EPILOGUE
CHERRY
One Month Later
Everything’s been going smoothly since Piper and I moved back into Lip’s house. Lip and I are stronger than ever, and the sex is mind-blowing! I ground Lip’s beast that dwells within, and help bring out the good he never thought he was capable of. I can actually say I have all of Lip now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Convict, angry, furious, but also gentle and caring. He’s Lip, and he’s mine.
Lip completely redid his spare bedroom into My Little Pony for Piper, and spoils her beyond any little girl’s imagination. It’s crazy to see him care for her so much after swearing he never wanted kids for so long. But he’s wrapped around Piper’s little finger, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Piper has taught Lip and me a lot about life that we never knew we were missing.
I finally feel at peace—well, as much peace as I will allow myself. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder expecting someone to take my happiness away, to steal my hope and devotion right from under my feet, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Lip seems on edge since his brother threatened him. He suggested a lockdown, but I refused. I couldn’t put Piper in a lockdown after just getting her settled in. I don’t want to scare her. I know Lip is planning on revenge, but I’m pleading with him not to ride into Vegas to revenge Tom’s death, that it’s too risky. He said nothing has been decided yet, but I know he and the club are discussing tactics. The Devil’s Dust and The Sin City Outlaws will be enemies for life now. Blood has been spilled, tainting any lines of respect that might have been there.
So far, nothing has happened—no eerie phone calls, nobody trying to kill us. I think the bad blood between Lip and his brother isn’t going anywhere, but I believe as long as each club stays within their territory, no blood will be shed. If they stay on their own territory that is. Lip’s mom sold her house and bought an RV, said to fuck with both of the boys and is traveling the country one campground at a time. She said the boys have too much of their father in them, and she couldn’t stand to see them shed their own bloodline. I don’t blame her, though. What do you do when both of your sons are trying to kill each other?
“Hey, Mom, is it okay if we go visit Zane?”
I scowl. Dani’s son has really been sniffing around my daughter’s trail since she’s been here.
“I think tonight we’re staying in to watch movies,” I counter. She shrugs and starts playing on her iPad that Lip got her. She’s actually very easy to raise; I haven’t had much trouble out of her, thankfully.
Piper has asked about her dad once. I didn’t really know what to say to her, ‘cause I don’t know what happened. Lip won’t tell me, either, saying if I never know then I don’t ever have to worry about lying to Piper.
So I told Piper her daddy went away for the bad things he did and I don’t know when he’ll be back. She seemed sad at first, but hasn’t said a word about him since. I hate that it had to come to this between Eric and me, but one thing a man should know is you don’t come between a woman and her child. Ever!
“Time for the movie!” Lip hollers.
Climbing off my bed, Piper and I head into the living room where Minions is playing on the TV. Lip didn’t want kids when we met, but I swear to God, he’s the perfect dad. He knows all of Piper’s quirks. Like she doesn’t like ketchup on her hot dog but on the side, and how she loves veggies so he always doubles her portion at dinner. It’s the little things. We sit on the couch, getting comfy, and I rest my head on Lip’s shoulder while Piper snuggles into his ribs on the other side of him.
“Hey, Lip,” I whisper as I think back to the other day. Lip had mentioned he wanted to knock me up. I don’t know if he was joking, speaking in the moment, or serious, but I’m about to find out.
“Yeah?” he replies around a mouthful of popcorn.
“I stopped taking my birth control,” I mutter. He pauses for a second, and my heart stammers.
He pulls me close. “Good,” he mutters into my forehead.
I smile; our family is about to get a little bigger. I’ve grown since I’ve met Lip, and I think he has, too. We’ve both learned things aren’t so scary once you get through them; in fact, it just makes you stronger. The sad loneliness that used to creep into my soul has gone, leaving it filled with happiness and hope. Nothing can stop us now because together we’re the Devil’s Dust, and we take what we want.
THE END