is no Kirk.”

Talking my way out of trouble wasn’t a skill I possessed. My sweet talking worked with chicks, not sick fucks like these guys. I was already thinking about how fast I could reach my gun before they pulled theirs when a shot took out the front tire of Jeff’s Harley.

“I texted Judd,” Raven yelled from behind me. “He’s coming and he’s bringing help with him. That’s what he said. He’s brining hell and that means you’re going to fucking die.”

While the fuckers had their guns ready, mine hung from my hand by my thigh.

“Things are going to get bloody. You ready to die?” I asked Jeff.

Raven peeked out from behind me and showed off her big fucking Magnum that I assumed Bailey gave her.

“My next shot is for the head,” she said and I heard the fear in her voice. “I’m not letting them take me. I’m killing them first.”

“That’s my Hoochie,” I whispered and I could almost feel her smile.

Backing off, Jeff looked at his dead Harley and cursed.

“Fine, you can live for now, but how long before the next guy just shoots you? Your days are numbered, asshole.”

“I know, but tonight you’re the one riding bitch on the back of someone’s Harley. When Judd catches up to your gang, you can act as a human shield for your buddy.”

Jeff’s expression flickered between the desire to live and the hunger for my blood. If his guys opened fire, it was just as likely a few of them would end up dead or injured. The ones who lived would need to race out of town to avoid facing Judd. As much as Jeff wanted to kill me, he wanted to live more.

Raven held her gun on the bastards until they rode away. I wanted nothing more than to reward the brave little chick with hours in bed, serving her every desire. Instead, I had nearly gotten her killed.

“Are you okay?” I asked, kissing her before I could even finish.

Raven attached herself to me and I had the urge to run away with her. Forget all about the Devils and Reapers. Just live a life hidden away with Raven. Even if I could betray the Reapers after they put their asses on the line for me, I knew Raven couldn’t ditch her sister.

“Thanks for having my back,” I said, leading her to the jeep. “I need you to get in and speed your ass to the Johanssons’. Keep your gun close and don’t stop for anyone.”

“What about you?”

“I have to chase down those guys with Judd. You did text him, right?”

“Yeah, but there’s only two of you.”

“Raven, those fuckers came into Reapers’ territory and shit on it. We have to at least run them out of town with the fear of death on their asses. Go home and I’ll see you around.”

“See me around?” she asked as I pushed her into the driver’s seat. “What does that mean?”

“It means I almost got you killed. This shit between us was supposed to be fun. Nothing fun about having you gang raped because I fucked up years ago. Now, go home.”

Raven’s expression tore me apart. I knew she felt the way I did. We’d passed simple fun and were something else now. I wanted a chance with Raven, but I wasn’t in a position to do anything more than fun. Tonight, I’d nearly spilled her blood along with mine. Pretend time was over.





Chapter Thirteen – Raven


I still couldn’t believe it. Vaughn kissed me goodbye and walked away. I’d been willing to kill to protect him. Die too, yet he forced me to leave him and he hadn’t even called. I only knew what happened with the bikers when Bailey told me the next morning.

Vaughn and Judd and a few other guys chased the motorcycle club. Apparently, the assholes drove their Harleys as if their asses were on fire because they were out of Kentucky within two hours. Kirk put out word if they ever entered his territory again that they were dead men. By morning, Judd and Vaughn were back in Ellsberg. By the next morning, I realized Vaughn wasn’t calling me. By the third morning, after I’d texted him and left messages he didn’t respond to, I accepted we were over.

With the help of bags of mini-Snickers, bottles of Whiskey, and too much Nicorette, I handled his rejection well. As a big girl, I knew men could turn off their feelings. We were just fuck buddies and never would have been more. I could find another hot guy to rub up against without commitment. Problem solved.

Unfortunately, next to Vaughn, every man in the world was a gross loser who made me vomit in my mouth. Missing the sexy jerk, I also resented how he’d ruined other guys for me.