Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“Tested?” I asked and everyone focused on Maddy.

“I knew this hot chick from school and I had her flirt with him. Tuck could have gotten away with it. I was really fat then and I think some guys would have cheated. I really thought he would too, but I needed to know. Not that I would leave him if he cheated, but I wanted to be ready for that kind of life with him. Tuck blew her off though. Sent her to Vaughn.”

When everyone looked at me, I rolled my eyes like I didn’t care who he banged. I did care though. In fact, I wondered who Vaughn was with that very moment and it was killing me to think of him with someone else. The idea that I hadn’t mattered and he’d do another chick made me want to scream at the world.

Returning to Ellsberg, I had a plan to give up men and avoid my sickness. Instead, I met Vaughn who was amazing and frustrating. He offered me a chance at happiness, yet was living on borrowed time. Life saw me digging my way out of a shithole and it kicked me back down. No matter if life envisioned a long term plan for me, I was holding a grudge.





Chapter Fourteen – Vaughn


The Bad News Bears or whatever the hell the MC was called must have broken every speed limit to avoid getting caught by us. We chased until the Kentucky state border and Kirk called us back. I would have followed them to hell because the fuckers had ruined the lies I told myself. Spilling their blood might make it worth losing out on the fantasy of Raven and me. For a man with limited time, I needed every moment of the lie.

Kirk made threats against the club and he didn’t wait for Cooper to okay shit. This led to tension between father and son. I felt the stress on Cooper when we stood outside an abandoned storefront in downtown Ellsberg. Tucker pretended to be pissed off too, but he kept checking out his phone to see messages and pics from Maddy. Fatherhood made the idiot rather adorable.

“I bought this place so I’ll have my own spot,” Cooper muttered, arms crossed tightly, eyes narrowed like the building was his enemy. “The old timers want to hang at Whiskey like it’s the good old days. We’re the new guard and we need a new place.”

“It looks like a store.”

“Pop has a bar. I want an office. I have three years left of school and a kid on the way. I need a place where I can study and have kids running around and still do my business. This place will be that.”

“Who’s doing the work?” Tucker asked, fiddling with his phone.

“Tad’s wife Toni is doing the plans. She was an architect years ago. Lark’s stepbrother is in charge of the construction. Dylan had the contract to work on the city’s projects, but Daddy Fucktwat got it cancelled because someone forgot to kiss his ass. Anyway, Lark asked me to help Dylan out. Batted her lashes and everything.”

We walked inside the place and I figured it wasn’t much to get excited about. An old bakery with an office in the back. The place smelled like old bread and maybe mold.

“He’s going to tear it down to the studs and build it back up. Put the official shit in the front. Get me a chick to do the books and crap. In the back, I’ll have a spot for the kid and an office for me and Farah. I want to separate my business from my home. Having guys show up to talk at my place isn’t happening anymore.”

“Crack the whip,” Tucker said, patting his brother’s shoulder, before playing soccer with a beer can on the ground. “Being downtown is cooler. Better places to eat.”

While watching Tucker kick the can into the back, I considered asking Cooper about the Devils. One glance at his frown and I decided to keep my mouth shut. Judd didn’t say anything either. Not then, but later as we hit balls at the batting cage, the enforcer got chatty.

“Fuck this waiting around shit. I know Cooper wants to make the right decision, but he’s not making any damn decision. He wants Kirk to signal the right move. Who says there is a right move? Life doesn’t work that way. Right. Wrong. Life just is. Instead of fucking around, we need to make a decision and do something.”

Swinging the bat, I hit the ball square on. “I should be the one who does something. Go there and handle what needs handling.”

“Man, they’d see you coming. No way do they make these moves and not worry about you coming for them.”

“What makes you think they wouldn’t worry about you?”

“True, but I could have another reason for traveling.”

Studying his face, I saw Judd the enforcer, but he was more than just a killer these days.

“What about Tawny? I asked, taking a swing and missing. “Fuck.”

Glancing at Judd, I saw the newer Judd who was frowning.

“Love’s a burden,” he muttered.

“Your woman is a burden?”