The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(66)

I rub the back of her head in support—I can relate. There is no fear like running from a vehicle, looking over your shoulder and knowing it can end your life as you know it any second.

“Church, now,” my dad commands, pointing toward the Chapel doors.





SHADOW


“This is the third ol’ lady who’s been attacked,” Bull says, lighting a cigarette.

“The attacks are speeding up,” Old Guy points out.

“I think we need to get on this and quick,” I snap, my fingers itching to kill the man who hurt Dani and killed Babs.

“I agree, but we retaliate smart,” Bobby says, eyeing me. He knows I would love to go in there guns blazing, and if it is Augustus, he is protected heavily so we need to be careful.

Bull’s phone begins to ring as the boys talk strategy. I can’t help but notice the look of shock on his face when he looks at whose calling.

“Quiet, boys,” he demands as he clicks a button and lays his phone on the table.

“Augustus,” Bull greets.

“Bull,” the deep voice replies from the other line, the phone on speaker so we all can hear.

“You have attacked three of my ladies, one of whom is now dead,” Bull states, clenching his jaw.

“Ladies who passed their line of territory, and this is news to me that one of them is deceased. I’m sorry to hear that,” Augustus says, his tone emotionless.

I grit my teeth at his pathetic apology, he couldn’t care less.

“You want a war, you got it,” Bull declares, eyeing the phone as he reaches his hand over to turn it off.

“Unless you want me to put that pretty little daughter of yours in the ground along with the rest of those white-trash biker whores, I expect you at my warehouse in two hours.” The line clicks, ending the call.

Bull grabs his phone and looks at me, his eyes matching mine, scared that if we don’t comply the girl we both care for will pay.

“Let’s take care of business, boys,” Bull orders, tucking his phone in his pocket swiftly.

“Let’s ride,” Bobby agrees, throwing his chair back.

I walk into my room and pull a drawer out, grabbing extra ammo and another gun for the waist of my pants before putting my favorite pistol in my holster.

“You’re going out?” Dani says, stepping into the room. Her eyes catch my gun in its holster and she stills. “This is too dangerous, Shadow,” she tells me, stepping up and fisting my shirt.

“I’m going to prove to you I can protect you and the baby, Dani,” I declare, shrugging on my cut.

“What if you get hurt, or worse, die?” she asks, her finger tracing the tattoo on my arm.

I laugh. “The only one who’s going to get hurt is the guy who attacked you.” I lean down and claim those lips, possessing them and committing them to memory. I’m man enough to say I’m afraid I may not return. Augustus is a hard motherf*cker, and we could walk into a trap and not know it but not going ensures the toe tag of Dani and the other women.

“I’m not saying goodbye, because it’s not,” she states against my lips.

“Fair enough,” I say.

“Kill the bastards,” she whispers, her face serious. I love her corruption, that girl who knows this has to be done and supports me, yet fears for my safety just the same.

“I f*cking love you,” I express as sincerely as possible, pecking her lips one more time.

I head out and stand by my bike, waiting for the others when Bobby walks out of the doors.

“I know we have been through some shit together, brother, but I want you to know I have your back tonight,” he says, slapping me on my back.

I look back at him—the guy I grew up with, the one who accepted me for who I was, my brother.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else,” I reply honestly. Bobby smirks as he straddles his bike, just as the others start to pour out of the club.

I start my bike and wait for Bull to start his. I look at the club and see a glowing Dani standing by the other girls, the sight of her in that pink cast fuels my need for redemption.

There will be souls paying their untimely debt tonight.

***

Riding, all I can think about is Dani and the baby. What if I don’t make it back, or what if it had been her who was killed? My hands squeeze the handlebars in anger. This is all Locks’ fault. His ass didn’t even have the nerve to answer his phone when Bull called earlier. Bull said f*ck it and decided to meet Augustus without him.

Bobby revs his engine as he rides next to me, knocking me from my thoughts.

Night is approaching fast as we ride toward Augustus. When we arrive, we pull into what looks like an abandoned warehouse. We climb off our bikes and stare the joint down while the wind howls, causing a rusty chain-link fence to rattle. Lightening brightens the sky, warning us of a storm. The pavement is cracked with weeds sprouting through the splits.

“Let’s get this over with, boys,” Bull says, walking toward the building. In passing, we notice a torn blue tarp over what looks like a vehicle. Not giving a damn, Bobby pulls it off to look under it. It’s a white Monte Carlo with blood on the windshield and hood. It has to be the car Babs was hit with.

“Jesus,” Bull exclaims, his tone cracking with emotion and fists clenching at his sides.