The Fear That Divides Us (The Devil's Dust #3)(2)

Travis leaned in and slid his tongue along my cheek, taking in my sorrow.

“Your sadness lets me know you know you’re aware of your place. You are here to serve me, and deliver whatever I ask of you, my wife.” He seethes the last part, making me clench my eyes shut. I tried to drown his words out, build a barrier.

“Do you understand?” he questioned. I nodded as a whimper spilled from my throat. “Say it,” he gritted out, gripping my chin harshly, his fingers bruising the skin.

“Yes, Master,” I spat, trying to pull from his hold. My tone takes me by surprise. I had no idea what had gotten into me.

“I see someone has attitude tonight. That’s okay. I know just what you need.” He grabbed me by the collar and lifted me, throwing me onto the bed face down. My legs twitched with the urge to run to the other side of the bed, but the collar, snug around my neck, reminded me of the punishment I would face for disobeying.

Straddling my body, slamming my wrists into the hard cuffs, pushing my head into the mattress hard enough to lock my collar into place, I was convinced I would suffocate. That finally the nightmare may truly end.

The bathroom door swings open, breaking my flashback of last night.

“You look like shit. Put some makeup on or something,” Travis insults.

“I don’t have any more makeup. I had to use what was left of it the last time you used me as a punching bag,” I clip, slamming drawers shut. I wince from my outburst, knowing it won’t go overlooked.

“What’d you say to me?” Travis grips my face harshly, making me instantly regret my choice of words. But why refrain from how I really feel about the bastard? Today won’t be any worse than tomorrow; he’ll still treat me like garbage.

“I said I f*cking hate you,” I snarl, and spit in his face. Travis closes his eyes as he wipes his face.

“You think you’re something mighty, don’t you?” He rears his hand back and slaps me in the mouth, busting my lip wide open.

I fall against the bathroom counter, my breathing becoming harsh from the amount of pain my body is suffering.

“Jessica, I can tell I have not been very attentive to you in the basement. I have been lacking on your punishment, in return making you suffer, causing you to act out. I will deliver the pain you so desperately crave tonight, and you can count on that, my darling wife,” he grates out, pushing my head into the counter harshly. Tears fill my eyes. I’m exhausted, just plain f*cking exhausted of this. I can’t take any more of this shit.

“NO!” Addie yells, running into the bathroom. My heart stammers as I hear Addie, immediately scared for her safety, and terrified of her seeing me like this.

Addie attacks Travis’s leg, yelling at him, scratching at him to let me go. I hear Travis exhale with anger as he pushes her off, making her stumble and fall to the floor.

Addie instantly starts crying.

“I don’t have time for this shit. I have to go to work,” Travis sneers, letting go of me and leaving the bathroom. I quickly fall to the floor and go to Addie, rocking her in my lap. I cup her cheeks and kiss all over her, noticing she landed on her face when she fell.

“Shit,” I whisper, hugging her tightly to my chest.

I can’t do this anymore. It was one thing when it was just me, but I can feel him becoming hostile toward Addie; it’s getting worse. The way he sneers at her, eyes her with distaste from the corner of his eye when she’s around him; it’s a time bomb ready to detonate at any moment. I have to get out of here, but I have to be smart about it. Just thinking about running makes my heart accelerate at a dangerous rate. The last time I ran, he almost killed me. I shake my head; I can’t think like that. I have to try. I have to try to get away. For my daughter. That means no calling my mother, no taking credit cards. I lift Addie up and go into the bedroom, open the safe, and take all the cash. Grabbing my purse from the counter, I run toward my car barefoot as quickly as I can, praying none of the house workers see us.

“Go bye bye?” Addie asks me.

“Yes, baby, we are going to go far, far away. Where daddy can’t hurt us anymore, where we don’t have to be afraid,” I whisper, locking her into her car seat. Tears spill from my eyes as I think of taking Addie from her father, but he’s not a father to her. He’s not a husband either. He’s just the warden to a f*cked-up life that he’s imprisoned us both in. I climb in behind the wheel, my hands shaking with adrenaline. What if he catches me again? What if he follows me? I shake my head; start the ignition, and just drive. Where? I have no idea, but I will keep driving, to the point we can’t drive any further. Hopefully by then, I will have a plan.

Bobby

As I take a sip of what’s left of my beer, my eyes catch Babs coming through the kitchen over the top of the bottle. Her red hair is sticking to her face from the summer’s heat, and she’s mumbling about something. I set the empty bottle on the counter and watch her put up glasses and fill the ice bin. It’s quiet here. Too quiet. Nights in the clubhouse are usually filled with easy women and drugs. Well, somewhat easy. Seeing as I’m still a prospect, I don’t get near the amount of ass the patched-in brothers do, but I do all right. I peel the label from my beer and fold it in on itself out of boredom.

Old Guy crashes through the club’s front doors, catching everyone’s attention.

“Where’s Bull?” Old Guy asks, his voice frantic.