The Broken Pieces of Us (The Devil's Dust #2.1)

“Dani, this is Cherry, Molly, Pepper, and Vera.” I point to each of the girls, introducing them all to her, hoping to ease the tension.

“Hi, nice to meet you all,” she replies, her tone soft and meek. Cherry looks up from her cutting board and beams a smile at Dani, her strawberry blonde hair falling in her face as she looks up.

“Do you need any help, Babs?” Dani asks. I love this girl, the only one in the whole damn family who asks if I need help, even these bitches try and run away from helping.

“Nah, I think we about have it covered. Think we are all about to head out to the bike show as soon as the boys are done with church,” I answer, throwing a knife in the sink.

“You should be careful, not being patched in and all,” Vera threatens, leaning against the counter, her voice condescending, pissing me off. She needs to back off and leave Dani alone; she should know that. But I know what she is doing; she is testing Dani, seeing if Dani is strong enough to stand the role of a president’s daughter.

“She’s Bull's daughter; nobody would be stupid enough to fuck with her,” Pepper remarks, flipping her black and grey hair over her shoulder to light a cigarette.

“Yeah, but she’s not from around here. She might as well be a civilian; anyone would think she’s a whore,” Vera clips, eyeing Dani. “I did.”

“With that whorish lipstick you're wearing, someone could think the same about you,” Dani spits, her lips curled, ready to take on Vera. I burst out laughing, my side hurting from the lack of air. She is so much like her father, more so now that her mother isn’t here looking over her shoulder.

Vera smirks, adjusting her reddish brown bangs out of her face. “Feisty. I like you already.” I smile proudly. Looks like Dani made it past the girls, and she’s not even wearing her patch yet.



days later

I walk into the club, following the other guys. We were just released after Dani and her mother, who happened to be an FBI agent, ambushed us at the fucking bike rally, taking us all into custody. The disbelief I am in right now has me speechless. I knew Lady was cruel, and I knew something was off about her story about what happened in New York, but Dani? I felt like we had a connection, that I really knew her.

“I swear, I’ll kill that bitch. That’s why we don’t let bitches or family in this place, Prez,” Locks smarts, his tone angry as he sits down at the bar. Looks like his act of perfect husband is over now that sleeping with Lady is off the table. He was putting on an act; I knew that. I knew the life between Babs and him was nothing but sweet, yet he was kissing Babs in front of Lady. He has always had it bad for Lady and was trying to impress her and Dani. I wouldn’t put it past him to have made an advance at Lady while she was here. Babs, who is standing behind the bar, looks at me briefly, her eyes in a state of relief that I’m out of jail, before quickly averting her gaze elsewhere. I haven’t slept with her since the night of the party weeks back, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting her every time I see her.

I feel stupid, betrayed. How could I let an FBI agent into my own club without as much as a second look? Who knows what the hell Dani is telling them? I look at Shadow and glare. I know he was head over heels for Dani. If he told her anything about the activities he condones in, we’re all fucked.

“Get this club cleaned, anything and everything gone,” I demand, referring to anything the feds can pin on us. I’m sure they will be back when Dani spills everything, and they will be tearing this place apart.

Locks walks down the hall with the boys, leaving Babs at the bar. “Did you suspect anything?” I ask her, hoping I’m not the only one who was blind.

“I never liked that Lady bitch, but I’m shocked Dani had anything to do with it,” she says, her eyes widened with disbelief.



I wake up the next day and head to the club first thing, worried about the condition Shadow is in. The club has been hectic since he and the boys got out of custody a few days ago. I saw how much he loved Dani, how he let himself open up to her. He came crawling out of his room yesterday, blood spilling from his nose from the amount of coke he inhaled. I stripped him and threw him in a cold shower, cleaned him up, and put him in a bed with clean sheets. I wish there was more I could do to mend his broken heart. Watching a man so dark, so ominous, break and crumble is unsound.

I have to drive slowly; the rain is coming down so hard, making it difficult to drive in.

“National weather service has advised everyone to stay indoors and seek shelter in an interior room or the lowest level of your home or business,” wails through the radio. Looks like this storm is going to be an ugly one.

I pull up to the courtyard and sprint inside the clubhouse. I see Tom, our newest prospect, sitting on a stool and no one else. The hairs on my neck suddenly rise, something is off.