What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(22)

As I approach the vehicle taking us to the safe house, a blond, curly haired guy with tattoos all up his arms reaches out for my bag. A tattoo on his left hand catches my attention: TCB. My eyes widen; my body goes stiff. This is the guy I used to make Shadow jealous last night; Bobby, if I remember right.

“Well, hello there.” He’s charming, like all of the bikers I've met so far.

“Uh, hello,” I respond, unsure if he recognizes me and feeling like a complete idiot. He has light blue eyes and little freckles here and there across his cheeks. He’s pretty. Yes, a pretty boy. Bobby looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine despite the tattoos and biker aura. Looking at the knock out grin, I'm sure he is just as much of a panty dropper as Shadow.

“I got her bag, Bobby. Thanks.” Shadow comes up behind me, taking the suitcase from Bobby’s hands. The man is relentless. What did he not understand about stay away from me? What is his angle, to try and keep me as his shiny new toy, or did he feel sorry for me? Either way, I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction!

“I can handle it myself, thank you very much.” I grab the suitcase from Shadow, who won't let go.

“Give me the damn suitcase, Dani,” he barks, with cold finality in his voice.

Bobby’s mouth raises into a Cheshire cat grin. “Trouble in paradise?” he asks amusingly, staring at both of us. I’m sure we look a mess, playing tug of war with a pink suitcase.

“Fine, take it,” I say, letting go. Growling within his muscled chest, Shadow throws my bag in the back of the SUV.

“Can one of you make yourselves useful and grab my bag, it's heavy,” my mother interrupts, stumbling out of the clubhouse doors.

Shadow and Bobby eyeball each other before Bobby gives in and grabs her bag.

My mother and I settle into the back seat as Shadow and Bobby straddle their bikes behind us. The prospect with the Mohawk who brought us from the airport is behind the wheel of the SUV again.

“What’s your name,” I ask, tapping him on the shoulder. “You have driven us around twice now and I still don’t know your name?” I'm surprised at my sudden boldness.

“Charlie.” I waited for him to say more. Nope, short and to the point.

Seeing he isn’t much for talking, I sit back and remain silent for the rest of the ride. My mother is busy messing with her phone; she is always on that damn thing. Her face isn’t swollen anymore. She looks like her normal self.

We drive north out of L.A. and I watch the urban streets fade away before we pull into a suburban neighborhood. We stop in the driveway of a two story house. It is cute and simple from the outside; not something I would peg a motorcycle club to have. When we climb out of the SUV, Bobby and Shadow pull in behind us. The raw masculinity coming from the bikes makes my body vibrate with arousal.

Shadow climbs off his bike and pulls his phone from his pocket. “What!” he barks into the line. He takes his other hand and runs it over his head back and forth, fluffing up that sexy black hair of his.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have anything... Don’t make threats at me, or I’ll f*cking put you in the ground!” He stabs his finger at the end button in fury and jams the phone back in his pocket. Bobby raises his eyebrows in concern, but Shadow throws his hand up like “not now”. Odd.

I don’t even attempt to grab my suitcase and risk having another episode in front of my mother. I walk up to the door and wait for everyone.

“It’s a three bedroom,” Bobby says as he unlocks the giant white door. “The master is downstairs; I figured you would want it, Lady. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a small bath. Shadow and I can bunk in one room and you can have the other, Dani.”

We step in to a small entry area with stairs leading to the second floor immediately to the right. The living room is to the left and is done in soothing tan with touches of red and black. It looks very inviting and cozy.

As I start up the stairs, my mom catches my elbow. “Are you going to be alright up there by yourself?” she questions, as she eyes Bobby and Shadow. Ah, she's off her phone and back in “concerned mom mode”.

“Yeah, I'll be fine, I’ll lock the door. No worries,” I respond, pulling my elbow from her grip.

I stop at the top of the stairs; unsure of where to go. Across from me is one of the bedrooms and there's a hall that shoots off to the left, where I assume the bathroom and other bedroom are.

“Bobby and I will take this room; it has two beds in it. You can take the one down the hall,” Shadow says from behind me. I can hear Bobby's muted voice explaining where everything is to my mom. I’m sure she is ignoring him, though.

I grab my suitcase from Shadow's hand, our fingers briefly making contact, causing electricity to fly through me. I hold my breath and turn down the hall where the other bedroom is in an attempt to show the touch went unnoticed. As I am walking away he grabs the belt loop to my shorts.

“I still want to explain things,” he says softly. As much as I want him to explain, it’s best if he doesn’t and just stays away.

“I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you“? I say raising my eyebrows in irritation. I start walking down the hall and he grabs me by the arm, halting me once again. His touch sends a blazing fire of warmth rippling up my sensitive skin.