“I got to go check on some shit. I’ll be back,” Shadow states, dropping my suitcase on the bed. I know better than to ask, so I just nod.
“Don’t leave the club,” he orders, giving my head a light kiss before leaving. All of this feels so surreal; I never thought for a second Shadow and I would end up back here.
I put away my things and clean myself up in the bathroom. Still waiting for Shadow to return, I head to the kitchen for something to eat. The place is eerily quiet and makes me nervous.
I grab some pasta Babs must have made recently and throw it in the microwave to warm it up before going back to my room. I eat my pasta and lay on the bed, looking up at the chipped ceiling, wondering what all its seen in its years.
***
At some point, I must have fallen asleep last night, and I wake up to the sun shining brightly this morning. The club has gained more people, but not many. My dad grabbed a bottle of booze and retreated to his room last time I saw him. He seems to be more affected by Babs’ accident than anyone. I notice Old Guy chasing some girl who is not his ol’ lady down the hall into a room, and Hawk has stared at the same newspaper for over an hour. I saunter off to my room and lay on the bed, waiting for Shadow’s return.
“I see you managed to crawl your way back in,” Candy smarts, her voice irritating. I roll over and notice her leaning against the doorframe.
I sit up on the bed slowly and take in her usual slutty attire. Her blonde hair is let down in waves and she’s wearing a pink dress which is way too short and showing too much cleavage.
“What do you want?” I ask annoyed.
“You know the only reason you’re back in is because you’re daddy’s little princess? Otherwise, the man you’re fucking would have put a bullet in your head,” she replies with a smirk. My temper rising, I jump to my feet.
“You know nothing,” I spit.
She laughs, the sound of it making me angrier. I stalk toward her.
“I know you’re fucking Locks,” I say in defense.
“Yeah, so what?” she questions, chuckling. Does she have no remorse for being with him the night of Babs’ accident? I feel my fist itching to dismantle her pretty little face.
“You going to rat me out to Babs? I hear that’s what you do best: ratting.” Griping Candy’s throat, the action takes me by surprise, but I don’t remove my hand nonetheless. Her eyes widen when my fingers begin to lightly apply pressure. I should feel her fear and let go, but all I feel is the rage drumming through my body and the pulse picking up in Candy’s neck beneath my fingers. Like a beast feeding off the fear in her, I relish in it and thirst for more. My vision begins to blur with rage and my body temperature rises quickly, making beads of sweat form between my breasts. My top clings to my back as my grip clamps down. The look of fear carved on Candy’s face becomes a look of a soul whose life has just flashed before its eyes. Her hands begin to claw at mine, leaving little red marks across my knuckles. Her face begins to redden, but I can’t let go for the life of me. I want to, but my fingers won’t obey.
“Dani!”
Snapping me from my fury-induced state, I look over and see Shadow standing next to me. The rage flees my system and my vision becomes clear. I turn back toward Candy and notice she is a hue of red and purple under my death grip. My breath hitches at what I’m doing, but I still don’t release her. My hand is ripped from Candy’s throat as I watch, her body collapsing to the floor like a slinky. She grabs at her throat and makes a horrible gasping sound.
“You could have killed me, bitch,” Candy rasps, her voice scratchy and strained. She’s right. I could have killed Candy; my actions were manic and unpredictable.
“Don’t ever fucking come near me again,” I threaten quietly. She looks up at me, her eyes spilling with tears, but I have no pity for her. She removes her hands from her throat and I instantly see bruising, making me feel queasy that I am capable of such a thing.
“Get the fuck out of here, Candy,” Shadow bellows, pointing off into the distance. Candy crawls to her feet and scampers off, sobbing.
“What the fuck was that?” Shadow growls. I shake my head, unsure. I’ve been back at the club a month and I’ve nearly killed three people. If Shadow hadn’t shown up, I know I would have killed her.
“I don’t know what I’ve become,” I whisper, shocked at my behavior. I look down and notice my hands trembling from the shock. The images of smeared blood from the guy I beat flash across my palms and I close my eyes, trying to wash the images away. Why couldn’t I let go?
Shadow backs me into the bedroom.