Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

Caressing her battered face with my fingers, I loved how she smiled for me. Even in pain and after a hellish day, she soothed my fears.

“Once upon a time,” I said and she smiled again, “there was a lonely fool who wasted one day after another of his life. One day, he met the most fascinating chick and she quickly wrapped the fool around her finger. She loved him in the best way and saved him from himself. He loved her too and only wanted for her to be happy and safe.”

Hesitating, I frowned at the sight of her suffering. As if knowing what I was thinking, she reached up and ran a finger of my lips.

“More.”

“After the evil…let’s call them gnomes because I hate those ugly little fuckers. So, once the gnomes were destroyed, the fool and his lovely savior bought a big house for all the beautiful blond babies they would have together.”

As Raven smiled at this idea, my uneasiness faded.

“Their kids all had names with a V in them to honor their hot parents.”

Raven laughed then moaned at the gesture. Still, she kept smiling for me.

“The fool, his beautiful woman, and their army of glorious babies played videogames, bowled, and roller skated. They were always happy and never sad in a town with their friends and family. They all lived happily ever after.”

Raven swollen lips smiled enough to show her missing tooth. Even though she was essentially blind with her battered eyes, she knew I’d seen her mouth and covered it with her hand.

“You’re beautiful, darling. Nothing will ever change that.”

Raven grunted, unconvinced.

“There’s more to love about you than your beauty.”

Another grunt followed by a hint of a pout.

“Sugar, if I got all banged up and my stunning good looks were damaged, you’d still love me, right?”

Raven laughed, but said nothing, so I answered for her.

“Of course, you would. My amazing personality and giant brain would keep you horny even if my hot body wasn’t at its best.”

Laughing harder now, Raven leaned against me. “I liked your story.”

“Unlike most fairytales, this one is coming true.”

“Promise.”

“All my life, I accepted what I was given. I was lazy, I guess, and I never dreamed big. With you, I have a dream I refuse to give up. I will never let you go even if I need to bring out the chloroform again.”

Normally, Raven would give me her grumpy glare at the mention of chloroform. This time, she sighed with relief. I was still hers. I couldn’t imagine her worrying about this fact, but she clearly had until my promise. We were finally free and nothing was driving us apart again.





Chapter Twenty Nine – Raven


Flowers filled my hospital room. The girls in the Storm Babes sent a beautiful arrangement while the Johanssons sent another. Lark and Aaron sent me balloons along with a teddy bear riding a Harley.

Most gifts were from Vaughn who ordered them off his phone whenever I dozed. If I was awake, he would talk to me about anything that popped into his head. Some of it was pure lunacy based on his lack of sleep. The bed wasn’t comfortable for him and he hated sleeping away from me on the pull out bed. We needed to get home where he could stretch out while remaining close to me.

A few hours before I left the hospital, Dylan wheeled himself into my room. I think the nurse wanted to do it, but she had a bitchy vibe and he was clearly avoiding her. My leg was no longer elevated and I wore actual clothes instead of a gown. Even looking as normal as I had managed since arriving at the hospital, I was clearly a mess based on his pained expression.

“You took a bullet to save those girls,” I said as he watched me.

A pale Dylan shrugged then flinched at the pain of the movement. “In my head, I would stop the bastards without getting shot. Didn’t really work out that way.”

“Very brave though.”

Looking pale, Dylan nodded. “I’m sorry I kicked your ass that day. I never really thought of you as a girl.”

“That’s okay,” I said reaching for his hand. “I’m sorry I kicked your ass worse and made you look like a girl.”

Dylan smirked. “And our gentle moment is over.”

“Are they releasing you soon?”

“Tomorrow. I should have gone home sooner, but I got a light fever the other night. Man, they lost their fucking minds. I think they just wanted to jack up the bill.”

“Probably. You look fine to me. Even like you might be faking the whole getting shot thing.”

Dylan smiled. “I hope the fucker who did that to you is dead.”

Through the conversation, Vaughn said nothing. He didn’t have to speak. When Dylan mentioned the guy hurting me, he and Vaughn shared a secret man signal. Whatever their man antennas announced, Vaughn decided to push Dylan back to his room. That way, the bitchy nurse wouldn’t hassle him.

“Outlaw turned sweetie pie,” I said when he returned.