The Secrets That Find Us (The Devils Dust MC Legacy)

“Now look.” He gestures toward the dash with one hand, his tone dead serious. “Keep it at an even seventy, and use cruise control when you can, we’ll get better—”

“Oh my god, will you give it a rest already?” Laughing, I dig into the bag and tug out my fries, shoving a few into my mouth. “It’s a truck, I can drive it,” I say around a mouth full of food.

He sighs, his hand falling into his lap.

“I swear if you wreck it…” he growls under his breath, getting his food from the paper bag.

“You’ll what? Have to jerk off to something else?” I tease, happy we’re actually talking to each other.

“Yes, as a matter of fact.” He nods, his fingers holding several fries before shoving them into his mouth.

I can’t help but snicker, but then something tight pulls at my chest, reminding me we can’t be like this when we get home. We have to get our shit together, like we were before. Small talk, but settle.

Grabbing my soda, I take a large sip and start the truck. We need to get home so we can get some distance.

16

Delilah

“Hey, we’re here.”

My eyes flutter open, my head pressed into the glass of the passenger door.

“Hmm?” I sit up in my seat, the surroundings looking familiar.

“We’re here,” he repeats in a grim tone, putting the truck into park. Looking out the windshield, the club comes into view. The motorcycles, and cars. I’m home.

The front doors to the club bust open and my dad comes out first, his face sharp with dark hair brushing into his eyes, my mother and brother right behind them. Shit, everyone’s here.

I glance at Big Chief who has one hand on the steering wheel, the other hand on the door handle.

“My name, it’s Lee Marshall.”

He looks at me with soft blue eyes and the last couple of days flash before my eyes.

I can’t help my face falling as my eyes start to water.

“Wh-what?” I don’t know why I’m asking him to repeat himself, I heard him. He told me his name, but why? Why now? An errant tear slips down my cheek, smothering the loneliness I felt before this journey, crashing back down on me like a tidal wave and making my chest heave.

The corner of his mouth turns up just a bit at the corner, giving off a sexy smirk and he gets out, leaving me in the truck.

Lee Marshall. He told me his name, like a promise ring to the biker world.

“Wait!” I reach for him, hoping to stop him, but I’m a couple inches too short and he doesn’t turn back around.

My passenger door is opened for me and my mother wastes no time scooping me into her arms.

“Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re finally home!” she coos, holding me close.

I can’t help but stare at Big Chief who’s walking into the club. I have so much to say but can’t find the words.

“Damn, your face!” Zane points out, and my head snaps toward him. My hand raises and I touch my stitches in my face. Dad cups my cheek, pushing everyone out of the way. He gets real close and looks down at me.

“I swear to God, that club is going to pay!” Dad grits, holding my cheek like I’m a fragile flower missing a petal. Being the president of the motorcycle club, he has all the respect and ruling in the area and I have no doubt that he’s going to break bones for what happened to me in Georgia regardless of how many times I tell him I’m fine.

Slipping out of the truck, I try and make room to breathe let alone walk through everyone. It’s nice to see how much everyone missed me, in fact, I feel more guilt than ever about leaving. I never knew how much my being here meant to everyone. I was so absorbed in getting away and starting my own thing that I didn’t see the love that was right in front of me.

“Guys, I’m fine. I’m home now.” I fake laugh, my mind a complete mess right now. Suddenly my face is firmly gripped and jerked until I’m staring into my mother’s intense green eyes, her brows narrowed with anger.

“Don’t ever do that again, Delilah!” she scolds me like a defiant teenager rather than a twenty-one-year-old woman. “What would have happened if your dad didn’t lie behind my back and send Big Chief?” Her eyes snap to my father’s briefly before back to mine.

Looks like he’s in the doghouse as well as me.

“I just… I wasn’t thinking,” I admit, running my hand through my hair. I know I owe her and everyone an apology but right now I can’t stop thinking about Big Chief.

“No, you weren’t,” Zane admonishes like he’s a parent. I flip him off and shut the truck door behind me.