The Scars That Define Us (The Devil's Dust #2)

He rounds the car and adjusts his junk, wearing a smug look on his face. He doesn’t seem very mannered at the moment; he’s faking this whole gentlemen act. He climbs into the car and slowly pulls onto the road. I start my bike and follow. What does Dani see in this prick? I stay a few car lengths back so I’m not noticed and watch him drop Dani at the apartment. I can’t see inside the car because I’m so far back, but that’s probably a good thing. Usually when you drop a date off, you kiss them goodbye. I stare at the black car, waiting for her to get out. I groan heavily and look up at the sky. Stalking an ex-girlfriend, what a new low for me.

Dani leaves the car and nearly runs toward the front door of the apartment building. “Here we go,” I mutter. I start my bike and follow Parker onto the road. I would go inside and shake Dani like a rag doll, asking what the fuck she’s thinking, but I’m intrigued by this Parker. He darts off onto the highway and off the exit ramp; there is nothing on this side of town but bars and strip clubs. Not something I peg for Mr. Fancy. He parks in the Dirty Barrels parking lot and gets out. I sit on my bike and watch, interested what his kind would be doing at such a cheap bar. I figured him more for a cocktails and Bloody Mary kind of fucker.

After ten minutes has passed, he comes out with a brunette, who staggers and sways as she walks toward the parking lot. He points to his car and the drunk girl lights up. She walks faster toward it and starts to run her hand over the hood. He comes up behind her and grabs on her backside, making the girl arch her ass into him. He grabs her wrists and jerks her toward the passenger car door, opens it and pushes her into the back seat with force before climbing in. I sigh and look off into the distance. This asshole is not who Dani thinks he is, and I’ll be damned if I let him near her.

After ten minutes of the car rocking, the door opens and the girl is pushed out. She stumbles onto the dirty parking lot, rolling on her back; she’s really drunk. Parker gets out, pulling his pants the rest of the way up before using his foot to roughly roll the girl a few feet from his car. He then climbs in his car and takes off, throwing dirt and gravel on the girl. I shake my head and put my helmet back on before following. He heads toward the nice side of town, where the houses are big and you’re paying for who your neighbors are rather than the quality of a house. When he pulls into a driveway, I pull over and watch him enter a circle drive. His house is huge and can be seen from the road; there is no denying he’s got money.

***

I wait by the car, leaning against it with my legs crossed in front. I’m going to ensure he never sees Dani again.

About an hour after he went in, Parker leaves his house and walks toward the car I’m waiting by.

“Get off my car, asshole,” he yells, pointing his briefcase at me.

I look behind me at the car then back at him. “You mean this car?” I taunt.

“Yes, that car,” he says, his tone irritated. I smirk and walk forward, my steps ones of a deadly promise.

“If you don’t leave my property now, I’m calling the police,” he snarls. His forehead starts to sweat, causing his hair to curl around his forehead. As soon as he’s within reach, I grab him by the back of his head and pull him close.

“The police can’t save you, pretty boy,” I grit out, my teeth clenched with anger. I tighten my grip on the back of his neck and walk him to his car with force. With a violent thrust, I plow his face into the side mirror. His face breaks the mirror completely off, making him howl in pain. His body crashes to the ground, his face bloody and his nose probably broken.

“What do you want from me? You want money? I can get you money!” he pleads, holding his bleeding nose. I tilt my head to the side and laugh. Then kick him in the gut as hard as I can. He grunts in pain and starts coughing.

“I think you would do well to stay away from what’s mine,” I sneer, pulling him up by his gelled hair. His mangled face looks up at me as I threaten him. I throw him across the hood of his car, the weight of his body denting it as he tumbles off the hood. I walk around, not finished.

“She came on to me, asked if we could fool around in the back of my car,” he justifies, talking about the girl he messed with earlier.

“I’m not talking about that girl, but you should be kicked in the head for that. Were you going to treat Dani like that?” I snap.

“Dani?” he questions. His eyes take on a confused look before brightening. “You mean Danielle.” He looks at the ground and shakes his head. “I should have known,” he mumbles. “No, that’s why I found some nobody at a bar.” He pauses and wipes the blood from his face with a handkerchief. “I wouldn’t hurt Danielle.” Dani’s name in his mouth has me pouring with hatred for this fucker.

“Tisk, tisk. You should know, she’s Devil’s Dust property,” I inform him. I grab him by his collar and drag him to his feet. “You will stay away from her and never talk to her again,” I demand.

“Danielle is big enough to decide for herself who she wants to be with,” Parker states, his voice calm. I tried to be nice in giving him the option to leave her alone.

I grab him by his shirt and pull him close. “Wrong answer, asshole.”

I pull my fist back and slam it into his eye, marking his face with the impact of my hand.