Damaged

by Nina D'Angelo

  “Ah yes, Agent Michael Simmons,” Danny said, his smile growing colder. “If he weren’t so useful to me, I probably would have killed him by now.”

  Dominic’s head snapped up at Danny’s last statement, and he stared with growing horror at the man in front of him.

  “Did you say kill?” he rasped, trying to remain calm.

  Danny’s laugh was one of amusement. “I can see Stephanie has told you about her parents. That’s interesting.”

  Dominic didn’t say anything. Fear seeped through his veins. He was almost too scared to move as he stared at the man who had destroyed Stephanie’s life. He swallowed hard. He’d read what the Jesus Christ Killer had done to his victims. Stephanie had told him in explicit detail what he’d done to her parents. Now the man was sitting across from him, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  Clearing his throat, he croaked out, “Why is it interesting?”

  “She’s never shared that with anyone before. You’re different. You’re special,” Danny said, his eyes glittering with an emotion Dominic couldn’t recognize. “She deserves that.”

  “How do you know all of this?” he asked, not sure he would like the answer.

  “I told you, I’ve made it my mission to find out about every boy Stephanie has dated,” Danny said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “I must admit, I was beginning to worry about her choices. She’s dated some rather unsavory characters, although dating isn’t quite the word I would use.”

  Tapping the letter opener against Dominic’s desk, he said quietly, “She let you in. She revealed herself to you.” Pointing to Dominic with the letter opener, he said silkily, “And you broke her heart.”

  Dominic gulped, seeing the sudden fury in the man’s eyes. Eyes identical to Stephanie’s. Feeling his heart beating wildly against his chest, he blurted out, “I love her.”

  “I know you do. It’s the only reason you’re still alive,” Danny said. “I also know you’re going to find a way to make it right between the two of you again.”

  Watching Dominic nod his head jerkily, Danny smiled again. “Good, because if you don’t, I’ll come calling again. Except next time, you won’t see me.”

  Tossing the letter opener onto Dominic’s desk, he smiled when Dominic jumped. He stood, and walked to the door.

  “If you’re so intent on protecting her from getting hurt, why didn’t you protect her the night she was attacked?”

  Danny’s hand tightened on the door handle, and he turned back to Dominic. “I can’t always be there to protect Stephanie, no matter how much I want to be. I had . . . other matters to attend to. Her attack brought me back to Los Angeles, and it will keep me here . . . for now. I will be watching.”

  Dominic shuddered at the way Danny said ‘other matters.’ He wasn’t sure he wanted to know why he hadn’t been there for Stephanie. When Danny opened the door to leave, he blurted out, “Why?”

  “Why what, Dominic?” Danny asked, not turning around.

  “Why protect her?”

  Danny turned around, his expression softening. “For the same reason I imagine you would move heaven and earth to protect her. Because I love her.”

  Dominic watched the Jesus Christ Killer stroll out of his office, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Unable to take his eyes off him, he waited with bated breath until he’d disappeared from his view before slumping in his chair.

  Reaching for his glass, he brought it to his lips before realizing it was empty. He choked on a laugh. He’d just come face to face with the FBI’s most wanted man, and he’d survived it. If that weren’t a reason to have a drink, he didn’t know what was.

  BEN GRINNED AS he wandered through Outlaws. The bar was packed with all the friends he’d made during the six years he’d lived in LA. Knowing everyone had come here tonight to show their support and to celebrate his record deal gave him a warm sense of belonging.

  When he’d first come to LA, he’d only known Dominic and Ty. He’d had to start all over again. Back in San Antonio, he’d already made a name for himself in the bars and clubs, but it hadn’t been enough. He’d known if he were going to make it with his style of music, he had to be in LA, so he’d packed up everything he owned and followed Dominic out here.

  At the time, it had been scary as hell, and he’d been so broke he’d had to crash on Dominic’s couch. Smiling, he remembered how they had shared an apartment together when they had first moved to LA. It had been a tiny studio that barely fit two people, let alone three. They’d made it work by hooking up with random girls and going back to their places.

  Shaking his head, he chuckled at the antics they’d used to get up to. Tyler had needed a dark room in the apartment, so they’d painted the bathroom black. Their landlord had been horrified when he’d discovered what they’d done, and kicked them out immediately.

  In another apartment they’d shared together, Dominic and Tyler had stapled egg cartons to the wall in an attempt to block out his guitar when he practiced. A neighbor had complained, and they’d lost that apartment too.

  They’d been holy terrors.

  His laughter died when he saw Sandra approaching him. He still couldn’t see what Dominic saw in the woman. On the outside, she was gorgeous. She had a body that would make any grown man beg, and she knew it, and used it to her advantage. Unfortunately, she was also manipulative, vindictive and had an ugliness not even a killer body could hide.

  He couldn’t stand the woman. He’d seen through her sticky sweet facade from the very beginning and knew Tyler had too. They’d warned Dominic about her, telling him to be careful. Sandra seemed the type who would fake a pregnancy to get a man where she wanted him.

  He still found it hard to believe that she was a police officer. With a derision he didn’t bother to hide, he smirked. The LAPD must have really lowered their standards if they were letting people like Sandra into the force.

  “Ben,” Sandra said sweetly as she slid onto the barstool beside him. Nodding to Jax, she said curtly, “Give me a G & T, and go easy on the T.”

  “Sandra,” Ben said politely, taking a sip of his own drink.

  “I know I haven’t had the chance yet to say this, but congratulations on the record deal,” she murmured, reaching out and touching his arm. “You must be thrilled.”

  Ben removed her hand from his arm. “Thank you, I am.”

  “What happens next?” she asked, swirling around in the bar stool and leaning toward him. Crossing one leg over the over, she said softly, “I think it’s so exciting. Just think, I’ll be able to tell all my friends I know the Ben Reynolds.”

  He rolled his eyes at her announcement. “What do you want, Sandra?”

  “Ben, what on earth makes you think I want anything?” she asked, widening her eyes with faked innocence. Placing her hand across her chest, she added, “I’m offended you feel that way. All I wanted was to tell you I’m happy for you.”

  “Cut the crap, Sandra. You dislike me as much as I do you. Now, what do you really want?” Ben asked, irritation creeping into his voice.

  Sandra sighed heavily. “Believe it or not, Ben, I don’t hate you. In fact, you and I are more alike than you think. We’re both in love with someone who will never love us back.”

  “You and I are nothing alike,” he growled, putting his beer bottle on the bar counter and standing. “You know nothing about my relationship with Stephanie. You don’t even know her.”

  “I know more about her than you think,” Sandra said, grabbing his arm as he turned away from the bar. “I know she’s been playing you a fool for the past month. I know she’s been seeing someone else.”

  Ben froze at her comments, turning back to her warily. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I know you want to believe your girlfriend’s perfect, but she’s not. Let me guess. She told you that it’s over, and that she’s moved on. She hasn’t. She’s still in love with him,” Sandra said, the words tumbling quickly from her mouth. />
  “My relationship with Stephanie is none of your business,” he growled, his lips thinning into an angry line. “Besides, I don’t think you can talk about relationships. You continuously chase after Dominic, knowing he’ll never love you.”

  “I know he won’t,” Sandra said bitterly. “Tell me, Ben, what is it about Stephanie Carovella that is so special? I’ve been trying to figure it out. I’ll be damned if I know why both you and Dominic chase after her.”

  “Dominic?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell do you mean by that?”

  “Why do you think I hate your girlfriend so much?” Sandra said tearfully. “She stole Dominic from me.”

  “You’re lying,” Ben said between gritted teeth, anger coursing through him. “Dominic wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “I saw them together. She came over to his apartment one night while I was there. I woke up, and they were kissing. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other,” she spat. Shaking her head in disgust, she added between clenched teeth, “I was still in his bed. I was naked and willing, and he didn’t give a damn. He was too busy getting it on with your girlfriend. His bed wasn’t even empty, and he was already looking for my replacement.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Ben said again, turning away from her.

  She stood and grabbed his arm, spinning him around. “Ask her about the night her jeep was set on fire. Ask her where she was, and with whom.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because you want to know the truth. Because you know I’m telling the truth. Ask her, Ben. If she’s honest with you, she’ll tell you that she was in San Francisco with Dominic. They drove up there during the day, and spent the whole night together,” Sandra said, whispering tearfully. “I interviewed her as part of our arson investigation. She sat opposite me and listed my goddamn boyfriend as her alibi. She looked me in the eye, and told me she’d spent all night with Dominic, and she knew. She knew who I was, and she didn’t give a damn how much she was hurting me. In fact, she seemed to get her kicks out of being a home-wrecker.”

  Dropping her hand from his arm, she wiped her eyes. “Tonight, they pretended not to know each other, but they do. They know each other as intimately as two people can. They’re lovers. Tonight, they both looked you in the eye and lied to you.”

  When Ben remained silent, his jaw clenching in anger, she pressed on. “You may not like me, and I may not like you, but this isn’t something I’d lie about. I saw them. Ask Stephanie. Ask Dominic. Ask him to look you in the eye and tell you he hasn’t fucked her. I bet he can’t. And then you’ll know. You’ll know I’m telling you the truth, and that your precious girlfriend and so-called best friend have been lying to you right from the beginning.”

  “Stop,” Ben growled, gripping her arm tightly. “I don’t want to hear any more from you. Everything that falls from your lips is a lie.”

  “No, Ben, it’s not,” Sandra said, sliding off the barstool and reaching out to touch his arm. She dropped her hand midway when he flinched. “I know I’m the last person you’d want to find this out from, but I’m not lying to you. Not about this.”

  Ben turned away from Sandra, not seeing the triumphant smile as she walked away. Sitting back on the barstool, he picked up his drink and automatically took a swig. He told himself Sandra was just causing trouble as he looked down at the bar counter. Gripping the beer bottle tightly, he acknowledged that both Dominic and Stephanie had been acting weird. When he’d introduced Stephanie to Dominic tonight, there had been a tension in the air, and she’d refused to acknowledge him.

  He swallowed hard. Was it because they were lovers? Was Sandra right? The thought made him sick to the stomach, and he pushed it aside, shaking his head. No, Dominic wouldn’t do that to him. Taking another swig of his beer, he couldn’t shake his feelings of unease.

  Stephanie had been happier over the past few weeks. Had Dominic been the reason why? He recalled her face when she’d realized his party was at Outlaws; she’d gone completely white. Angrily, he thought back to a few nights ago when he’d sat in the bar with Dominic and Tyler. Dominic had told them he’d met someone special. He’d been happy. Ben had seen it in his eyes, and he’d marveled over it. Dominic had acted like a man in love.

  But as soon as he’d started to tell Dominic and Tyler about Stephanie, Dominic had clammed up about his own relationship, making a joke out of it. At the time, he’d thought it was just Dominic being Dominic, but now he wasn’t so sure. Had it been because he’d also been talking about Stephanie?

  Lifting his head when Tyler slapped him on the back, he glared at him. With a sinking feeling, he realized Tyler knew. He’d known all along Dominic was seeing Stephanie. Hell, he’d even joked about Dominic’s girl being damaged.

  “Damn, Benny, what the hell are you doing sitting all alone at the bar? This is a party, not a wake,” Tyler joked, his laughter dying when he saw Ben’s darkened expression.

  “Did you know?” Ben asked between clenched teeth.

  “Did I know what?” Tyler asked cautiously, jumping when Ben slammed his hand onto the bar counter.

  “Damn it, Ty, don’t lie to me or play dumb. Did you know about Dominic and Stephanie?” he growled.

  “Shit,” Tyler groaned, “You know?”

  Ben closed his eyes, whispering, “I didn’t know. Not until now. You’ve just confirmed what Sandra told me.” Opening his eyes, he laughed. “I told her she was lying. My own fucking best friend wouldn’t do that to me. I told her Dominic wouldn’t betray me like that.”

  “Ben, he didn’t know,” Tyler argued. “He met her before he even knew you were seeing someone.”

  “Oh, so that makes it alright, does it?” Ben bit out, slamming his hand down on the bar counter again. “Tonight I introduced them to each other, and they didn’t say one word. Not one damn word about knowing each other. They both pretended as if they’d never met. Have you any idea how it that makes me feel, knowing they both lied to my face?”

  “Ben—”

  Ben shook off the hand Tyler placed on his arm, sliding off the barstool. “I feel like the biggest fool in the world. I wanted to introduce my best friends to my girlfriend. I wanted them to like each other.” He snorted angrily, “How’s that for irony?”

  “Ben—”

  He glanced around the party, snorting derisively. The party Dominic had organized for him. Some party. Turning his head back to look at Tyler, his expression hardened. “It’s not bad enough to find out my best friend fucked my girlfriend, and they both lied about it, but I have to deal with the fact you knew. Ty, you’re supposed to my best friend too, and you didn’t tell me. You didn’t even warn me.”

  “That’s not fair,” Tyler growled, glaring at Ben. “What the hell was I supposed to do, Ben? You think I like this? Do you honestly believe I like seeing you in pain? Seeing Dom in pain? Whether you like it or not, Ben, he’s hurting just as much as you are.”

  Seeing Ben’s expression of disgust, he pressed on. “Do you really think I want to be stuck in between you both? Christ, Ben, I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want to take sides.”

  “You just did,” Ben choked. “When you chose not to tell me about Dominic and Stephanie, you made your choice.”

  Tyler drew in a breath when he saw the look of hurt and betrayal on Ben’s face before Ben spun on his heel and stalked in the direction of Dominic’s office. He was torn between letting the two of them fight it out amongst themselves.

  Running his hand through his hair, he scowled angrily. He didn’t want to be in the middle of this mess. Cursing softly, he began to follow Ben. As much as he didn’t want to get involved, he wasn’t going to sit back and watch as his two best friends destroyed each other. No woman was worth that.

  Not even Stephanie Carovella.

  STEPHANIE STOOD OUTSIDE on Outlaws’ balcony, staring into the night. Not turning her head when Cassandra joined her, she said quietly, “Thank you for coming.”

&nb
sp; “It sounded urgent. Besides, I figured I’d better show my face here tonight. It’s good for the image of Dominique Arlington,” Cassandra said, laughing huskily. Turning away from the backdrop of Sunset Boulevard, she said quietly, “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks for noticing,” Stephanie bit out sarcastically, rolling her eyes at Cassandra. “Believe me, this is nothing compared to how I actually feel.”

  Cassandra slid her gaze over Stephanie, her eyes narrowing dangerously when she saw Stephanie’s hands. Quickly reaching over, she grabbed one of her wrists, lifting it up to reveal her palm. Silently, she pulled out a tissue from her pocket and wiped away the makeup from Stephanie’s palm, wincing at the deep indentions revealed. “Damn it, Stephanie. What happened?”

  Stephanie tugged her wrist free, wrapping her arm around her waist and turning back to the downtown traffic. “Dominic never wanted me. I was just a fuck to him,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. Refusing to look at Cassandra, she said raggedly, “I gave him everything. I bared my whole soul to him, and he didn’t want me. He called me . . . damaged. He threw who I am back in my own face.”

  Cassandra’s lip curled into a snarl, hearing the anguish in Stephanie’s voice, and anger coursed through her. Her friend had given everything she had to give to Dominic, and he’d thrown it away. Savagely, she thought of a million ways she could make him pay.

  “Give me the word and I’ll make him pay,” she bit out, watching Stephanie’s head snap up and the hiss of breath that escaped from her mouth. “Or not,” she murmured, shaking her head in disgust. “Christ, Stephanie, he broke your heart and tossed you away, and you still love the son of a bitch? Tell me, why? How the hell can you still love someone who has hurt you that deeply? No man is worth that much love, especially not Dominic Delaney.”

  When Stephanie was silent, Cassandra blew out a breath of frustration. “Didn’t I tell you Dominic was a player? Damn it, Stephanie, I tried to warn you, but you fell in love with him anyway. Hell, he makes Mick Jagger look like a choirboy.”