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

“It’s going to storm again,” I say to nobody in particular. My voice filling the void between the sexy cowboy sitting on the bed and myself.

“Supposed to do it off and on for the rest of the week from what the radio says,” Big Chief informs. Shutting the curtains, I glance over my shoulder at him, he’s sitting up with his back turned toward me. Something is happening here and he feels it too. It’s exciting but scary. I can’t really describe it any more than that.

“I’m going to shower, you can have the TV.” He stands, tossing the remote onto the bed. Fully turning around, I watch him disappear into the bathroom, and I nervously begin to chew on my nail.

I wonder if he’s going to jerk off in there. Did I affect him that much? Closing my eyes, I growl in frustration. I’m such a stupid girl, and I guarantee that is exactly what he sees when he looks at me. A little girl. Because that is what my father and uncles have programmed into any man in the Los Angeles area to see when they look at me. A princess that is off limits.

Still, one of two things are going to happen in the coming days. Big Chief and I will hook up, or we will despise one another because of the unpalpable tension. Resentment will breed in place of our neglected curiosity. One of us will die if it comes to that. We’re both too stubborn and bold not to want to shoot one another.

Why didn’t they just send my brother to watch over me?

The phone on the nightstand rings, but Big Chief is in the shower.

Reaching for it, I see the name Shadow pop up on the screen. It’s Dad. Shit. I answer it.

“Hello?”

“Delilah?” Dad sounds confused that I’m answering. I bet he doesn’t know I’m sharing a room with Big Chief, in fact, I know he doesn’t. My father would have a stroke and drive down himself to get me if he thought I was in the same room with one of his men. Not that he doesn’t trust them, I think he doesn’t trust me.

“Big Chief left me with his phone because I left mine behind.” I think on my toes.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore,” I clip, adjusting the phone to my other ear. My body somewhat relaxes knowing he bought the whole Big Chief left me with his phone in case I needed it gig.

“So what happened? Who did it? I want names, Delilah.”

It feels good to hear him so concerned about me but I don’t really know what to tell him, but if I lie, he’ll know.

“Another club beat my ass. Thane’s club, they’re called The Fallen Gods.” I tell him in as few words as I can.

“Thane? Like the Thane—”

“Yeah, it was him,” I softly interrupt him.

“That motherfucker! I swear to God I’m going to break every bone in his fucking skull!”

“Dad! Just stop. Can we please, can we just leave the past in the past? I really don’t know why I was attacked but he wasn’t there, it was just some of the men.” My nerves on edge as my head begins to pound with anxiety. If Dad sends members to Thane’s club, it’s going to start a war, meaning Thane will be in my life a lot more.

“I have a job to do as your father and as a president of this club, Delilah. A hit on you is a personal attack on my club!” The undertone of his voice seething and indignant. Venom and blood laced around every word as he seeks retaliation.

“Yeah, I know.” I sound feeble, but I know the savage bylaws. If we let one club attack us and don’t do something, we’re putting a target on our backs.

“Stay close to Big Chief, he’s there to keep you safe until you get home. Understand?”

“Yeah,” I whisper, glancing toward the bathroom where Big Chief disappeared to. “I’ll see you soon, Dad.”

“‘Night, sweetheart.” His voice soft and gentle, it scares me how he jumps from murderous outlaw to caring father so quickly.

Hanging up, I slip the phone back onto the nightstand and exhale a shaky breath. I know he’s going to do something about Thane. My dad is too stubborn and hot-tempered to let it go, and it will end in one of two ways. Thane will be involved in my life more than I want him to be, or he’ll be dead to me.

Thunder becomes louder and more frequent and the lights flicker. What the hell? The channel on the TV turns to the news, a man in a suit pointing to a big red splatter on a radar and telling everyone to seek shelter now. His tone is calm yet making me panic even more at the same time. Sitting up on the bed, my heart starts to race. Where are we on that map?