by Sam Crescent
She knew she wasn’t pregnant as she’d gotten a birth control implant in her upper arm. She didn’t have to worry about the pill or taking shots. For three years she was safe from pregnancy.
Leaving the bathroom, she dressed quickly.
Without looking back, with her bag on her shoulder, she ran out of Draven’s house, down toward the edge of the driveway. Part of her expected a bullet in the head. When that didn’t come and she saw Ian walking toward the house, she rushed to him.
She didn’t throw her arms around him, or say anything.
“Please, get me out of here,” she said.
Ian took her hand, leading her to the car. Hannah and his kid were nowhere in sight. She was thankful for that.
Without looking back, she climbed into the car, and Ian took off. She stared at the town she’d not been to visit during her stay, and couldn’t believe that this small place held a lifetime of memories both good and bad.
“Do you think you’ll be coming back?” Ian asked.
“No.”
“Honey.”
“There’s nothing for me here. I know you’re trying, but we’re never going to have that kind of relationship. Never again,” she said, sniffling.
“You love Draven, and he’s here.”
“I loved a lot of things. My mom included, and I didn’t get to keep her. Just take me to the city. I’ll figure it out from there.”
“You can stay with us. I know Hannah and I would love to have you.”
“It’s not going to happen. I’m not even trying to be a bitch with this. I just need to cut this off. To finally leave Draven and Stonewall behind.” They were passing the cemetery, and Harper gasped. “Wait. Stop. Please. I just need to do something.”
Ian stopped the car without saying a word.
She climbed out and rushed into the cemetery. On the way to Buck and Jett’s graves, she stopped at her mother’s. It wasn’t as well-kept as some of them.
She kissed her two fingers and placed them on the stone. “I love you, Mom. I will miss you every single day, but I can’t stay here. I’ve got to go. To get out while I can.”
Her tears started to fall as she moved to Buck and Jett.
“Hey, guys, I really wish you were here right now. I think you’d have been able to talk some real sense into them. You were gone too soon, and if I knew what would happen, I’d never have run. Never left you guys. If you are watching, please, keep an eye on both of them.”
She turned back to the car, climbing inside.
“You okay?”
“No. I’m not okay. I’ll never be okay again, but I had to do this. It was important for me to. I’m ready to go.”
Ian nodded and started the car.
He pulled out of Stonewall, and Harper allowed herself to look back, to watch the town she had grown up in and now left for a second time, get smaller and smaller.
A piece of her was missing.
That piece was Draven.
The love of her life.
The boy who’d been a man, and that man who was now a monster. He needed her, but she couldn’t stay where he didn’t want her. As hard as it was to admit to even herself, she would have taken him, regardless of what he did. Even though it would kill her inside to know he was responsible for taking men and women, for Draven, she would do anything. Ten years ago, she left him to keep him safe, and throughout the years, she’d worked for Alan, to keep him alive. She loved him, always had, always would. He was the other half of her soul. Even as it killed her, she didn’t ask for Ian to turn the car around. He kept on driving.
When she couldn’t see the town any longer, she turned back in her seat and stared out of the window. She didn’t see anything though. She kept wiping the tears as they fell down her cheeks.
“You know, you could go back.”
“No, I can’t.”
“You’re a strong woman, Harper. You can handle anything.”
“I can handle a lot of stuff, but not this. You didn’t see him. He wants me gone, and I’m not going to force him to make me stay.” She wiped her eyes a final time. “Please, just, can we just be quiet?”
“Yes, sweetie. Yes.”
****
Draven watched Harper leave. He stared out of his office window and saw Ian. She didn’t run into her father’s arms. She’d never run into Ian’s arms for as long as Draven had known her. Not since he broke her trust, and yet last night, she’d been in his arms, allowed him to make love to her, even after what he’d done.
He kept on watching until the car drove away.
After that, he got all the guards out of the house. Every single one of them. He told them to leave, to go to their families and if needed, they would be contacted.
Right there, in the office, he poured gasoline over every single piece of furniture and book within the office. Once it was soaked and the fumes filled the air, he stared at the office that he’d once been so fucking proud of, lit a match, and threw it in.
The fire started immediately. He walked out of the house and went to the front. Minutes passed, and he stared as the house, room by room, caught aflame.
An inheritance of evil finally burned to the ground, just like the whipping post.
Turning his back, he walked away from the house, going through the streets as he saw people rushing past him, going to the burning, to the town spectacle of what he’d created. The only good thing that house had done was to burn.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Axel’s number.
“What?” Axel asked as way of a response.
“I’ve got a plan, but I need help.”
“Meet me at Buck and Jett.”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
Draven walked through the town toward the cemetery. He passed Ian’s house, knowing Harper wouldn’t go there. She wouldn’t go anywhere in town. He made sure of that. He’d never forget the look in her eyes for as long as he lived.
She’s been so sad, so unhappy, and it was all because of him. Because of what he’d done to her.
He couldn’t back down. Not now. Not after everything he’d already lost.
Entering the cemetery, he went to Harper’s mother’s grave first.
“Hello, Mrs. Miller. I love your daughter more than anything else in the world. I’ve been blind to a lot of things, and that has made me hurt her in ways I never should have. One day, I do hope she can forgive me, but I’m never going to ask for it because I don’t deserve it. I am sorry for all the pain I’ve caused her.”
He nodded at her side and moved onto his friends.
He stared at their names, and again that old pain filled his chest.
“Well, you’re a morbid one in the morning,” Axel said, arriving five minutes later. “I saw what you did to the house. I hope you did it. If not, we had one hell of a gas leak. I hope you got Harper out of there as well.”
“Harper’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes. She’s gone and not coming back.” Draven turned to Axel. “Over ten years ago, we said when our fathers passed, be it by our hand or natural causes, we’d take over and change everything.”
“That we did. It never happened.”
“I want to do it now.”
“Draven?”
“It pretty much means certain death. I know that. We’ll have to do a lot of killing. A lot of people are going to be unhappy with us, but we’ve got a team of men and women who are loyal to us.”
“Are you asking me to help you start a war?” Axel asked.
“I’m asking you to help me end one. Once and for all. I don’t want to carry on in my father’s footsteps. All of this, it dies with him.”
“And at the end of it?”
“If we’re still standing, we walk. We go our separate ways. This is to the death, if we can do it.”
“You mean walking away for good.”
“I’ve already burned down a house. We can go back and burn my father’s house. All of it, gone
. No more Stonewall. No more us. We move on.”
“And you go and find Harper. Live happily ever after with her, is that it?”
“I don’t see us living past this, Axel.”
“What will happen with her?”
“I’ve made arrangements for her. She’ll always be taken care of. You know I would.”
“Of course I do.” Axel sighed. “This is a big deal.”
“I remember when we were younger, before the initiation, you came to my place, snuck into my bedroom. You were a fucking mess. You told me that you couldn’t handle it. What they did to the women. It sickened you. You begged me that if we ever took over, we’d make changes. We’d be monsters with morals. I fucked everything up. I can change that now. We can’t go on like this.”
Axel was silent for several moments. “I’m with you. I’ve been wanting out for a while, but you’ve always been so fucking in it, I didn’t want to abandon you. I know these guys would kick my ass if I even thought of it.” He rubbed his chin. “Then I guess we’re going to start a war.”
“You’re ready?”
“No, not a chance. I’m not ready, but I’m going to do it anyway, because that is what I do. No one messes with us, and they’ve been doing it long enough. It’s time for us to take charge.” Axel held out his hand. “Even if we die, it has been one hell of a life.”
Draven shook his hand.
“You got a plan?” Axel asked.
“Yep, and it starts with Tillie. I’m thinking it’s time to have another get-together. You know, a new meal.”
“A bloodbath? I like it. I’ll make sure to take care of the appetizer.”
Draven stared at Buck’s and Jett’s graves. He owed it to them to make this right.
He would make it right, and then, if he was still standing, he’d go and deal with Harper. One way or the other, he wasn’t going to do another deal or kill another innocent person again. That life was done, it was over.
Alan Barries had gotten his way for too long. It was his time now, and he wasn’t going to allow that son of a bitch to have his way. Not now, not ever.
Chapter Sixteen
Two months later
Harper closed her eyes as she inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers before her. Some were roses and a few daffodils that had started to appear. All of them were so bright and shiny, and making her feel full of warmth.
“I’ve never known you to appreciate flowers so much,” Stephanie said, coming out of the back.
Harper tucked some hair behind her ear and shrugged. “I guess I discovered a new love right here.”
After Ian had taken her to a hotel, she’d asked him for one request and that was to take care of her mother’s grave, to treat her with care even though he had fallen out of love with her.
Once he agreed, she hugged him tightly.
“I’m never going to see you again, am I?”
“No. I’m not coming back to Stonewall. I’m moving on, and that means I can’t look back. Goodbye, Dad.”
She hadn’t gone back nor had she talked to him.
Like ten years ago, she had cut all contact off from Stonewall, and she didn’t go looking for any news either. She didn’t need to see what was going in that world. Not anymore.
Draven had seen to that.
“I’ve always loved flowers. They’re so beautiful, and they give so much to the earth. I know we cut them up, but I feel in some way I bring a little beauty to the world.”
“You never told me if you hear from Jett.”
“Oh, him, he broke up with me not long after you took off. It was a bad time. He told me that I wasn’t what he was looking for. I wasn’t his type.” Stephanie shrugged. “It was fun while it lasted.”
“Men are idiots.”
“You don’t like men anymore?”
“Nope.”
“What happened to Ethan? I know you broke up with him. He came here wanting to talk to you.”
“It’s all a little fuzzy, to be honest. I didn’t want to see him again. It had all moved too fast. The engagement. The wedding. I didn’t want any of it, you know? I just wanted some time. The most important thing, I didn’t love him.”
“And now you know you can’t marry him?”
“I can’t marry someone I don’t love, and I don’t love him.” She never did. Stephanie liked to talk constantly about feelings. For Harper, she enjoyed the peace and quiet when Stephanie wasn’t around, but she wasn’t about to tell her very nice boss to shut up.
“I’m starting to think love is overrated, Harper. You need to get back out there. Meet some new guys. You know, have a blast, fall in love. Meet new people.”
“One day, when I’m ready. For now, I am content to work, shop, and eat.”
They got busy, and Harper used the time to excuse herself to go and get lunch. Stephanie already had something, so Harper decided to eat out. She went to a burger stand, ordered something tall and greasy, took a seat, and watched the passersby as she ate her sandwich.
With most times when she was alone, she allowed herself a few moments to think about Draven. She wondered what he was doing. How many women were being hurt? If he was happy.
She wanted to go to the cops, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. There was not enough evidence. She had nothing, and the cops, they were probably paid to look the other way. Not only that, she knew Alan had evidence of her leading those girls to their dark fate. There was no way she could do turn them in without incriminating herself.
Alan had taught her a lot, and so had life. He knew her hands were tied, and he loved to play his game with her.
Everyone had a price, something they were willing to fight for or at least turn a blind eye to. Hers had been her guys and her freedom.
It didn’t exactly fill her with comfort knowing, but she couldn’t do anything about it. Finishing off her burger, she threw the napkin in the trash and made her way back to the shop.
Stephanie was still busy with customers, and Harper was more than happy for the distraction. She took care of customers, or told Stephanie when she was out of her depth.
Just as they were closing up for the day, a man entered the store carrying a huge bouquet of red roses.
Harper glanced at them and let Stephanie deal with them.
“I’m looking for a Harper Miller,” he said.
“I’m her.” Harper wiped her hands on the apron and signed for them. “Did you order roses like this?” She turned to Stephanie.
“I didn’t. They’re beautiful though. They’re for you, so you must have a secret admirer.”
“I don’t have anything.”
“Here’s the card,” Stephanie said. Harper didn’t make a move to take it. She sat and listened as Stephanie read it out. “No amount of roses will make up for what I did. I’m coming for you soon, babe. You better believe it, Draven.”
Harper took the card from her and read it. She frowned. “Does it have a number?”
“Who is Draven?”
“He’s an old … friend.”
“Sounds more like an old lover.”
“He’s complicated.”
“The complicated ones are always the best. This is the point I’m making, Harper. We need to get you back out there. Get you on the market, dancing and having fun. This Friday, I want you ready, and we’re going out on the town. We’re going to hit a couple of bars. Dance, flirt, and maybe make out with a couple of guys.”
“What happened to you?” She wondered what Axel had done to her. Stephanie was more open, free, happy.
“Nothing. I just feel different. We have one life. One short life, and I want to live it to its fullest. The only way to do that is to live. I’m not hiding, and I do think making out with a lot of guys is incredibly fun.”
“Okay, fine.” Harper chuckled. “Friday night, I’ll be ready. I want it to be fun though.”
By the time Friday night finally arrived, Harper wasn’t interested in getting pretty, or even doing anything rem
otely close to going out and having fun. She wanted to be alone. The roses were a problem for her. She couldn’t stop thinking about what they meant.
Draven was back.
Why had he forced her to leave in the first place?
It made absolutely no sense to her why he would contact her like this.
Was it even him?
Get a damn grip, Harper.
She pushed those thoughts to one side and instead finished getting ready. By the time Stephanie picked her up, she was ready for a drink. Lots of them.
“You look ready to party,” Stephanie said.
“I am. Come on, honey, show me how to have a good time.”
Stephanie let out a whoop, and Harper followed her boss and friend as they entered the first nightclub.
The music was too loud.
Harper went straight to the bar while Stephanie headed for the dance floor.
She ordered herself a shot of whiskey, and knocked it back. In order to get away from the questions rushing in her head, she needed to have a lot of shots and a lot of dancing.
Stephanie dragged her onto the dance floor after her sixth shot.
The whiskey was cheap and not doing what she wanted. She threw herself into dancing. The men who joined them tried to get touchy with her, but she ignored them. If they touched her, she pushed their hands off.
Some of them muttered that she was a lesbian. Again, she ignored them. They could all go and suck on their own cocks. She was here to have fun, not to entertain them.
Stephanie got bored with a lot of clubs quickly, and for Harper, she was more than happy to keep on moving.
From one club to another, the drinks kept flowing. The only problem was during their walks to each hot club, Harper was sure she actually got sober.
She needed to numb her body, to stop thinking.
By the sixth club, Harper downed two shots, one after the other. When Stephanie tried to pull her away, she refused. “I just want to drink. That’s all I want. To drink.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve no interest in kissing guys or having them touch me. I just want to drink.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it.” Stephanie left her side and headed onto the dance floor.
Knocking back another shot, Harper, pointed to the bartender and waited, tapping her fingers across the counter.
