The Fear That Divides Us (The Devil's Dust #3)(4)

“All right, let me talk to my boys, and we’ll see what we can do,” Bull says gravely, before leaving the room.

“Have you eaten?” I ask, surveying her and the child; they look like hell.

She sniffs and runs her hand along the bottom of her nose. “No, I left with what cash I could grab. I ran out of money this morning, and we have been driving on fumes the last half hour.”

“Where are you from?” Shadow asks, widening his stance.

“Nevada,” she replies quickly.

“That’s a hell of a drive. What made you come here?” Shadow interrogates.

“I was in town; saw the motorcycles going back and forth. I decided to try my luck and followed the bikes here, hoping for a trade in services,” she says with a shaky voice, lifting her head to meet me with gorgeous blue orbs. Her eyes hide a vibrant light, an enigma to what state her appearance is in.

There is something about this woman. Besides her beautiful face and bravery, something about her has a hold on me and I can’t figure out what it is. Her lips part as a tear rolls over the bridge of her nose and free falls, planting itself right on the top of her lip. Her eyes still staring at me, captivating me, I reach forward and brush the tear from her split lip. She winces, making me retrieve my hand quickly.

“If the club votes against your behalf, then you can come stay with me,” I offer, the words taking me by surprise.

“What the f*ck, man?” Shadow growls, hitting my foot with his boot. “You’re a f*cking prospect. You piss off Bull and you can kiss your ass goodbye.”

I scowl at him.

The child stirs in her lap, catching Jessica’s attention. She begins to rock the child again and hums. I can’t look away. The damaged woman, who holds a beauty like no one I have seen before, intrigues me. Her vibrating hum reminds me of a hummingbird. The sound so sensual, so innocent. My mouth turns from a frown into a smirk.

“How old is she?” My question throws Jessica off guard, her eyes pop open, and she stops humming.

“She just turned three,” she says, brushing a strand of hair from the little girl’s face.

“She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

“Addie,” she whispers. Addie moves her head slightly and looks at me, her innocent eyes staring into mine. A sudden feeling of protectiveness of Addie and her mother surges through me, taking me off guard, but I accept the idea of being protective of the pair sitting before me. They need saving and I’m the man to do it. I will make whoever did this to them suffer.

“Shadow, Bobby, bring Jessica to the chapel,” Old Guy yells from down the hall.

Jessica stands on wobbly feet, the little girl clinging around her neck.

“Follow me,” Shadow orders sternly, as he walks out of the room.

She looks at me with frightened eyes, her lips parted with terror.

“You’ll be all right,” I ensure, placing my hand on the small of her back.

After Jessica enters the chapel, I slide back onto the stool I was sitting on minutes ago, before Jessica showed up.

“You better get your shit together,” Shadow scolds, his eyebrows raised in warning.

“Fuck you, Shadow. This club is that woman’s last hope. Anyone can see that,” I respond curtly.

Hawk staggers out of the chapel doors, his mustache shifting from grumbling under his breath, and makes his way out the front door hastily.

“Where the hell is he going?” Shadow asks, looking at the front door.

“Not a clue,” I shrug.

Seconds later, Hawk enters the club carrying a big black purse under his arm, cursing under his breath some more. That must be Jessica’s purse.

“Well, that explains that,” I chuckle. Fifteen minutes later, Jessica leaves the chapel with tears streaming down her face. I immediately stand, nervous at what fate the club had given her.

“Just head back down the hall to the room you were in previously,” Old Guy instructs, his hand pointing down the hall. Jessica looks my way, her face etched with sorrow and holding me in place, before heading down the dimly lit hall.

“Bobby, Shadow, Bull wants you two,” Old Guy informs, before stepping back into the room.

“Shit,” Shadow curses, sliding off the stool.



“We are taking Jessica’s deal,” Bull informs, his arms bending at the elbow as he rests his hands at the back of his head.

“Okay,” I encourage him to continue, my forehead gathering sweat from the order.

“How are we taking care of the husband?” Shadow asks out of turn.

Bull snaps his gaze from the table to Shadow. “So glad you asked, son. It appears this guy is as dirty as they come. He will come looking for the woman and child, and when he does, I have no doubt he will make them suffer, possibly kill them,” Bull says, his tone low with anger.

“He hits on the kid?” Shadow asks, his brows knitted together with shock.

Bull nods, his eyes closed.

The girl’s cheek was red when she came in. I assumed being a child she fell, not that a grown man hit her.

“What’s the plan?” I ask, anger flooding my bloodstream.

“Take him out,” Bull says matter-of-factly, “and you and Shadow are going to be the ones to do it.” Bull slides something across the table in Shadow’s direction. I reach forward and grab it before Shadow has a chance to take hold of it, finding it to be a photograph.