The Fear That Divides Us (The Devil's Dust #3)(33)

“No, I can’t. I am not getting in the middle of whatever you and Lip got going on,” I reply as nicely as I can. I want to help her, but the last thing I need is to go against a brother.

Cherry scoffs, and rolls her eyes.

“Fine,” she mumbles, turning. She stops in front of a toolbox, grabbing a roll of duct tape. “I’ll fix it my f*cking self,” she snaps, walking out of the garage.

What a pain in the ass. I grab the key in the ignition and turn it. The truck starts with a loud roar echoing throughout the garage. I grin wide, the smell of exhaust bellowing from the back of the truck. I press my foot on the accelerator, causing her to rumble. Fucking A.

Jessica

I sit on the bed, looking at the phone in my hand. Mr. Lanks had just called me; he’s the club’s lawyer. He’s dirty basically, but trustworthy. The club hired him for me after everything that had happened with Travis, making sure I didn’t say or do anything that would raise suspicion. I found out that Travis’s will was astronomical after his disappearance. From the house and land Travis was given from his grandfather, the lethal amount of money his grandfather gave him in his passing, along with the insurance money, Travis turned out to be worth more dead than alive. Everything was to go to me and Addie, but we haven’t seen a dime of it. Which is fine; I don’t need it. But it would be nice to put it in savings for Addie, for college. We haven’t seen anything of the will because it takes seven years for a court to sign off on a death certificate after someone goes missing if there is no evidence or signs of an immediate death. From what Mr. Lanks and the police told me back then, all they found was Travis’s car rammed into a tree, with the car door open, and some splatters of blood on the ground. No fingerprints or body parts. I was just told by Mr. Lanks that Travis has officially been declared dead though. The court signed off on his death certificate today.

My hand sweats as I palm my phone, my chest beading sweat from the overwhelming anxiety running through me. I run my hands through my hair, and graze my fingers over my cell phone’s screen. Addie’s picture smiles back at me. Maybe Mr. Lanks is a sign that today is a day for a new beginning. As crazy as Bobby sounded earlier today, maybe he can help me. Maybe I can get a hold of myself and create the life I always wanted. Finding a loving man, maybe give Addie a brother or sister. With the money coming my way, I can slow down at work and spend more time with Addie even.

I climb off the bed, still naked and walk over to the closet, eyeing the box that haunts me. I take a deep breath and grab it, sliding it from its place on the shelf. I walk over to the bed and sit smack dab in the middle, crossing my legs as I contemplate opening it. I run my hands over the lid, my heart picking up as I look at it. I haven’t opened this in over two years. Biting my lip, I pull the lid off, the box filled with pictures, a collar, and my wedding rings stare back at me. My finger runs over the white leathered collar, the one Travis would put around my neck when he wanted me to obey him. I push it aside and grab the first photo I see. A picture of Travis’s family, along with Addie in Travis’s hands. I smile. Addie was so small; it’s crazy how she has grown.

My finger runs over Travis’s face, his chiseled jaw, and piercing eyes. He was handsome, but held a severe presence to him. Being on top with Bobby today was scary on so many levels. I wasn’t allowed on top with my husband much; it gave a sense of control which I wasn’t allowed. When Travis did allow me on top, he made sure I knew who was in control, and it wasn’t pleasurable. The acts with Bobby today caused memories from being with Travis to form behind my eyelids. Travis’s voice would sound in my ear, his hands gripping me painfully, causing me to have a panic attack. I never let go, never felt anything other than fear. Not ‘til today. After I tied Bobby up, and had the warmth of combusting from the depths Bobby was hitting, I forgot all about Travis, until afterwards. What was so different?

I slide my finger over a picture of Travis’s brother, Grant, who looks identical to him. I never saw much of Grant; he was always away, hardly ever at family gatherings. What Travis said about Grant led me to believe he was the problem child of the family. From what I gathered, it was because Grant didn’t want to follow the family’s footsteps into medicine, but I had no idea what the truth was. I look the box over, images of being dragged into that basement and screaming for remorse fire in my mind like a collage. My heart races, making me inhale sharply. I grab the lid and slam it back on the box, walk back over to the closet, and push it in its spot.

“Shit, what time is it?” I mutter, looking at the clock on my phone. I notice I have been sitting in the same spot for hours. It’s already three in the afternoon and is time to pick up Addie.





7


Bobby





I’m sitting at the club, watching the news and drinking a beer, thoughts of Jessica reeling through my mind. The way she opened up and took charge was beyond my expectations. The display of her riding me is an image I swear I’ll never forget. The look of her flushed face, the stray hairs hanging over her face, and her parted mouth as she rode my dick, makes my cock ripple with eagerness just thinking about it. I close my eyes, and shake my head to clear the image, taking a sip of my beer.

Hearing giggles, I glance over my shoulder, seeing Juliet, a tattooed redhead pull Tom Cat down the hall. Looks like someone is getting lucky tonight. I pull my phone out and lay it on the table, contemplating calling Jessica. I want to call her, but after the boundaries we crossed today? I’m not so sure if that’s a good idea. She might want space and shit.