The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(53)

“I don’t know anything,” my dad responds, taking a cigarette pack from his pocket. “Get her home, away from the club for now.”





“I’M GOING TO GET in the shower. I have to work tomorrow,” Dani calls, walking into the bathroom.

I’m lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the apartment. It hurts to look at Dani with her cheek a light pink from where Locks hit her. I should have killed that f*cker before Bull had a chance to come in and spare him. When I close my eyes, I can see the look of defense written on Dani’s face as she gripped that knife. Her instinct to fight has me a little relieved but not by much. I wouldn’t have put it past Locks to shoot Dani if she stabbed him. I feel like I let her down; I didn’t protect her, again.

“What are you thinking about?”

I look up and see Dani with wet hair and in a Devil’s Dust shirt, her cheek reminding me what a piece of shit I am. She is beautiful, though, glowing even.

“You look like Heaven,” I say, eyeing the droplets flinging off her hair and dripping down her neck.

She smiles. “It’s not happening tonight. I don’t feel well,” she says, climbing on the bed.

“I noticed you didn’t eat dinner,” I comment, moving over so she can climb in bed. She hasn’t been feeling herself for a while now, and she has me worried.

Maybe I should take her away from all of this for awhile. With her mother and the events of the club lately, it appears to have taken its toll on her. If we left this place, even for a little while, I could focus solely on her.

“I’ll be fine. Just a lot going on,” she counters, cuddling with one of the pillows. I climb off the bed, turn the lights off, and then return, shuffling behind her. I pull her ass closer, where it belongs, her smell of peaches surrounding me giving me a chub.

“Trust me when I say I’ll kill that f*cker if it’s the last thing I do, Dani,” I whisper into her ear. I don’t have to say his name; she knows who I’m talking about.

“I know you will. I trust you,” she whispers back.


Dani

I wake up to the smell of food cooking and I stretch out, trying to wake myself up and make my way into the kitchen. As I get closer, I can see the house is filled with smoke and the smell of burnt food lingers in the air.

“Someone is up early,” I say, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

“Hey!” Shadow greets as grease pops him from the skillet. “Fuck, that hurt,” he yelps, sucking on his finger and making me laugh.

“Well, I tried to make you breakfast, but all it’s proved is that my ass can’t cook,” he admits, turning the faucet on and tossing the skillet with black food in the sink.

“Let’s go get breakfast,” he says.

“We don’t have to,” I suggest, shrugging.

“Yes, we do. You need to eat,” he declares, rounding the island only wearing black briefs, the sight making me want him for breakfast. He brushes the hair from my face before continuing, “We can eat anything you want: pancakes, eggs, you name it.”

“To be honest, the sound of food makes me want to gag,” I tell him, trying to hold down the vomit crawling up my throat.

He rubs his finger over my sore cheek, making me wince. I pull away, mad I didn’t kill Locks myself for hitting me.

“I’ll kill that * for hitting me,” I mumble.

Shadow squints his eyes at me, as if he’s waiting for me to say I’m joking.

“Not if I get to him first,” he says, surprising me. I can’t help but smile, and then a laugh escapes me.

“What’s so funny?” he questions, tilting his head to the side.

“Here we are over burnt brunch, planning the death of someone you consider family.”

He smirks. “Sounds like a typical Friday morning to me.” He leans down and kisses my forehead before heading towards the bedroom. Get dressed; we’ll go get food.”

“But—”

“Now, Dani,” he demands, cutting me off.

***

After breakfast, which consisted of an English muffin, Shadow kept pushing me to eat; we head back to the apartment. I throw my purse on the end table and face-plant on the couch, exhausted.

“What do you want to do today?” Shadow asks, walking past me to the kitchen.

“Sleep,” I mumble into the couch cushion.

He chuckles and sits down next to my head.

“For some reason, I cannot get enough sleep. I feel like a hibernating bear,” I complain.

“You sleep and I’ll play video games,” he offers, giving my ass a slap and turning on the game console.

I moan and turn over, burying my head into the couch before I pass out.

***

“Dani.”

I wake up and see Shadow standing over me.

“You’re going to be late for work,” he says, pointing to the clock on the wall.

I look over and notice it’s four in the evening. “Shit!” I yell, jumping off the couch. I forgot I was filling in for one of the instructors today.

I grab my bag from beside the coffee table and open the door with Shadow following me closely.

The breeze from the sea feels good as we ride; it’s refreshing and makes me feel more awake than I have in days. We arrive at the dance studio and I climb off the bike. “Thanks for the ride,” I say appreciatively, giving him a kiss on the cheek.