What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(47)

“You’re kidding?” I laugh.

“I told you, the El Locos are a piece of work,” Bobby says, letting the boy fall limp on the shitty mattress.

As we ride back to the clubhouse, I have to admit I wanted the violence to escalate in that motel room. Violence has always been the only thing that makes me feel alive. I've come to crave that feeling. Often in the past, I've hired myself out as a hit man when club business doesn't quench the thirst for blood. Right now, though, all I can think about is Dani. Being with Dani also makes me feel alive. I know I have to be careful. I'm not sure if I can depend on her, trust her, yet. I don't know how she'll react when she learns the full depths of the darkness that lurks within me. If I get too close, if I let her in, her absence could leave me broken and in worse shape than I am now. Oh, hell, who am I fooling? I've already let her in; that's what scares me.

As we pull up to the clubhouse, Bull and Locks head straight in, talking about the party tonight and leaving Bobby and me behind.

“Oh, by the way, Bro, when I got out of the shower this morning I didn’t have any clean jeans,” Bobby interrupts my thoughts as he climbs off his bike, “so I grabbed a somewhat clean pair from the dirty pile. Come to find out, they aren’t mine.” He looks at me with a wolfish grin on his face. What the f*ck is he talking about? Sharing an apartment with Bobby is becoming a pain in my ass.

“Well, I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled out these delectable little things,” he holds up Dani’s pink panties. “I think they have seen better days, though.” My eyes widen. “The only girl who could wear something this cute would have to be Dani.”

Instantly, my blood boils. I reach out to grab them from his hand but he pulls back, making me miss my target.

“Way I see it, Bull is going to find out about you two and when he does he is going to know I know. I’m going to end up with at least a bullet and I ain’t even screwing the bitch. I think it’s only fair I keep 'em.” He is laughing so hard, I can barely make out what he’s saying.

“You are truly f*cked up if you think I’m letting you keep those. If you don’t hand them over, right f*cking now, I’m going to shoot you in the damn foot again!” I quietly growl at him, hoping Bull is inside the club by now.

“Ah, so you did shoot me in the foot on purpose when we were kids.” His tone is serious now.

“I’m about to shoot you in the dick!” I yell at him, getting impatient.

He laughs and throws the panties in my face. “What kind of perfume does she use? Smells f*cking great,” he says over his shoulder walking toward the clubhouse. I have no doubt he has been smelling them; probably jerked off to them. The man is a freak and a dead man. As soon as I get him to myself, I’m going to put my boot in his head. Just the thought of him looking at Dani’s panties has me seeing red.





I woke up this morning feeling sore in all the right places. Even now, as I help Babs prepare for tonight's party, each painful move reminds me of where Shadow manhandled me; how he took me without mercy and made me his. Just thinking about it starts the flames of desire licking from the tips of my toes, up through the center of my sex, over the peaks of each hard-nippled breast and flushes my cheeks. I hope no one notices as I sweep floors and stock the bar with assorted brands of beer and liquor. Other women have been coming and going, helping to set up trays of dip for chips and all other sorts of finger foods. Babs said my dad wants a party tonight but she didn't mention if there is an occasion or not. Either way, I'm sure he will want me to go to my room. I am not giving in without a fight this time. I look up from stocking bottles and see my dad and Locks walk in. Locks heads into the kitchen to find Babs, I'm sure.

“Hey, what ya doing?” my dad asks as he ambles up to the bar.

“Just helping out Babs,” I reply. “Hey dad, I was thinking I can help bartend tonight,” I word vomit, not even thinking before speaking.

“No way, absolutely not.” He answers shortly.

“Oh, come on, Bull. She's going to see what goes on in the club eventually, especially now that she's staying,” Babs interjects, coming in from the kitchen.

“Whats going on?” Shadow is standing next to my dad looking confused. I didn’t even see him come in I was so wrapped up in asking my dad to willingly desensitize me.

“She wants to bartend tonight for the party,” my dad tells Shadow, as he rubs his scruffy jaw. I love when he does that; it reminds me of the sound of sandpaper.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Shadow says quickly, his face as worried as I have ever seen it. His expression takes me by surprise for a second. Is he afraid I'll see who he really is at the club's most carefree moments? Will the beast he claims to be come out? It can’t be much worse than licking coke off a whore's nipple, come on.

“She can get paid; help get her out of the club. Bet she would do great in tips,” Locks says. I turn and glare at him, he just wants me out of the club. I remember him bitching to Shadow about me and my mother staying here.

“Yeah, alright, but don’t make me regret this, Dani.” My dad gets up from the bar. “You got anything good to eat back there, Babs? I'm starving,” he enters the kitchen with Babs and Locks on his tail.

“Can you get me a beer, Firefly?” Bobby asks. I reach down and grab him a Bud Light. When he reaches for the beer, I see dark red blood spattered across his hand and I feel all my own blood drain from my face.