What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(57)

Just as my hands grab for the door's golden handle, I feel my body push toward the door unwillingly. Before I can look back at what is happening, my forehead bashes into the door. I whelp in pain, grabbing my forehead. Ricky snatches me by the hair, pulling so tight I can feel my hair snapping and breaking and my new injury bursts with pain.

“Let me go!” I scream, my hands clawing for his hands, my nails scraping and tearing at his arms.

“You’re not going to sell well if you’re all beat up, I hope you f*ck as hard as you fight, princess.” Ricky whispers in my ear. His hot, sticky breath makes my spine stiffen in alert. With his dirty fingers tangled in my hair, he throws me to the ground like a wet mop. My ribs scream out in the most excruciating pain imaginable. My body can’t take anymore. My vision is blurry and my body screams from every angle in pain.

“You stupid bitch. I can’t wait to sell your sorry ass to Poppy!” Cassie yells, holding her nose up high to stop the bleeding. She stumbles over to me and kicks me in the ribs. Her blow is not as forceful as Ricky’s, but it’s enough to make me see black spots. I try and fight the darkness invading my vision, scared of what Ricky might do if he gets the chance.

“Shadow will find me and he will kill you.” I whisper, delirious with pain. They both start chuckling at my response.

“Oh, honey, you’re a hoot. Once we get our money, your ass is sold and we are gone.” Cassie laughs between each word.

“Then I will find you and kill you myself.” My voice trembles, revealing how scared I truly am. The darkness finally pulls me under, the pain is too much for my body to tolerate.

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In my darkness, I see Ricky’s nasty tongue swimming around like a serpent. Cassie’s raspy laugh cracks black walls. My mother’s face telling me, “I told you so”. I’m swimming in a darkness that’s my hell; no Shadow. Where is Shadow? He has to come. He wouldn’t leave me here; my dad wouldn’t leave me here, would they? Is this my fate; I’m either going to die or become a slave. The darkness that swims within me is weak and hiding, giving up and wanting to die before it’s dealt a fate it has no control over.

I open my eyes. My vision still blurry, I see Shadow’s face. His blue, smoldering eyes are blazing with fire and rage. His cheeks are full of stubble and his jaw set to worry. His lips part to allow his harsh breathing. His black hair, thicker on the top and shorter on the sides, make my fingers itch for it. He’s so handsome. Clearly this is just a dream, my pain induced state making me see things. I reach out, trying to feel for his face, as I sob.

“My beast,” I breathe, still lying on the dirty floor where Ricky and Cassie left me.

“Dani, I’m here, baby. Nobody is going to hurt you anymore.” His voice is full of emotion; he seems so real I can even smell him. He wraps his bulky arms around my frame, picking me up from the floor. I yell in pain as he lifts me.

“What is it, baby? What’s wrong?” he says, worry etching every word.

I can’t speak so I just point to my ribs; my eyes squint shut with such pain. He gently pulls my shirt up and I not only hear him gasp, I can feel his chest rise and fall rapidly.

“Fuck. Okay. Just wrap your hands around my neck. I’m going to get you out of here. It’s going to hurt, but I’m getting you out of here.” He places my hands above his head and cocoons my body with his arms. My head falls into the nook of his neck. I feel safe; my body relaxes knowing Shadow has me. If this is hell, I want to live here forever.

“Are you real?” I sob.

“Yes, baby, I’m real,” he whispers into my hair and then gently kisses my head. He turns toward the door; my prince charming rescuing me.

“What the f*ck?” Ricky hollers. My body immediately tenses; images of him thrusting his pelvis into me and his slithering tongue make my spine go straight. I lift my head to see him and Cassie entering the front door. Bobby is standing next to us, along with Bull and the crew. The whole gang came to save me.

“Hold on to my neck, Dani,” Shadow whispers. I tangle my hands together and try my hardest to hold my weight as Shadow reaches for something behind him. In a millisecond, he is stomping toward Ricky. He points an unforgiving silver pistol and without a second thought, pulls the trigger. Brains, skull, and blood spatter across the room. Gun powder and something metallic, caress my senses. Cassie screams and runs from the house.

“Shit!” Bobby yells, running after her.

With a deep sigh, I replace my head in Shadow's neck. I think I just saw the beast that masks him from being normal.

He climbs in the back seat of a car, never letting me go. I wince with pain as he adjusts us; his hand brushes the hair away from my face. His thumb planting circles on my cheek, he leans in, “don’t you leave me again.” I just nod, my head thumping with pain as I do so. Did Shadow save me? Is this real? I try to open my eyes and look at Shadow, but blackness snakes its way around and takes me into a deep, unforgiving pool.

“I... I f*cking love you, Dani,” Shadow whispers in my ear.

This clearly is a dream; Shadow doesn't love.

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I’m sitting in my bed at the clubhouse; the sight and smell of the old place makes me feel at home. I wonder if they ever caught Cassie; the question makes me uneasy. Fear rattling my cage, I gulp a dry swallow, trying to stomach it all.