What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(54)

“Let them think what they want,” I huff. I don't care anymore. All I want is to know that Dani is safe, and who has her. A part of me knows he's right, though. I lost my cool with the thought of her on someone else’s bike and the fact he didn’t protect her. It's like she's my Ol' Lady; that I have subconsciously claimed her. I know the last week with her made me feel for her on a whole different level, I just didn’t realize how f*cking deep 'til now.

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The voices on the other side of the wall have gone quiet without revealing any usable information. What the hell would anyone want from me? Whatever it is, I won’t go down without a fight. I will cut, claw and kill whoever I need to to survive. Ha, listen to me, I sound so bad-ass. The Dani in New York would never have said that. She would have let them do whatever they wanted, and would have given them whatever they needed. That was when I was weak and I molded to whatever form my mother wanted. I'm convinced my mother saw the evil lurking within me, even before I did. I can see now why she shielded me from anything that would have provoked the darkness within. Shadow and my father’s club lures the savage out.

Enough of this sitting around. It’s time to fight and survive.

I climb off the bed, the chain rattling as I walk over to the door. It stops me about a foot short, so I lean over and start slamming my fist against the old door. My heart hammers with adrenaline and the fight to live.

“Let me the f*ck out!” I scream, my voice crude and every bit of rude.

“Sounds like the priss is awake,” the male voice says. I hear footsteps coming toward the door. I back up, ready to pounce on the first person that comes through. When the door opens, I see the man that took me against my will. His brown hair shags down to his eyes; it’s oily and unruly. He's wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves ripped off and stained blue jeans. He smiles; his teeth rotting out; his thin colorless lips snarling. His eyes are dull like someone who should be in rehab or in a casket.

“Well, well,” he rasps. The sound of his voice is infuriating, making him my target. I pull my fist back and connect it with his oily face. He stumbles and falls to the dirty floor; curses flying from his mouth. I start toward him, the chain rattling behind me, to kick him in his stomach but, he grabs me by the foot and pulls me to the ground with him.

“You little bitch!” he yells, his breath permeating my space. I can feel my stomach protest at its rancid smell. He punches me in the face with no warning. His knuckles collide with my mouth, making my teeth sink deep into my lip. I immediately taste blood. My face screams out in pain and I see stars. He jumps to his feet, rears back his black boot, and connects it with my ribs. My eyes water to the point I have to close my eyes. My breath stolen from my lungs, I gasp for air. He leans down and grasps me by the throat, squeezing tightly. His muscle no match for mine, he brings me to my feet. My eyes pop open and stare at the man who is killing me by refusing my lungs air.

“Put her down, Ricky,” the raspy female voice sounds from behind me. “We can’t use her if you kill her.” Ricky's eyes squint and scowl at me, but his grip releases and I fall to the ground. I instantly reach for my throat and take in the sweet air I was deprived of. I choke and sputter as my lungs inhale that first shaky breath. I was stupid and naive to think I could overpower him. I will need to be smart about this if I ever want to see Shadow again.

“You would do well not to do that shit again,” the woman says, walking over and squatting down in my line of view.

Her jet black hair is tangled into a rat's nest; her body nothing but bones. She is wearing a ratty red t-shirt; her arms stained with needle marks from drug use. I look into her eyes and see dull, lifeless blue eyes, the corners etched with wrinkles. She smiles and her teeth are rotted out, her breath sneaking out and stealing mine with a rancid tide.

“I’m Cassie. This is Ricky. Next time you wanna play boxer, I'm not going to stop him. Got that?” she asks, her forehead gathering wrinkles.

How dare she. I wouldn’t have to play boxer if they didn’t take me against my will. My beast wants to be released again. I grit my teeth at the bitch.

“Fuck you!” I whisper, my eyes never leaving hers.

She nods her head as she stands. “I can see why Adrian likes you. You’re feisty.” She laughs, taking joy in my displeasure. Who the hell is this woman?

“What do you want with me?” I ask, my voice cracks from the assault from Ricky. I try and stand, wincing at the burn coming from my ribs, the pain so hostile my vision becomes blurry. I wonder if the f*cker cracked my rib; as bad as it hurts it wouldn’t surprise me. Cassie sees my pain and tries to help me to the bed. Her touch repulses me and I slap her hands away. “Get the hell away from me!”

“You Adrian’s Ol' Lady?” she asks as she sniffles. Ignoring my comment, she sets me on the bed.

“I don’t know an Adrian,” I yell, frustrated, making me wince again.

She sniffs loudly again; taking the back of her hand she wipes her nose with it. Suddenly it all makes sense. This junkie is Shadow's mother. Is Ricky his father? Is Adrian, Shadow?

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I sit at the same wooden table we do every other day. Usually, though, we are discussing shipments and payments. I never thought we would be talking about the fate of someone I care deeply about. Care deeply about; listen to me, I am * whipped beyond repair. I instantly regret pushing Dani away, holding out on her. The short time I had with her wasn’t enough, and in my world I wasn’t optimistic Dani would come back the Dani she was when they took her. Thoughts of her being raped and abused surfaced, making my stomach curdle with gut wrenching regret.