What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(24)

“We had a chick named Roxy, who I slept with a lot before I met your momma. She came to the club one day and started stripping in my room. I told her that shit between her and me was over, but she just kept running her mouth and climbed up on my lap. That’s when your mom walked in. I’m sure it looked terrible. I should have pushed Roxy off my lap, but I didn’t, and the fact that I was high on enough blow to kill a horse didn’t help. Lady ran out before I could catch her and explain.” He exhaled deeply like he was finally releasing the breath he had taken minutes ago.

Did my mother know it wasn’t what it looked like between my father and this Roxy girl? Knowing her she wouldn’t have cared; my mom has too much pride. Still, I hate the image she casts on my father when that image is blurred. If what he is telling me is true, then he is not a bad person. Well, not in the romance department anyway.

“Word around the club was that Roxy had been telling Lady she didn’t belong and that I would tire of Lady and come running back to her. She was in Lady's head deep, from what I’m told. I was blind to the whole f*cking thing; your mother never said a word to me about it. After I heard Roxy had been tormenting her, I took care of it.”

This sounds eerily familiar.

“Roxy doesn’t come around much after the ass beating she got from the Ol' Ladies, but now her daughter's a hang-around. Guess being a club whore runs in the genes of that family.” He says exactly what I'm thinking.

“When your mother called me the other day I actually thought I might get her back; that I could fix what I f*cked up. But when I saw her, I knew she had made her mind up about me a long time ago, there was no going back.” He is slumped down, his elbows on his knees staring at the wall. I rub his back in respect, not sure what to say.

He cocks his head to the side and looks up at me. “It’s for the best; club life isn’t for the weak. It’s rough on a woman, especially a lady.” His words are laced with regret and blame. I feel for both of my parents at this point. I have seen the women around the club; it is tougher on girls.

“Who is Roxy's daughter?” My nosy side wants to know which of the current whores carries her genes.

He looks at me curiously; wondering why I would care, I’m sure. “Candy.”

Her name hits me like a bus; my breath catches in my chest. The comments she made earlier make more sense now. ”Seems you and she are whores in the same, huh, sleeping with men you have no business messing with.”

I don’t want my father to see the effect that wench has on me. I can handle my own battles. So I swallow the lump in my throat and try to sound as casual as I can.

“Oh yeah, I think I've seen her around the club; the skinny blond?” ...that looks like a coke whore and I want to plow my fist into her face... Man, I've got a lot of aggression built up inside.

He nods his head in acknowledgement. He seems unconcerned; mission accomplished. Me disliking Candy, though, just went to an all-time high. She can thank her mother for that.

“Well, I've got club business to get to. If you need anything let one of the boys know. I’m usually at the club, but, if not, they know how to get in touch with me. We will get this Stevin f*cker eventually. He's MIA right now, but you’re in good hands, sweetheart; got one of my best guys following you.” He leans down and kisses my forehead, his lips soft on my skin. I've never felt fatherly love before. It's nice.

He leaves me alone with my thoughts. I wonder why he hasn’t told my mother she pegged him wrong. Even if she couldn’t believe him then, she might now. Then again, maybe he has already and he was right; she didn’t care. Who knows. Their relationship is as complicated as ever; it makes my head hurt just thinking about it.

Maybe Shadow doesn't think I'm club-worthy. It would explain a lot. Seeing how Roxy was a shit starter, maybe I should take what Candy says with a grain of salt. Or maybe I should just beat the last twenty-one years of my life out of Candy since it was her mother who really paved my road of hell. I sigh. Where are all these ferocious thoughts coming from? I have never been violent, not even in my thoughts. Maybe my true colors are starting to come through being around my father; my true blood.





It’s dark, all I can see is glimpses of Shadow's sweaty face from the moon light casting a glow through the window. Our bodies are slick with exertion, and our breathing harsh and needy. My body vibrates with greed and intimacy. Shadow's body clings to mine as he thrusts deep inside of me, grunting like a beast.

“I’ll die before I let you go, Dani,” he whispers against my cheek, his stubble scraping my skin, reminding me of the masculine man that claims me. My body arches for more as I plead for him to take me. I don’t care if my mother finds us, and he doesn’t care if my father kills him. We cannot deny the attraction that consumes us, brands us.

“Yes, Shadow, I’m yours,” I pant. “Take me.”

I feel a feathery light touch caressing my cheek, waking me from my dreams. My eyes flutter open and I see Shadow standing above my bed. His calloused fingers cup my chin. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes with the back of my hand; his touch sensual. He's wearing those low-slung sweats and nothing else again. My hands ache as I try to keep them from reaching out to touch that silky smooth chest.

“You’ve been asleep for a few hours. We got movies and pizza if you want some; you gotta be hungry.” His voice is deep and raspy and caring. The butterflies form in my stomach and my body flushes with the arousal I'm trying to conceal.