The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)(73)

“Come on, son,” Shadow says, taking Zane’s hand and running off toward the water. Shadow has been Zane’s hero since day one. He’s a great father, just like I knew he would be. I watch Zane giggle and laugh, his dark hair which matches Shadow’s, shift in the wind as the breeze blows. He is Shadow made over: dark hair, blue eyes, and an attitude to match.

“Hey, wait for us!”

Sand is kicked up and sprayed across my legs as Bobby takes off toward the shore, his tanned and tattooed back and yellow swim trunks nothing but a blur. I notice Doc go running off into the water right behind him.

I laugh and brush the sand from my legs, watching my family play in the water. It seems so surreal. I never thought I would be this happy, or that Shadow and I would find this place. We still have our dark tendencies, but together we help each other get through them. Mostly with the remedy of angry sex.

Bobby and Doc stomp back up from the shore laughing, Bobby’s scar silver and standing out against his tanned body, catching my attention.

“Your scar is looking very angry today,” I point out. Bobby looks down at it. “Yeah, I love it when it stands out, and the girls love it, too,” he says, grinning, gaining an eye roll from me and a scoff from Doc.

Shadow comes up behind Bobby, brushing sand from his legs.

“That kid has way too much energy,” he says breathlessly. “What are we talking about?” he asks, pulling a water from the cooler.

“How you thought I was dead but didn’t get that lucky,” Bobby replies, raising his eyebrow at Shadow.

Doc starts laughing as she sits down next to me. The swimsuit cover she’s wearing slips off her shoulder, showing fierce-looking, silver scars slashing down her back. My eyes widen, and my mouth parts in horror. I open my mouth to ask what happened, but Bobby catches my attention standing above her. I look up and see him shaking his head with a stern look on his face. I snap my mouth shut and look at the scars again, but Doc pulls her cover over her shoulder, hiding them.

“We’ve been through this,” Shadow says. “I’m not a f*cking doctor; how was I supposed to know you were still alive?”

“Zane, don’t get too close to the water, Bug,” Bobby yells. I glance around the boys and look to see how close he is. He’s not close at all; he’s making a sand castle feet away. With a dad and an uncle more protective than a mother, and both in a motorcycle club, I’ll be amazed if Zane doesn’t hate them both by the time he’s ten.

Shadow, Bobby, and Doc take off toward the water, and I lie back down and stare at the clouds passing in the sky. Things have been peaceful around here: nobody has been shot or hit with a car, and I haven’t seen or heard from my mom, making me one hundred percent positive Shadow had indeed taken care of her. Now that I have children, though, I’m glad she’s gone. Who knows what kind of messed-up scam she would try and involve them in to get what she wanted. She was cold-hearted and only cared about her scorned heart.

“You look deep in thought,” Shadow says. I look over to see him lying back on a towel, staring up at the sky.

“I think it’s time I claim you outside of the club,” Shadow declares, smiling. I scrunch my nose, unsure what he means, but then it hits me.

“Are you serious?” I ask.

Shadow smirks. “I want everyone inside the club and out of it to know you’re mine. I want you to be my property and my wife,” he replies, brushing a hair from my face.

“Are you asking me to marry you?” I question, sitting up on my elbows.

Shadow laughs. “When have you known me to ask? I’m telling you, you’re going to be my wife,” he insists with a stern voice.

I throw my head back and laugh.

“I can’t wait to be yours, both inside the club and out,” I tell him with a smile.


The End

… for now





THE FEAR THAT DIVIDES US





(The Devil’s Dust #3)

M. N. Forgy





PROLOGUE


six years earlier


BOBBY

As I take a sip of what’s left of my beer, my eyes catch Babs coming through the kitchen over the top of the bottle. Her red hair is sticking to her face from the summer’s heat, and she’s mumbling about something. I set the empty bottle on the counter and watch her put up glasses and fill the ice bin. It’s quiet here, too quiet. Nights in the clubhouse are usually filled with easy women and drugs. Well, somewhat easy. Seeing as I’m still a prospect I don’t get anywhere near the amount of ass the patched in brothers get, but I do alright. I peel the label from my beer and start folding it in on itself.

Old Guy crashes through the club’s front doors, catching everyone’s attention.

“Where’s Bull?” Old Guy asks, his voice frantic.

I shrug, not sure.

“I think he’s in his room. You want me to grab him?” Shadow asks, sitting next to me. I look over my shoulder at Shadow and grin, ever since we became prospects he’s been kissing ass. I can’t help but make fun of him, and I can get away with it because I knew him way before the club.

“Yeah. Hurry up,” Old Guy demands. He runs his hands along the sides of his head, smoothing back the long hair that’s escaped from its ponytail.