The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(42)

Bobby looks at me across the table, his eyebrow raised.

“Right. Well, I’m going to go over and see her.” Bull stands, patting Locks on the shoulder. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Locks.”

Maybe I’m being irrational, but I feel there is something Locks is not telling us.


Dani

The door slams open and the men’s boots stomp out.

“Come on,” Shadow calls, giving my shoulders a light squeeze. I gently rub Cherry’s back before slipping off my stool. Shadow grabs my hand and pulls me down the hall to his room, away from the crowd.

He shuts the door behind us and runs his hands over his face in irritation. I cross my arms over my body as I look at the bathroom; the last time I was in here, a slut stood in there. I close my eyes, feeling the light tension of the ache, which used to reside in my chest cavity try and resurface.

“What’s wrong?” Shadow asks.

“I don’t know if I can be in here,” I reply honestly, looking back at the bathroom.

Shadow scoffs.

“Why, because I had a girl in here?” he demands arrogantly.

“Yes, that’s exactly why,” I respond, uncrossing my arms and feeling defensive.

He falls on his back. “Unbelievable,” he whispers. He sits up on his elbows and scowls at me. “You’re upset I brought you in here, because I may or may not have f*cked another woman in here?”

“Yes, I don’t need you to rub it in my face, believe me.” I raise my eyebrows; now I’m pissed.

He growls in frustration and pats the bed beside him for me to sit. I comply hesitantly, and he grabs me by the hips and pulls me on top of him. Straddling him, I place my hands down on his chest to keep me from toppling over.

“Let’s just leave the past in the past. Looking back doesn’t do anything for the future. Especially for us,” he says, trailing his fingers up and down my arm. His touch raises little goose bumps on my olive skin, and I relish the feel of his touch.

“How many women did you sleep with?” I ask. I can’t leave it in the past until I know what I’m leaving behind.

“None,” he says flatly. My eyes nearly bug out in shock. I surely thought he had reverted to his old ways, sleeping with countless women.

“None?” I repeat in question.

“What, shocked?” he sneers, sitting on his elbows and looking up at me. “I couldn’t get your innocence, your face, or those f*cking eyes out of my head.” He shakes his head like hearing it out loud sounds crazy. “No one can ever compare to you,” he explains, pulling me to lay on top of him.

I lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat beneath me. Why does he feel I’m so innocent, so angelic, worthy of never doing anything wrong? Living in the Devil’s Dust lifestyle has taught me one thing: I’m no angel. Far from it even. I broke a club law by going on that date, did drugs, tried to kill my mother, and I’ve nearly beaten a guy to death.

“Shadow?” I ask, for his attention.

“Yeah?” he questions, his voice rumbling within his chest against the side of my face.

“I’m not as innocent as you think,” I state, looking at the wall.

Shadow laughs. “I know. That’s why our relationship is ideal.”

“I can’t believe what happened to Babs. And damn Locks,” I whisper.

“What about him?” Shadow asks. I look up, surprised he even heard me.

“Nothing,” I say, sitting up.

Shadow grabs me by the nape of the neck, forcing me to look at his angry blue eyes.

“Don’t keep f*cking secrets from me, Dani.” His voice is cold and angry, not making me feel better about any of the secrets I have. But what’s the worst that could happen? Besides, sleeping around on ol’ ladies is normal around here.

“It’s nothing that doesn’t already happen around here, but when everyone was worried about where Babs was, Locks was busy messing around with Candy.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, sitting up on his elbows.

“Yes.”

I remember seeing Locks’ eyes catch mine; they were eerie and unfriendly.

Shadow shakes his head in understanding.

“I understand why you’re pissed, but you need to keep out of it,” he orders with as much sincerity as he can, but it still hits a nerve.

“President’s daughter or not, you can’t go around making waves like that. I’ll handle it,” he finishes, running his hands through my hair.





SHADOW


“I’m going to go in and see her,” Dani says, kissing my cheek.

“Yeah, go ahead,” I encourage, staying back waiting in the hallway. Hospitals make me uneasy.

I look up and see Locks typing on his phone with a smile on his face. He’s pissing me off. “What the f*ck you smiling about?” I ask, lifting off the wall.

He looks up at me for a second before tucking his phone in his pocket.

“What the f*ck is your problem?” Locks asks.

“You are my f*cking problem,” I spit, my tone angry and clipped. I walk up and get in his face, my blood pounding through my body so hard it pulses in my temples.

“And why’s that?” he replies, puffing his chest out.