The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(37)

“Oh, leave the girl alone,” Babs tells him, walking up behind my dad.

“Do you see the shit she’s wearing, or not wearing for that matter?” he points out, his tone sounding frustrated.

“She looks fine, Bull. It’s a beach party,” she replies, placing her hands on hips.

My dad sighs in defeat and walks off, shaking his head in dismay.

“How ya doing, Doll?” Babs says, smacking her gum.

“I’m all right,” I smile.

“That’s good. You better get used to your dad trying to make you wear a paper bag,” she laughs. “Enjoy yourself, ya hear?” she yells over her shoulder as she walks over to the table full of food.

I throw my towel down and lay out on it, listening to the kids scream and play in the water and the ol’ ladies laughing with each other in the background.

“Hey.” My father sits down next to me.

“Hey, Dad,” I say, sitting up.

“I haven’t had a chance to get over to the apartment and see you. Shit’s been crazy at the club,” he apologizes, taking a swig from a beer can.

“I understand,” I smile.

“Damn proud of you, though.” He smiles back at me. “You got out there and got yourself a job you enjoy, making something of yourself.” He lifts the can really high, getting the last drop of the beer to fall into his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Dani,” he says glumly. I look under my lashes at him, watching his face line with regret and sorrow. “I’m sorry about the way things were handled when you returned. I had my doubts about it, but because I’m the president, I have to set an example.”

I look out at the setting sun, the question I want to ask playing in my head.

“What if I had been guilty of conspiring with my mother or you couldn’t prove I wasn’t? Would you have had me killed?” I question, narrowing my eyes.

He sighs deeply, looking behind him before leaning into me.

“I knew you weren’t a threat when you came back, regardless if you were in on it with your momma or not,” he replies, kissing my head. “But the club has rules, and I have to go through with the rules myself. I knew your innocence would rise soon enough; I just needed you out of the club until that happened, for your protection,” he continues, lifting my chin to look at him. “Your innocence shows you have this club’s back, and this club will forever be in your debt, Dani.” He looks at me bright-eyed and smiles.

I think about this for a second, knowing the world I used to live in was harsh and vile. It didn’t matter how many times I proved myself to it; it was relentless, always coming back to bite you in the ass. Knowing I proved myself to the Devil’s Dust and hearing they will always have my back is a relief.

“And there is no way I would have let anyone harm you,” he states quietly. My eyes widen, not expecting to hear that. “If it came down to it, I would have stuffed your pockets with cash and told you to run. The club is supposed to come first, I know, but last time I put the club before my family, I lost your momma. Something I’ll never get back.” He crumples the empty beer can in his hand. “Don’t get me wrong: I’ll die for this club, and this brotherhood is all I got.” He tangles his big hand in my hair, looking at me with a sincere gaze. “But there’s no way I could let someone hurt you,” he tells me, his tone serious, and his brows furrowed with force.

“And I knew Shadow wouldn’t hurt you, not physically, anyways. That boy is twisted something bad over you,” he says with a chuckle as he stands up, leaning down to kiss me on my forehead gently.

“You have fun, Darlin’,” he finishes, walking over to Babs and the group.

***

“You’re a little burnt.” I open my eyes to see Tom, only he looks different now that he’s not hiding under a helmet and sunglasses. I can see his hair, which is brown and short, and his eyes are light brown and inviting. The only thing he’s wearing is blue board shorts. He has tan skin and is a little soft in the torso rather than built. I sit up and realize it’s dark. I have been here sunbathing and listening to everyone for longer than I thought.

“You have hair,” I comment, ruffling the top of Tom’s head.

“Yeah, I do,” he says, eyeing my hand with a smirk as he hands me a cold beer. “Brought you a beer.”

“Thanks,” I reply, grabbing the cold can from him. I open it and drink a small sip.

I look out and notice all the kids are gone. My eyes fall on Shadow across the beach, standing around a small bonfire. His smoldering gaze penetrates me.

“Where are all the kids?” I ask.

“Sun goes down, family time is over,” Tom smirks. “That’s what I was told anyway,” he says.

“Even for the Fourth of July? That’s when all the exciting parts happen.” I raise my eyebrow.

“Yup, they go home,” he states, sipping his beer loudly.

I look across the bonfire and see my dad slap Shadow on the back, laughing as if Shadow had just told a joke, making me smirk. He’s like the father Shadow never had.

I stand up and head toward the bonfire, which looks as if it had just been started.

“Thanks for the beer,” I yell at Tom as I walk away. I can feel Shadow staring at me, the blue tormented eyes causing goose bumps to rise against my spine. I look at where he was standing and spot Candy in a bright-pink swimsuit walking toward him. My claws immediately come out, wanting to scratch that bitch’s face off.