Love That Defies Us (The Devil's Dust #2.2)(12)

I look at Bobby, my eyes raised with disturbance. The twine is literally sawing through his neck, and he continues to laugh.

“Do it,” Bobby suggests, shrugging.

I lean next to Charlie’s ear. “This is what happens when you f*ck with my family,” I remark, having enough of this charade.

I twist the knife violently, making the twine tighten against his throat harshly. I twist and twist the handle of the blade; it’s getting harder to turn. Charlie’s laughter finally stops as the twine completely snaps into his throat. I twist the knife one last time and hold it there as Charlie’s body thrashes against the chair, the mixture of not being able to breathe and the cord cutting his throat killing him. Thick blood pours down his neck in a rush. I let go of the knife and it spins the opposite direction, loosening its hold, but the rope stays stuck inside Charlie’s throat. His face is purple, mouth parted, and eyes bugged out. I rub my jaw and turn to the table, placing both hands on the edge of it as I lower my head.

“Who would have known Charlie was a freak,” Bobby says.

“We were all he had; losing us as his family was the last straw in his sanity,” I reply. “We’re lucky we didn’t patch him in. Who knows what he would have been capable of inside the club.”

Bobby nods in agreement.

***

Dani

“How do you feel?” Doc asks, feeling around on my stomach with cold hands.

“Tired, ready to go to bed with my son,” I inform her, lying flat on my back on the bed. When I got to the club, Zane was in bed asleep in Shadow’s room.

She brushes her blonde hair away from her round face and reaches into her medical bag. “I’m going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, make sure the little one is doing okay,” she tells me, pressing a small wand to my belly. The speaker in her hand echoes with a loud beat, making me smile.

“She sounds strong,” Doc says, grinning. “When do you see your OB?”

“Next week. We’re supposed to schedule the C-section,” I inform her.

“How far along are you?” she asks.

“Thirty seven,” I reply.

She reaches in her bag and pulls out another device, a cord connecting to something inside her bag.

“Shit,” she mumbles.

“What?” I ask, looking at the device in her hand.

“My batteries are dead,” she huffs, stuffing the device back into her bag.

“I’m fine, really. How is Sara?” I ask, concerned. When Cherry and I passed her in the hallway back at the apartment, she didn’t look well.

“She had to have a bunch of stitches and some pain medicine, but she’ll be okay,” Doc replies, placing her things inside her medical bag.

“Thanks for looking me over; you know how Shadow can be,” I remark, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, you are about to pop, so I would hold off on trying to kill anyone for a while,” Doc continues, winking at me. I laugh and sit up, pulling my shirt down over my stomach.

After Doc leaves, I head to mine and Shadow’s room. Shadow doesn’t really stay in this room anymore, not unless the club is on lockdown and then we all stay here. That hasn’t happened in a while, though. It still looks the same: a small bed with a quilt lying on top, a small night stand next to that. The dresser Shadow and I have had sex on many times, and an old, stained-up chair in the corner. I check on Zane, and Rex is sleeping on the pillow right above his head, Bobby must have taken Rex with him when he picked Zane up. I smirk and head to the shower, cleaning off any traces of blood with Shadow’s body wash. The woodsy scent comforts me; the smell of it still makes me feel on cloud nine even to this day. I climb out, dry off, and grab a toothbrush to clean my teeth. I pull on some boy shorts underwear and a loose white tank from the dresser drawer and head toward the bed where Zane is fast asleep. I climb in with him and wrap both my arms around him, pulling him close. I push my nose against his neck and inhale his scent of cookies before drifting to sleep.

***

“Mom. Mom.” I open my eyes from Zane nudging me awake, his wide blue eyes staring at me intently, with Rex in his lap.

“Hey, sweetie, how did you sleep?” I ask him.

“Eat,” he responds, pointing to his mouth.

I laugh and ruffle his black hair.

“All right, let me get some clothes on first,” I reply. I get out of bed and head toward the dresser where I keep clothes just in case. As soon as my hand reaches the drawer my head spins, my heartbeat picks up and I see spots. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Mom.” Zane tugs on my arm, pointing at the door. I nod and shuffle on some gray sweats then put on a bra. I grab Zane and change his diaper, then get him ready before heading to the club’s kitchen.

“Good morning, Bug!” Bobby shouts, his hands held out wide. Zane runs and leaps into Bobby’s arms with a big, toothy grin on his face. Bobby is wearing a tight, white long-sleeved thermal with torn blue jeans. Even when he has that ‘just rolled out of bed’ look, he’s handsome. Speaking of handsome…

“Hey, where is Shadow?” I ask, looking around the club.

“He had a few things to do this afternoon, but he’ll be here soon,” Bobby answers, picking up Zane and heading into the kitchen.

I follow him in, watching him grab a box of cereal and a bowl from the cabinet.