The Fear That Divides Us (The Devil's Dust #3)(69)

“Hey, let’s go grab something to eat and take a break,” I suggest, holding my hand out to Addie.

“Oh, come on, Mom, we’re almost done,” Addie whines, filling a bucket with sand.

Zane stands up from sitting on his knees and points at me, “No, no!” he yells, making me laugh.

“Seriously, five more minutes. This is the sandcastle of all sandcastles,” Cherry begs, a green bucket in her hand filled with sand. I can’t help but giggle at her desperate plea to play in the sand with the kids. It reminds me of something Bobby would do.

“Jesus, Cherry, really?” Lip laughs, shaking his head.

“Hey, this is kick-ass, buddy,” Cherry says seriously, scratching a circle around the castle with both of her hands, imitating a moat.

“You sure you don’t want to run, Doc, because now’s your chance,” Lip laughs, crossing his arms, a toothpick sticking out of his mouth.

“You’re a good girl, now, but you stick around, who knows what you’ll become,” he continues, eyeing Cherry.

I smirk, grabbing the toothpick out of his mouth.

“I wasn’t that much of a good girl to begin with anyway,” I respond, sticking the toothpick at the very top of the castle.

“Oh man, that was the perfect touch, Doc!” Cherry yells, standing up to eye the tooth pick.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Lip laughs, walking the other way.

Bobby

“You’re getting out today, brother,” Yuki observes, looking at the calendar on the wall.

“Yep,” I reply.

“You guys get some yard time. Let’s go!” a guard hollers, his voice echoing throughout the cell. I lower my feet from the sink, and pull myself up from reclining on the bottom bunk.

The guard eyes me as I walk past him.

Yuki hands me a cig and I take it; tapping it against my palm.

“What will you not miss the most about jail?” Yuki asks, scratching the back of his neck, making small talk.

“No more shitty food, and no more yard work,” I laugh, placing a cigarette between my teeth to light.

“Five more months and I’m out,” Yuki replies, leaning up against the fence. Yuki got caught dealing drugs, landing him in here. His dumbass sold weed right to an undercover cop. Lucky for him, it’s his first offense and he’s got a hell of a lawyer.

“So what are you going to do when you get out?” Yuki asks, interlocking his fingers into the fence and looking out.

“Fuck my girl,” I reply quickly, making Yuki laugh. That is the one thing I miss for sure, sex. Over the last three months, I have wondered if Jessica reverted to her fears and old ways, and has run home locking herself behind closed doors. Sure, I have letters and talk to her on the phone here and there, but that don’t mean shit. Time apart changes people. I have seen enough inmates raging through the jailhouse ‘cause their wife or girlfriend got tired of waiting for them and f*cked the neighbor, or family talked them into finding a better man.

After seeing it daily in here the last three months, I can admit; I’m f*cking nervous.

“What are you going to do when you get out?” I ask, taking a drag of my cigarette.

“Back to dealing,” he mutters, exasperated.

“Seriously?” I question. Why the f*ck would he do that? He’s not a top-notch dealer. He’s not in a gang or brotherhood so I’m confused why he would go back to slinging shitty drugs just to land up back in here.

“Money is too good to walk away from,” he responds, shrugging. “My mother is in a nursing home, my wife is diabetic. Those bills don’t pay themselves, man,” Yuki continues.

“Bobby, let’s go,” Officer Smith yells from the door.

“That’s me,” I mumble, exhaling smoke.

I give Yuki a slap on the back and hand him my half-smoked cigarette.

“See you on the other side, man,” Yuki smiles, giving my back a slap.

I head toward the locked door that leads me out of this hellhole, passing pissed-off guards along the way. Impatiently, I lean against the door waiting for one of them to unlock it.

I get my civilian clothes back, along with my leather cut. I instantly shrug it on, the feeling of its worn leather comforting on my back.

“See you soon, Bobby,” Officer Smith mutters, knowing I’ll be back. I probably will.

“Keep my bunk warm,” I reply, walking toward the locked door.

It buzzes and I push it open. Closing my eyes, I inhale the satisfying smell of freedom, so much sweeter on this side of the fence, and the sun hotter from this side of the jailhouse.

“Bobby!” My eyes jump open. Waiting for me is my crew, who are all sitting at the end of the parking lot. Motorcycles, from one end to the other, and my blue Chevy parked beside them all. I smile and jog toward them, ready to get the f*ck away from here as quickly as I can. The truck door opens and Jessica flies out, running toward me. Spotting her, I run faster.

She plows into me, her lips smashing onto mine aggressively. I grab her by the hips and pick her up, and her legs wrap around my waist. My hands clenching her back, pulling her closer to me. The smell of her, the feel of her, f*cking pure bliss. I grasp her back harder and feel leather under my palms. I pull back, and look her over, noticing she’s wearing a leather cut.

“You’re wearing my property patch,” I whisper in disbelief.