The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(69)

I turn and wait for the return fire from Augustus and his crew. Augustus holds up a hand, holding off his boys from firing at me, looks at the guy I just shot and shrugs. “I was going to get rid of him anyway; he can’t follow orders. Call it insurance for our new business transaction,” Augustus says with a shrug.

“I’ll call you with the details, Bull,” he hollers, walking out of the building with his thugs in tow.

“We should have killed him,” I say, clenching my teeth as Augustus walks away.

“If we touch him, his men would kill every one of us, and everyone we know,” Bull replies, looking down at Locks’ dead body.

“Lust like a saint, trust like a sinner,” he mutters. I look at Bull and notice his brows pinched together as he looks at Locks with disbelief. Locks betraying the club is going to hit Bull’s wall of trust hard. Locks was the ideal club member, and I never saw him turning on the club for a second.

“I’ll deal with the police,” Bull says, pulling his gaze from Locks.

I look down at Bobby with disbelief. An ambulance comes and collects him in a rush, putting him on the stretcher and running back towards an ambulance. I watch the EMT lift the gurney to place Bobby inside and I step up right behind them.

“Sir, are you family?” a blonde EMT asks.

“Yes.”

She looks at me with a cocked head.

“I’m sorry, but immediate family only. You can follow in your own vehicle if you want,” she says with a dull tone, like it would be pointless. I step back and run my hands through my hair, trying to get a hold of myself.

When the ambulance leaves without flashing lights or sirens, I watch it bump and hurdle over potholes in the unkempt parking lot and onto the main road. Seconds later, the lights flash and sirens go off as the ambulance bolts towards the highway.

“I should have kept a better eye on him,” I mutter to Bull, standing beside me.

“He saved your life; he knew what he was doing,” Bull replies, patting me on the back. “He’ll never be forgotten,” he promises his voice grim as he climbs on his motorcycle.

Bobby won’t be forgotten. He is the brother I never had.

“I’m Bobby, what are you in here for?” the blonde, yuppie-looking boy asked me. I stare him down, unsure if I should say anything. Nobody has been friendly to me in here since I got here. I have already been in three fights since I arrived yesterday.

“Some bullshit,” I say, shrugging.

“Yeah, I hear ya,” he replies, sliding up behind me with his food tray. He smiles at me, revealing a mouth full of braces.

“Hey, you want to be friends?” the boy asks and I look at him, curious what his angle is. And who just comes out and asks to be friends?

“I’m Robert Zane Whitfield,” he introduces himself, holding his hand out for a shake, his gesture a little geeky. “But everyone calls me Bobby.”

“I’m Adrian Kingsmen,” I respond, shaking his hand.

“Awesome, want to help me steal some corn bread?” he asks causally.

I stare at him, trying to read if he’s serious or playing a joke, but he just looks back at me, nothing giving away it’s a joke.

“How?” I ask, interested. Causing trouble in a place I was sent to for causing trouble? I’m game.

“I’ll distract the cook, you reach over and grab some extra rolls.” He grins with a mouth full of metal.

“Have I mentioned how nice you look today, Mrs. Sangaurd?” Bobby swoons the lunch lady.

I smile. My first real friend I have ever had, and I met him in juvie.

“Let’s ride, Shadow,” Bull calls, breaking my train of thought.

I look at Bull before climbing on my bike, his face long and held with sorrow such as my own. Living in the malicious world, which is the club, we see brothers fall, and we see families break. But I’ve never felt the despair I’m feeling right now. Between Dani and Bobby, they brought me out of my life of desolation, they tolerate my indifferences and embrace the beast I am. It started with Bobby, and it grew with Dani. Losing Bobby and Babs’ death will not be something the club will move on with so easily. They have brought a spirit to the club, which no one has before.

“Let’s ride,” I agree solemnly, starting my bike.

I ride back to the club, and the only person I want to see is Dani. I want to deliver the news to her myself. Bobby died rescuing my ass, so it needs to come from me.

I pull into the courtyard to the club and turn the bike engine off.

I swing my leg over my bike and head toward the club to deliver news which will not come lightly. As I enter the club, I hear the bikes of Bull and the other guys pulling in, but I continue on my path toward Dani. Bull can let the rest of the club know what happened. I open the door to mine and Dani’s room and see her sitting on the bed, reading a pregnancy book. She peers up at me from behind the book and lights up.

“Thank God, you’re alive. I was so worried,” she exclaims, tossing the book to the side. She scurries off the bed and clings to my body. I want to hug her back; I want to feel that connection I need so desperately but, I can’t. I don’t want to give her the false hope that everything is okay—that I’m okay—when in fact everything is far from satisfactory.

She pulls away hesitantly, her arms still wrapped around my waist, and looks up at me. I pull away, the sight of her green eyes making this harder.