The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(10)

I didn’t know what to think when I pulled over on that freeway the other day, but I sure as hell wasn’t guessing it’d be a girl like Cherry. She’s a spitfire, though. Most chicks go weak in the knees when they’re around me, or are so scared they walk on the other side of the street to avoid me. Being a part of the Devil’s Dust definitely has its perks—lots of *, and respect from those that fear us. But Cherry? Let’s just say she wasn’t something I was expecting.

“You want a drink?” I whisper into her ear. She nods, but doesn’t stop watching the crowd. It’s nuts in here tonight. Girls are fast, drugs are flowing, and the booze is top-notch. Heading toward the cooler, a small busty brunette steps in front of me.

“Hey, Lip, you look good tonight,” she flirts. Recognizing her voice, I realize it’s Chasity. She is a common ho around here, but she has the pinkest, wettest * I’ve ever had. She ain’t tight by no means, and she’s f*cking annoying as hell with the way she clings, but she gets the job done. She has on a white tube top, her nipples clear as day through them, and a skull belly button ring shining against her tanned skin.

“You wanna go somewhere quiet?” she purrs, caressing her hand up my stomach.

I look over my shoulder at Cherry and groan. Fuck.

I grab Chasity’s wrist, shaking my head. “Not tonight, babe.” Her face instantly drops into a pout. She pops her hip out, her mouth falling open.

“‘Cause of her?” she sneers, looking around me at Cherry. I follow her line of sight, and find Cherry smiling at a couple of guys trying to dance with some girls, who have clearly had too much to drink cause they are falling everywhere. Watching Cherry giggle, seeing her without her knowing I’m seeing her, she looks f*cking adorable. Cute and adorable isn’t something you see around here much. I trail my gaze back to a fuming Chasity.

“Yeah, ‘cause of her,” I state up front.

“That is so f*cked up. You always want me.” She shakes her head, her lips pursed. Her self-assuredness pisses me off.

“Nah, that’s where you’re wrong. You’re just the closest * around when I need to get my rocks off. You’re always open, if you get what I’m saying.” Her mouth falls open with shock, and her nostrils flare. “If you think we have anything more than me f*cking you, then you have less brains than I thought,” I insult, pushing past her.

“You are a f*cking prick!” she yells in anger as I head toward Bobby, who’s sitting on the cooler.

I tap his shoulder, urging him up.

“Hey, man,” Bobby greets. “Who’s the hot chick you’re with? I haven’t seen her around here before. She like to double team?” Bobby laughs, referring to Cherry as a club whore. My lips form a tight line as my hands fist at my side. A strike of jealousy paining my chest, I rub at it with my fist, the feeling unfamiliar and unwelcomed.

“Back off,” I respond, my tone dry. Bobby’s face falls before turning into a big-ass smile.

“All right, I get it she’s yours.” He laughs. I stare off, not liking the fact that I’m more than intrigued by Cherry. “Where did you find her?” he continues. I glance over to where Cherry is standing and find Bull behind the bar, smoking and talking to Cherry. Bull grins and glances at me. I swallow hard and look back at the cooler.

“Her car was broken down. I stopped to help her and the little shit stole my wallet.” I laugh at the last part, remembering her ass taking it.

“No shit?” Bobby laughs. I nod and grab two beers from the melting ice. “I like her already.”

“Yeah, she’s hard not to like,” I mumble, mostly to myself. I choke the neck of the beer bottle, thinking about how much I really do like Cherry. I don’t want to like her, though, because I don’t want to feel jealous when another guy looks at her; I hardly know her. A piece of me hopes she has flaws as big as some of these other girls who throw themselves at me. It would help get myself in check, and my dick. I’m not the relationship type; it’s in my blood to be terrible at caring for another person. As my father used to say, “Phillip DeLuca, you are a prodigy of my blood. A powerful DeLuca doesn’t have a woman by his side. He has many.”

“Well, you enjoy that. I’m going to go find some ass to tap.” Bobby chuckles. I nod at him and head back over to Cherry. Getting closer, I see a guy who hangs around the club occasionally leaning against the bar, talking to her. My jaw clenches.

He reaches forward and grabs her waist, and Cherry’s body tenses with fear. Her eyes are wide, her face stoic. I double my step and toss the beers on the bar. Grabbing the guy by the wrist, I snatch if off her.

“She’s not available,” I snap, my brows drawn together, the wrath of hate bursting through my limbs to unleash on this f*cker. Cherry’s head lifts, staring at me in disbelief.

“Dude, I saw her over here by herself, and she ain’t got a property patch on. She looked like free *.” He gives Cherry a salacious grin and she scoots closer to me, her hands fisting my shirt in unease. I step forward, my left hand pushing Cherry behind me. Guys around here can get territorial over unclaimed women. “I saw her first, cock-block!” the guy hollers.

I grit my teeth and lower my head. I’m about to put this punk in his place but Bull suddenly steps between us, blocking me.