Damaged

by Nina D'Angelo

  The bar door whooshed open and she turned her head, her expression becoming guarded when one of Dominic’s regulars stumbled out. She ignored him when he wolf-whistled at her and stumbled closer. Her hand instinctively slid into the pocket of her leather jacket, fingering the gun she always carried with her at night. The gun she didn’t have a license for, she thought with a smirk.

  “Hey, baby,” the guy crooned, inching closer to her.

  Ignoring him, she pushed herself off the wall and attempted to move past. When he grabbed her arm, she hissed, “Get lost, asshole.”

  “Come on, I just want to talk to you,” he whined, pressing closer. Jerking her to him, he grabbed one of her breasts, squeezing tightly.

  Stephanie slammed her stiletto onto his foot, twisting the heel viciously into his toes and smirking when he yelped and stumbled back. She pulled her Glock .17 out of her pocket and aimed it directly at his chest.

  “You bitch,” he spat, his face reddening with rage as he took a step menacingly towards her. He froze at the sight of the gun.

  “Asshole, when a girl says no, she means no,” she said calmly, the only indication of her anger the fire flashing in her eyes.

  “Now, baby, you don’t want to do that. Why don’t you put the gun away?” he said, swaying slightly. “All I want to do is party with you.”

  “And, asshole, I told you in the bar I wasn’t interested. Every time you’ve tried to hit on me, I’ve said no. I even made it clear I wasn’t interested when you came out here and started harassing me, yet you still can’t get it into your thick head. So let me put it to you in layman’s terms. I’m not interested in your ugly ass, and I never will be. Not now, not ever. Not even if you were the only man on earth and I desperately needed to get laid. Get lost.”

  DOMINIC STEPPED OUTSIDE, freezing at the sight of Stephanie aiming a gun at one of his regulars, David, a college jock who came into Outlaws most nights to blow off steam. He’d seen the jock hit on Stephanie every Friday evening without fail, and she always shot him down.

  Dismissing David, his gaze moved to Stephanie, who held the gun with a confidence she didn’t bother to conceal. She wasn’t scared. If anything, she held the gun like someone who not only knew how to use it, but would have no problem firing it. Recognizing the fury in her eyes, he took a deep breath, stepping forward. His sudden movement wasn’t missed by Stephanie, who briefly flicked her gaze his way before turning her attention back to the man in front of her.

  “Do we have a problem, David?” he asked silkily, as he walked slowly to stand behind Stephanie.

  “This bitch is crazy, Dom. She pulled a gun on me for no reason,” David said, stumbling over his words.

  “Stephanie?” Dominic asked, gently touching her arm.

  “David,” she said, between clenched teeth, “doesn’t seem to understand when a girl says no, she means no.” Her eyes narrowing, she cocked her head to the side, smiling coldly. “I’m beginning to think maybe someone should teach him a lesson.”

  “Stephanie, give me the gun,” Dominic ordered softly, sliding his hand up her arm until his hand was covering hers over the trigger. She allowed him to take it from her, so he slid his other arm around her waist, drawing her firmly to him.

  His gaze met hers, and he smiled warmly at her before he saw David’s smirk. His smile disappearing, he said quietly, “David, I suggest you move before I change my mind and give Stephanie back her gun.”

  When David swallowed nervously and nodded, Dominic added, threateningly, “And, don’t ever grace my bar with your presence again. If I find you within inches of here, I’ll kick your ass, you got it?”

  “Whatever,” David muttered, glaring at Stephanie and growling, “Bitch,” before he staggered off.

  Stephanie watched David walk away, unaware she’d been holding her breath until he turned. She released it, collapsing against Dominic’s chest, her composure shaken. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her fingers against her forehead and whispered, “Why does this shit always happen to me?”

  “Does this happen often?” Dominic asked, his voice laced with amusement.

  “If I told you how often, you wouldn’t believe me,” she muttered, opening her eyes and turning to look at him, her face a polite mask again. “Thanks for helping me out. I need to get home.”

  “Wait,” he said, grabbing her elbow. “Let me walk you home.”

  “I’m fine. I can look after myself.”

  “No, you’re not fine,” he shot back. Reaching out to cup her chin, he added, “Look, Stephanie, just because I said I wanted to make love to you doesn’t mean I’m going to. Or that I’m going to try. I get that you have a boyfriend. I have a girlfriend, and I’m content with my life. I don’t need any complications.”

  “What are you suggesting?” she asked, arching her eyebrow.

  “Why don’t we try being friends?” he pressed.

  Stephanie smiled slowly, tilting her head to look up at him. “Friends . . . I like that idea.”

  “Me too,” Dominic said softly, surprised to find he actually meant it. Handing her the Glock, he added quietly, “You might want to put this away. I’m not sure the LAPD would be too thrilled if they found you with it.”

  “Trust me, the LAPD is never thrilled with anything I do,” she said with a snort. Her smile disappearing, she slid the gun back into her leather jacket pocket.

  “Do you always carry a gun around?” he asked as he placed his hand on the small of her back and led her into the bar.

  She shrugged. “It’s quicker than a knife.”

  “It would also hurt like hell,” Dominic teased.

  Stephanie smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe, but so would a knife wound.” Unconsciously, she touched the scar on her hand. Dominic noticed, and reached out to touch her scar gently.

  “You know from experience?”

  Stephanie was silent, her gaze locked with his. He met her stare head-on, his eyes not wavering from hers. She was the first to glance away. “Yes,” she whispered, moving her hand from his.

  Dominic fell silent, studying the woman in front of him. Her admission was just another missing piece in the puzzle that was Stephanie Carovella. She’d been hurt. Badly, he thought. No woman he knew carried a gun around in LA. They carried Mace and took self-defense classes, but they didn’t carry concealed weapons. Not unless they were expecting trouble or had experienced it. He wondered what deadly secrets she was hiding. Whatever they were, they’d left scars that ran deep.

  His instincts told him to stay the hell away from her; that any kind of relationship he pursued with her would put him on a road paved to hell, but he couldn’t. He’d watched her every night for a month. He’d played a silent game with her, each pretending the other didn’t exist, but it hadn’t worked. He wanted to know the secrets behind her eyes. He wanted to know why she carried a gun at night, ordered a glass of Johnny Walker Blue she never drank, and why she carried so much pain.

  Leaving her side, he moved behind the bar. Nodding to Jax, he said softly, “I’m leaving for the night. Can you lock up?”

  Jax grinned, turning his head to where Stephanie stood near Outlaws’ front door. “I don’t blame you. I’d leave, too, if I had her waiting for me.”

  “It’s not like that,” Dominic protested.

  “Sure.” Jax smirked, laughing at him. “Go on, take her home.”

  Dominic nodded, walking out from behind the bar and towards Stephanie. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

  Stephanie shivered slightly at the feel of Dominic’s arm around her waist, feeling his warm touch penetrating through her clothes. Her conscience told her she should tell him no and go straight to Ben’s place, but she knew before she even spoke that it wasn’t going to happen.

  “I could eat. There’s a café a few blocks from here that’s open all night. It makes great coffee,” she said, shyly smiling at him.

  “A woman after my own he
art,” Dominic teased, watching her blush.

  They fell into an easy silence as they walked from Outlaws to the restaurant. Dominic grinned when they stopped in front of 25. “Now I know you’re a woman after my own heart. I love this place. Whenever I finish up at the bar, I come here for a bite to eat.”

  Stephanie nodded enthusiastically, her face lighting up with pleasure. “I’m the same. I like to come here when I can’t sleep. The burgers are to die for.”

  Dominic opened the door, waiting for Stephanie to enter before following. He dropped his gaze to her ass, groaning at the soft sway of her hips. Looking around the room, he grinned, noticing he wasn’t the only one checking her out. He asked himself how on earth he was just going to maintain a friendship with her when every time she leaned closer or smiled at him, he wanted to kiss her senseless.

  And she wanted him back. He could tell by the soft hitch in her breath and the quickening of her pulse when he touched her. They were playing a dangerous game, and he wasn’t sure his heart would survive the aftermath. He thought about his on-and-off again girlfriend, Sandra, and grimaced. If she even knew he was hanging out with another woman, she’d tear him to strips. The woman had a jealous streak and was getting a tad too possessive for his liking. She’d recently started hinting she’d like to move in with him. The thought was unsettling.

  Sliding into a booth opposite Stephanie, he leaned back on the comfortable brown sofa. He wondered if her boyfriend were the jealous kind. God knows he would be. He doubted he’d want to let her out of his sight for too long, not after seeing how men reacted around her. He grinned, shaking his head in amusement. She was absolutely oblivious to the attention. It revealed an air of innocence about her, one that he had found lacking in so many women. It was refreshing.

  Stephanie grabbed the menu in front of her, perusing it quickly before dropping it back onto the table. She smiled at the approaching waiter. “Can I get a number one burger, fries and a malt milkshake, Tony?” she asked, smiling widely when Dominic ordered the same.

  “Sure thing, Stephanie,” Tony said, nodding curtly to Dominic before walking off.

  “I don’t think he likes me much,” Dominic murmured.

  Stephanie arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because he gave me the filthiest look when he took our order,” he said, chuckling when she looked at him blankly. “Wow, you really don’t know the effect you have on men, do you?”

  “Change the subject, Delaney,” she growled, making him chuckle again.

  Fingering the salt shaker on the table, he said quietly, “They know you pretty well here.”

  Stephanie shrugged out of her leather jacket, draping it onto the seat next to her. “I told you, I come here every so often. The burgers are—”

  “To die for, yeah I know, you told me,” he said, quirking an eyebrow at her. “That waiter knew your name well enough for me to know you come here more than every so often. You’re either a burger fiend or . . .”

  “Or what?” she challenged, glaring at him.

  “Or, you come here for the same reason you’ve come to my bar every night for the past month,” Dominic drawled.

  “You’re pretty territorial about your bar, aren’t you?” she teased, changing the subject.

  He shrugged. “I own Outlaws. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You own Outlaws?” she echoed, surprise flitting across her features.

  Dominic removed his own jacket, placing it on the seat next to him. Stephanie didn’t miss the way the T-shirt stretched tightly across his chest, revealing a well-toned body. Her eyes slid to his muscular arms, taking in the intricate tribal band tattoo around one bicep. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch it, and a sigh involuntarily slipped from her lips.

  Clearing her throat, she said shakily, “I didn’t know you owned Outlaws.”

  “No? Do you like me better now you know I have money?” Dominic rasped, feeling her eyes caressing him. He curbed the temptation to lean over the table, to hook his hand around her neck and bring her trembling lips to his own. God, she made him want to say, ‘to hell with everything,’ and take her home. He smiled slowly, savoring the image of her under him, her legs around his waist as he drove them both into oblivion.

  “Money isn’t everything,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands. “Sure, it can buy you pretty things and material possessions, but it can’t bring back lost loved ones, or take away your pain. And it won’t help you sleep at night.”

  Dominic reached over and took her hand in his own, brushing his thumb over hers. “Stephanie, I was kidding,” he said softly.

  She glanced down at their joined hands, her eyes welling up with tears. She gasped when he reached out and tucked his hand under her chin, raising it so she could meet his eyes. Seeing the understanding in them, she whispered, “I wish I’d met you six months ago.”

  “What happened six months ago?”

  “A lot of things,” she whispered again, closing her eyes. Dominic studied the woman in front of him, watching the tears slide down her cheeks. She opened her eyes wiping her tears away and swallowing hard. With a deep breath, she said softly, “I met my boyfriend.”

  “And if we’d met six months ago?” he murmured, reaching out to wipe a stray tear away.

  She laughed shakily. “I wouldn’t have thought twice about the promise in your eyes. I would have let you take me home, and we’d have had sex.”

  Dominic wiggled his eyebrows provocatively, leaning across the table until their mouths were inches from each other. “We still could.”

  Stephanie moved back from him, shaking her head. “No, we can’t. I no longer do one night stands, and even if I did, I won’t do that to Ben. He deserves better than that. He’s been so supportive with everything that’s happened during the past six months. He’s my rock.”

  “Then why aren’t you in his bed tonight?” Dominic challenged, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

  “I don’t sleep much,” Stephanie confessed with a shrug. She smiled slowly at him, surprising flitting across her features. “I’ve never told anyone that before. You make me want to confess all my darkest secrets to you.”

  “How many do you have?” he quipped, cursing when a shadow slid across her face.

  “Too many,” she admitted, falling silent before she pasted a fake smile on her lips. “But doesn’t everyone?”

  “Don’t do that,” he chided.

  “Do what?” she asked dismissively.

  “Fake how you’re feeling inside,” Dominic said, leaning forward again and saying in a low voice, “Stephanie, don’t ever do that with me.”

  Stephanie opened her mouth to speak. She shut it again, unsurprised Dominic saw right through her facade. He saw way too much, and he made her want to confess everything to him. Instinct told her he would keep her darkest secrets safe. He would make a good friend, she thought sadly. It was a shame that after tonight she couldn’t see him again. He saw too much, and she couldn’t risk it.

  Nor could she risk her heart.

  Her life was with Ben. She smiled at the thought of her boyfriend. As much as she couldn’t deny her attraction to Dominic or their strong connection, Ben was her future. He was what she needed. He was patient, solid, and he didn’t ask questions.

  She knew Dominic would hold her tightly when she woke up screaming at night. He’d stroke her hair, tell her she was beautiful and calm her; she’d feel safe. He would make her feel too safe. Being in his arms, she would forget everything but being with him; she’d want to love him and never let him go.

  Ben didn’t make her feel that way. She knew that if the time came when she had to walk away from him, she would do so without a backward glance. She’d have regrets, and it would cut deeply to hurt him, but she’d still be able to walk away.

  Dominic wouldn’t let her go so easily. He’d demand to know what woke her up screaming at night. He’d force her to share every deadly secret she kept buried de
ep inside. He’d want to fight her demons side by side with her, and what terrified her the most was that she’d let him.

  She also knew sleeping with him wouldn’t be enough. He’d easily become an addiction she couldn’t afford. They were both kidding themselves if they believed they could have a one-night stand and then walk away. Just as they were kidding themselves into believing they were going to be just friends. Sooner or later, they were going to become more, and be forced to walk away from each other, so it was better to end this train wreck now.

  Before people were hurt.

  Yet, even as she told herself to get up and walk away, she couldn’t find the strength to walk away. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would walk away from him and not look back.

  “You never need to do that with me,” he repeated, his voice laced with steel.

  “Okay,” she said quietly, smiling at him.

  He smiled back. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head. She was analyzing him, she was analyzing them—what they were doing, and where this was going. He could see it in her body language and the resignation in her eyes, and he knew if he let her walk away tonight, he’d never see her again.

  He decided he wasn’t going to let that happen.

  STEPHANIE SLEEPILY STUMBLED into the kitchen. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she headed to the refrigerator and opened it. She pulled out a carton of milk, lifted it to her lips, and chugged down the creamy liquid.

  “That’s gross,” Gena said, as she looked up from her textbook to study Stephanie.