CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIP
“We’re meeting at the docks. Let’s go,” I inform the boys.
“Let’s take care of business,” Bobby states.
Dani steps forward, taking Piper into her arms. Piper’s eyes shoot to mine in fear. Climbing off my bike, I hunch down so I’m the same height as her and she walks into my arms.
“Don’t worry; I’ll be back and with Cherry. Dani is a real good friend of mine, she’s really nice,” I comfort. Dani squats next to me, holding a picture of Cherry. Piper holds her hand out, taking the picture.
“You like toys?” Dani asks, smiling. Piper nods.
“I have a bunch with me if you wanna come check them out ‘til Cherry gets back.” Piper looks at me, silently asking me if it’s safe, if she should go. My heart grows for Piper, the fact she is seeking me out for security is something I can’t help but love.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I whisper. Piper takes Dani’s hand, her eyes not as wide as before but still unsure. I hesitate, not wanting to leave her.
“It’s fine; I got Piper. Go do what you have to do, Lip,” Dani states.
I nod and climb on my bike. Starting it, the rest of the guys jump on theirs and we head out.
***
Nearing the docks, I don’t stop, or slow down for that matter. All I see is red, an ocean of red with a tide of betrayal. My brother is a traitor, and he’ll pay for it. My father would roll over in his grave if he knew his two sons were head-to-head.
We drive into the docks, the smell of salt strong and the winds heftier as we pull up to an old building, rusted and decaying, a street lamp lighting a small circle. Within the circle are a bunch of motorcycles and men standing around. I wave my hand, encouraging the guys to follow me in.
I search the group for Cherry but don’t see her. My jaw clenches. I swear to God, if he hurt her bullets will fly.
Parking a few feet away, the Sin City Outlaws turn, facing us.
“Brother, so nice of you to join us,” Zeek announces, his hands tucked into his torn jeans.
“Cut the shit, where is she?” I snarl.
“Cherry, you mean? She sure is a piece of fineness. I can see why you’re so protective of her.”
I reach around my back and pull my pistol out. “You got about two minutes to show me my girl, before your brains are sprayed everywhere,” I threaten.
“First business, then the girl,” he quips, his tone missing its humor.
“I told you before, no deal.” I sniff and look up at him.
“Then no girl.” He shrugs, grinning.
I point my gun, and he quickly pulls his own from his waistband.
Zeek and I, gun to gun. I used to play hide-and-seek with him, play video games with him as a child, and now I’m going to kill him.
“The way I see it, neither of us is going anywhere then,” I sneer.
“What are your terms?” Bull asks, stepping up beside me.
I turn my head, giving Bull a sideways glance, my arm still outstretched.
“No, we ain’t doing business with him,” I add. Bull widens his stance and thumbs his belt loops.
“State your conditions, son,” Bull states, ignoring me.
“I supply, and you make sixty-percent profit,” Zeek replies, his eyes never leaving mine.
“What are we talking about here? Drugs, Guns, Women?” Bull questions.
“Drugs. Pick your poison; I move it all.” Zeek smiles proudly.
“Don’t do it, man,” I warn Bull.
“Why? Why should we go into business with you?” Bull asks Zeek.
“You mean besides getting your bitch back?” Zeek laughs, and the rest of his men chuckle. “‘Cause I got the best shit on the West Coast, and,” he looks at me, “my uncle will not give up until he gets Phillip in our pockets one way or another. He’s blood. He’ll either accept that, or be buried for his betrayal of the DeLuca name,” Zeek threatens.
“Don’t be stupid, man,” Bobby whispers into my ear.
“No! Deal!” I holler. “Your idea of family is not ours. You keep your shitty drugs and the DeLuca’s toxic DNA on your side of the West Coast.” I curl my lip in anger.
Zeek snaps his fingers and the crowd breaks. I see red hair flinging back and forth as two men push and shove Cherry through the group of men.
“I killed our father, my own flesh and blood. The man who brought me into this world. Don’t think I won’t kill your bitch—or you, for that matter.” My eyes widen, and my hand grips my gun harder. I never knew he had anything to do with Dad’s death. I’m shocked; I thought Zeek was dad’s favorite. Goes to show how loyal the DeLuca name really is, and that strengthens my belief to stay the fuck away from it.
Zeek snaps his fingers again and points to the ground in front of him. A guy kicks Cherry hard, making her fall to her knees and land right in front of Zeek. I step forward, wanting to save her, but the click of Zeek’s gun stops me.
“Not so fast, brother,” Zeek warns. Looking at Cherry, she has streaks of tears marking her dirty face. Her knees are bleeding, and the stitches on her face look to be torn and bleeding, as well. I lift my gaze from Cherry to Zeek. My chest constricts seeing her in such distress, and my hands fist at my side. An urge to hold her and tuck her hair behind her ear surges through me. I love Cherry, no doubt about it. I’ve never cared so much about another person in my whole life. Zeek is a dumb motherfucker for touching her.
“You’ll pay for this,” I growl.
“One last time: you in, or out?” Zeek questions.
“I will never go into business with you, Zeek. Get that through your head now. I won’t put my family in danger because of our uncle’s power trip,” I reaffirm. He takes his aim from me to Cherry, and I react. I jump forward, throwing Cherry out of the way just as a bullet leaves Zeek’s gun. Cherry screams as we fall to the ground hard, and my right shoulder burns with such intensity my eyes water.
“Bobby, get Cherry!” I scream, rolling over to aim my pistol at Zeek’s arm. His eyes widen, and I pull the trigger. His body jolts backward and he falls to the ground. His men scatter, and Cherry is yanked from under me.
“Just me,” Bobby mutters, dragging Cherry to safety.
Rising to my feet, I run behind a green trashcan. My shoulder screams with pain; looking at it, I find blood oozing from it, trickling down my back. I’ve been shot. Better me than Cherry, though.
I peek around the trash can and a bullet goes zipping past me.
“Shit,” I curse, jumping back behind the dumpster.
Aiming my weapon first, I look around the trash can again and spot Zeek beside the building, aiming his weapon at me. Seems that bullet in his shoulder didn’t slow him down. I fire, and a bullet zings as it ricochets off the building.
“You done yet?” I holler.
“Not even close!” Zeek shouts, firing his weapon. Looking over, I find Bull firing his gun at men above me and Bobby holding Cherry behind the bikes.
Enough of this back-and-forth bullshit. I take a deep breath, glance at Cherry one last time and step out from behind the can. I spot Zeek instantly and fire my gun. I fire and fire until I run out of bullets, spraying and praying one hits Zeek’s worthless ass.
He shouts with distress and falls back. I smirk, knowing at least one hit him. His men catch him, and silence fills the air. A loud girlie scream sounds near Zeek, and fear hits my chest that they have Cherry. Checking my guys, I see Cherry is still with them, so I look back at Zeek and that’s when I see Dolly crying over him. That fucking betraying bitch.
Knowing his men will retaliate, and I’m out of bullets, I turn and run back toward the bikes with the rest of the Devil’s Dust.
I slide in behind Tom Cat’s bike, and he helps pull me behind it.
“I got ya, brother,” Tom Cat states, standing up to walk in the line of fire. I grab his pants leg, stopping him.
“Don’t; he’s got more men than we do,” I add.
Tom shakes my hand off his leg.
“He disrespected ours. He needs to pay, or the rest of the West Coast will think they can walk on us,” he explains, and walks off.
“Fuck!” I yell.
“Here.” Bull hands me a gun and I cock it, loading a bullet into the chamber.
“Cover him!” I yell to the boys. I aim over the bike and start shooting Zeek’s men as they pop up over the rooftop of the metal building.
“Die!” shouts from the side of the building, catching my attention. Looking over, Zeek wobbles out with one arm wrapped around his mid-section, where blood pours down his shirt, and his other hand holding a gun aimed at Tom Cat.
“Tom Cat! To your right!” I warn. Tom Can turns and I aim, but Zeek is faster and pulls the trigger first. Tom Cat falls flat to the ground.
“Aaaah!” I scream, running out from behind the bike. Pulling the trigger, a bullet slams into Zeek’s chest. He falls to his knees, staring at me as the light of our childhood fades before he face-plants.
I fall to Tom Cat’s side as he begins to choke and suffocate on blood. I grab the back of his neck and pull him close.
“Bull!” I scream. Bull runs from behind the bikes and drops to his knees beside me.
“We gotta get him to the hospital now,” Bull states. Glancing at the Sin City Outlaws, they seem to be doing the same, looking over their president, not concerned with us.
“Let’s get him there then,” I tell him.
“Lip, we need to get Cherry there, too.” Bull looks at me with wide eyes.
“What do you mean?” I stand, worry snaking through my chest.
“Your bullet. It went through you, and hit her.”
Bobby comes running up to us.
“I called Doc; they have a helicopter on their way. Should be here any minute,” Bobby states, his hands rubbing through his hair anxiously.
“I got Tom, go to Cherry,” Bull orders. I look Tom Cat over one last time, his eyes pinning me.
“Thank you,” I mouth.
“Broth—” He chokes. “We’re br-brothers,” Tom stammers, and tears threaten to prick my eyes. Tom Cat is a brother of loyalty, a brother who would risk his own to protect my life. Whereas my own flesh and blood betrayed me and wanted to end my life.
Sprinting toward Cherry, she’s leaned up against a bike and panting heavily. Blood soaks her skintight top right below her breasts.
“Baby,” I whisper, pulling her head to me.
“You. Get. Piper?” She takes a breath between each word.
“Yes, I did. She’s ours now,” I state, brushing the hair from her face.
A small smile creeps across her face. “Ours?” she whispers, and I nod. The helicopter zooms above us, and I look up. About fucking time.
“You’re going to be fine, baby; the medics are here.”
“I’m really cold,” she mutters, her eyes looking distant. Glancing down at Cherry’s gunshot, I see blood pouring through her fingers, and I panic.
“OVER HERE!” I scream at the medics.
Two people dressed in blue jumpsuits sprint toward us and place Cherry on a stretcher. As they strap her in, medics begin to scream and holler and I turn into a fucking wreck.
“We’ve lost a lot of blood on this one!” someone shouts. Tears prick my eyes, and I tug on my hair.
“Do something! Fucking do your job!” I scream.
“I got a heartbeat!” a medic with long hair hollers, and I can’t help but smirk with relief.
“Sir, we can’t do our job if you’re yelling at us!” one of them yells at me. Ignoring them, I jog alongside them and grab Cherry’s cold hand.
Lowering my mouth to her ear, I whisper “I love you, Cherry.”
They push Cherry in the chopper beside Tom, and a man with chubby cheeks pulls a sheet over Tom’s face.
“Time of death, 11:23AM.”
My eyes widen and my mouth drops open, the need for vengeance taking root in my chest. Before I could yell at them to do their job better, the helicopter took off. My world spins, and my heart races. My woman is hurt, and I’ve lost a brother. 11:23AM—a time I’ll never forget, because at that time I realized I’m not invincible, that I can’t fix everything, and I can lose everything with the snap of a finger.
CHERRY
“Baby?”
Blinking, the word echoes in my head, and I wince.
I lift my hand and wipe at my eyes, and a warm palm cocoons mine.
“Cherry, baby, you had me so fucking worried.” Looking over, I find Lip staring at me with tear-filled eyes.
“Lip?” I croak, my heart beating faster knowing he’s close.
Using my hands, I push on the bed to sit up, but my side buckles under the pain.
“Don’t, you were shot.” Lip frowns. That’s right. Zeek tried to shoot me but Lip jumped in front of him and took the bullet—well, most of it. It went through his shoulder and hit me. I look down and pull my shirt up, finding a huge patch.
“You lost a lot of blood, but they got to you just in time,” Lip states. “They had to remove the bullet in surgery, but everything went smoothly.”
He pauses, like he’s searching for words. Finally, he looks up at me again, sadness taking over his features.
“Cherry, I have something to tell you.” Lip sits on the bed, grabbing my hand. Hairs on my neck rise, and my eyes widen.
“What?” I whisper.
“Tom Cat, he—” Lip looks up, tugging his lip between his teeth.
“What about him?” Tears begin to leak from my eyes.
“He didn’t make it, baby,” Lip mutters, tears falling down his cheeks.
I close my eyes and cry, a terrible sob escaping my lips. To lose one of our own, it’s a pain that roots deep within the chest. It never goes away.
“Come here.” Lip pulls me into his arms, and I hug him right back. I cry hard and loudly. Tom was one of us, and we lost him. I loved Tom; he was so friendly—horny, but friendly.
“The funeral is tomorrow,” Lip states.
“I’m going,” I add. I will see him one last time and pay my respects, regardless of what kind of shape I’m in.
“You can’t, baby. You need to stay in here and –”
“Fuck that, Lip, I’m going!” I shout, wincing from the pain in my side. Tom gave his life for us, and it’s the least I can do.
Lip smirks and runs his fingers over my lips.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Lip mutters. “Cops came in a little earlier for your statement, but Doc pretty much told them to fuck off. I told them what the rest of the guys did, that we were ambushed by some guys but couldn’t make ‘em out. We’re The Devil’s Dust. We have enemies everywhere.” He winks. “So if they come back, you need to stick with that story,” Lip states. I furrow my brows and nod. “The cops ain’t going to be handling this; you know as well as I the justice system is fucked. The Devil’s Dust will be taking care of this, babe.” Lip brushes my hair from my face and kisses my forehead. I don’t argue, because he’s right. I don’t trust cops to take care of this, not after my last run-in with the justice system.
“But they believed you?” I ask.
“They pretty much know we’re lying, but they have no proof.” Lip shrugs.
“Can I come in yet?” someone hollers from the doorway. My eyes widen with excitement; I know that voice from anywhere.
Lip laughs. “Yeah, come in.”
Piper rushes in wearing a pink little dress, and hair shiny and combed. She looks so youthful and happy.
“Piper!” I cheer with excitement. To see her, it makes me want to move mountains, regardless of the pain I’m in.
“Cherry!” Piper chimes. She crawls onto the bed, and I cry harder as I pull her into a big hug.
“Easy now.” Lip laughs.
I hug her tighter, her little heartbeat pounding against my chest. I take in the smell of her, the feel of her skin against mine, and I swear to God I’ll never let her go again.
“I missed you,” she whispers.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper back.
I sit her back and look her over.
“You look so pretty.” I pull on the fabric of her dress.
“Thank you. Lip took me shopping,” My eyes pull from Piper to Lip, shocked.
“Yeah?”
Lip shrugs, and I think my ovaries just exploded. Badass biker taking my daughter shopping is something for the books, for sure. I look at Piper, my daughter, and smile.
“Piper, I need to tell you something,” I mutter, my brows furrowing inward. I don’t know if now is the right time to tell her I’m her mother, but I can’t hold it in any longer. I’ve had to keep it secret for six fucking years, so now is as good as time as any. Pushing little strands of hair behind her ear, I tilt my head to the side.
“I’m your mom, Piper.”
Her eyes furrow and she nibbles on her bottom lip as she takes in the words I just spoke. Finally, she looks up from under her lashes, her face unsure.
“I always wanted a mommy like you. You know, sometimes when we were together, I would think of you as my mommy.” She smiles, and what was left of my heart explodes into warmth. Tears leak out of my eyes uncontrollably.
I pull her close and cry into her hair. I finally have my daughter. Finally have my flesh and blood. I didn’t die, but I certainly went through Hell to get her. I’d do it all over again, too.
“I’ll make up the last six years for the rest of your life, Piper,” I promise.
***
Tom Cat’s funeral was beautiful, but sad. I think Lip took it the hardest. He lost a loyal brother to one he can’t stand. Tom’s casket was draped with his leather cut before the service, and it was hard to see. Bull walking up to the casket and whispering he was a true brother, and he’d see him on the other side, before thumping his knuckles on the casket… was even harder. The song “Last Ride” by Wiz Khalifa played and made everyone bawl into a fit of sobs. Dani picked the song, and I think I may slap her for playing something so perfect yet so sad at the same time.
I set an empty glass into the sink and slowly head out of the kitchen. My side is killing me from where I was shot, but I won’t dare leave because of the pain. Clubs from all around are here to pay their respects, and it’s beautiful, really. People passing us on the sidewalks and in cars look at us like we’re monsters living on rage and fury, but when you get past that stereotypical bullshit, we’re family. We have each other’s backs and love one another just like any other family. To a lot of men, this is all they have. Some returning back from serving their country and needing that family they lost while they were away, or some who grew up on the wrong side and need guidance—we accept them all. I love being a part of something so great, because I know as well as anyone that sometimes people just need a second go at trying one of the hardest things there is to master: life.
“Piper, wait for me!” Zane hollers after Piper as they run across the room. I smirk; Zane is going to be such a player.
Dani walks past me and I stop her. “Have you seen Lip?” I haven’t seen him since we got back.
“I saw him heading down the hallway earlier,” Dani tells me. I nod and head down the hallway in search of him. Him getting Piper for me is something I will forever owe him for. But since I’ve been out of the hospital, he’s been somewhat distant, like he doesn’t know what he wants. Or maybe it’s just Tom Cat’s death weighing heavily on him, I’m not sure.
Slowly opening our door, I find Lip sitting on the bed, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Crying. To see such a strong man crying, it cuts me. Should I go in, or leave him be? I step in, deciding to comfort him. After the many times he was there when I was crying, this is my chance to repay that favor. He looks up and wipes at his face.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” he croaks, his voice heavy with sorrow.
I sit on the bed and grab his hand. His bloodshot eyes shoot to mine, and I frown. I hate seeing him so broken.
“You okay?”
Lip’s body eases, his tense shoulders sagging.
“No, I’m not. My flesh and blood killed one of my own.” Lip shakes his head, a tear slipping down his tanned cheek. As much as it hurts to see him like this, it kind of turns me on to see him so vulnerable, too.
“It’s not your fault, Lip,” I state.
Lip scoffs. “I shouldn’t have let him go out there.”
“Could you have really stopped him? He knew what he was doing, Lip,” I try to assure.
“Probably not; his ass was stubborn.” Lip chuckles, wiping his cheeks. He smirks and squeezes my hand.
“How are you and Piper settling in?” he questions, changing the subject.
I shrug. “Good, I guess. I think I’m going to stay with my brother for a while. He really wants some time with Piper and I can’t leave her side. Not right now,” I explain, a piece of me wanting Lip to object. It would put my fear of him not wanting Piper in his life aside.
Sitting in silence, I shift uncomfortably.
“Where are we, Lip?” I finally ask, sick of the games. I can’t read his mind, or his body language for that matter.
“I don’t even know.” He shakes his head, and my chest aches.
I nod and stand. “Lip, I care about you, I do. But we don’t know each other, not really. Besides, I have a little girl, and you don’t even like kids.” I take a deep breath. “I won’t give her up, I’m sorry.”
Lip nods, he doesn’t disagree, and doesn’t try to stop me.
“Yeah, I think we just need a moment to decide where the fuck we’re going in all this.” Lip looks down at his hands, and my eyes threaten to spill hot tears. “Tom’s death, you getting your kid back, and I killed my brother. Everything is just happening so fast,” he mutters.
I nearly sob in reaction. I have to get out of here or I’ll lose it.
Lip’s bloodshot eyes glance up at me. “I care about you, Cherry. I do. I just need some time to process shit. I don’t want to hurt you again, and I don’t want you to come back to me because you’re familiar with me. You know?”
I bite my lips together to keep from sobbing and nod. I get what he’s saying, but it doesn’t make it any easier. “I know what you mean,” I mutter, my head lowered to keep from looking at him. I lean down and kiss his cheek, and he grabs at my hand as I walk away.
***
Tyler shows Piper how to pluck the strings of his guitar, and I can’t help but take picture after picture. To see them together, in one room, it’s something I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. Piper’s hair is braided over one shoulder, and the torn blue jeans and pink top she’s wearing looks adorable on her. She didn’t know what to think when I bought her clothes that actually had pink on them and fit. I wanted to cry and curse Eric at the same time at her reaction.
“There ya go, you got it.” Tyler laughs, placing the guitar fully on Piper’s lap. Looking the guitar over, it’s close to the one that was in Lip’s spare bedroom. I frown; I miss him so much. Everything reminds me of him. I heard a motorcycle yesterday, and I ran out the front door in nothing but a tank top and panties, thinking Lip was there to take Piper and me home. But it was just some old guy, although he seemed more thankful for the peepshow. I’m starting to question my sanity.
Grabbing my phone, I check my messages for the fifth time in the last hour, but there’s nothing. He hasn’t texted, hasn’t called, and it’s been days. Maybe he’s decided he can’t love me and Piper, that he just doesn’t have enough love in him for that. Glancing from the phone to Tyler and Piper, I notice Tyler smile as wide as I’ve ever seen it, but it fades quickly as he looks me over.
“You okay, Cherry?”
I sigh loudly and toss the phone on the couch cushion.
“Still hasn’t called?” Tyler purses his lips, and I shake my head.
“Screw him. If he can’t accept you and,” he looks at Piper, who is still playing the guitar, “then he doesn’t deserve you or her.” I bite at my bottom lip, because the thought of Lip not wanting to be in our lives after bringing us together is almost too much.
“He’s just going through a lot with Tom’s death and all,” I defend, and Tyler huffs in irritation. I roll my eyes. Tyler wouldn’t understand; he’s never been with a chick after a week let alone falling in love with another person.
“I mean, at what point do you say, ‘hey, enough is enough’, Lindsay? A couple can only handle so much bullshit.” Tyler shrugs, and I wince at my civilian name. I’ve grown to hate it compared to Cherry.
Cocking my head to the side, I narrow my eyes at Tyler’s flippant tone. I don’t agree with him, because I don’t think a couple that cares about one another should ever just walk away when things get tough.
“Never,” I respond. Tyler narrows his eyes in confusion.
“I think when two people love each other, you never get to that point. You never give up, and you never reach the point of enough,” I clarify. Tyler’s face looks like he was just slapped with reality, and it makes me smirk. One day, a girl is going to turn his world upside-down, and I hope to God I’m there for it.
“Hey, kiddo, let’s go raid the cookie jar,” Tyler suggests. Piper’s eyes go wide, and she hands Tyler the guitar. Watching them enter the kitchen, I pick my phone back up, my fingers aching to type his number into a message. My phone dings and my heart jumps with it. Opening my messages, I find a text from Dani.
DANI: Family get-together next week at the beach. You better be there with Piper.
I’m not sure if I should go; it feels weird not knowing where Lip and I are. My phone dings again.
DANI: You’re family. Be there or I’ll just come and get you.
I laugh. I love that woman. Piper told me how nice Dani was to her when they met, that doesn’t surprise me though. Dani is an amazing person, and family means everything to her. To know that I am her family no matter what, it’s refreshing. I sigh and tell her we’ll be there.