The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(47)

“Yeah, I’m o-okay,” she stammers, still scared.

I set her on her feet and look up at the broken bar. I’ve tried to coax one of the MC brothers over here to fix it, but they know this side of town is dangerous, and I shouldn’t be over here anyway. Lip would freak if he knew I was here. This is a really bad part of town. Half this trailer park is ex-convicts and drug dealers. They won’t bother Piper, though, because she’s one of their own. It’s outsiders who bring the problems to the trailer park.

“Stay off this piece of shit,” I demand, grabbing the bar and wiggling it.

“But it’s the only outside toy I have,” Piper whines before crossing her arms.

I look down at her and sigh.

“Just stay near the bottom of it until I can get it fixed. I’ll bring some more tape with me next time I come by.”

“Okay, I can do that.” She smiles, climbing on the bottom bars. “You know, my daddy doesn’t care if I climb on it, and he knows it’s broken,” she continues.

I furrow my brows. “Your daddy is a dumbass, Piper.” I close my eyes and chastise myself, trying to backtrack. “Just, maybe your daddy isn’t thinking when he says it’s okay.”

Piper’s eyes are wide, and she’s covering her mouth.

“What?”

“You said a bad word,” Piper whispers.

“I did?” I tilt my head to the side, trying to think.

Piper shakes her head, smiling.

“What was it?” I can’t remember cussing at all.

“You said,” Piper looks around and cups her mouth with her hands, “dumbass.” I throw my head back and laugh.

“Oh, yeah, I did say that,” I remember. I forget that ass is a bad word since I use so many other ugly ones.

“Mommies are allowed to say bad words,” I point at her, “but not you.”

“You have kids?”

“Do what?” I question, still giggling about her cussing.

“You said mommies are allowed to say bad words,” she explains. My body tenses and my mouth parts.

“Shit,” I whisper.

“You said another bad word.” Piper laughs and points at me, nearly jumping with excitement where she stands. My state of alarm dissipates.

“You must be a bad influence.” I smile. A raindrop splashes my arm. I glance up and notice a big, dark cloud starting to mask the hot sun. Fuck, Eric will be pulled off the construction site if he hasn’t been already.

“I gotta go, baby,” I mutter. Her face saddens, and she glances back at the jungle gym.

“Remember to stay near the bottom,” I remind her. She nods and starts climbing it. I step behind her and pull the back of her head toward me, kissing it.

“I’ll see you around.”

“Will you come by tomorrow?” she asks.

Tomorrow is Sunday, and Eric usually works till noon on Sundays.

“I’ll try, but no promises.”


LIP

Kane strides out of one of the rooms with a blonde chick wrapped around his side. He’s Native American and is always with a different girl every night. He’s a prospect, but not for long. Last week, twins got in a cat fight over him. It was pretty awesome to watch.

“Fuck, man, what happened?” he questions, looking at the blood around the chair.

“You didn’t hear?” The blonde looks up and questions Kane. “Dolly said some Ghost Rider member was duct-taped to the chair and had teeth hammered into his skull.”

I pull my brows together and pin Kane with a glare. Dolly must have been the bitch who screamed this morning.

“Um, I’m sure Dolly is just making shit up. Why don’t you head on home,” Kane suggests. The blonde trails her eyes to me before turning and lifting up on her tiptoes.

“Will you call me later?” she tries to whisper. Kane tilts his head, twisting his lips with an unsure gesture.

“Probably not, babe. I told you before I brought you to my room not to expect anything more than a f*ck,” Kane explains. I smirk and turn around to give them privacy. The blonde stomps past me in a fit of anger.

“Fuck, that ass was tight,” Kane whispers, adjusting himself as he watches the girl leave the club.

“Why you telling her to f*ck off then?” I ask. Kane smiles a big-ass, toothy grin.

“Her ass is fine but not the rest of her, brother. Little coyote ugly right there.” He points at her, his fingers covered in skull rings.

“She didn’t look too bad to me.” I laugh, crossing my arms. She was actually pretty skanky-looking. Her makeup was caked on, and her clothes were two sizes too small. I have yet to find a woman in zebra print sexy, either.

“Yeah, well she looked a hell of a lot better when I was shit-faced.” He gives me a pat on the back and looks back at the chair. “I’ll get this cleaned up before anyone starts asking questions.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Kane and Tom Cat get the chair and blood all cleaned up, teeth included.

“You know you’re one f*cked-up individual, right?” Tom Cat states, coming back into the club. I lean against the bar and shrug.

“Teeth, brother?” Kane chuckles, standing next to Tom.

“He f*cking bit my property till she bled. He had more than enough warning, let alone not abiding by the rules of my club,” I explain, my tone stern.