The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(54)

I stand and grab her by the shirt, pulling her chest flush with mine. “You’re right. You are different. You found who you are and fell into place,” I seethe, my patience wearing thin. She acts like she’s some f*cking angel and I ruined her life. “I was a goddamn prospect; I was following orders, Cherry. You don’t think I wanted to tell you?” I jerk her toward me, and she whimpers. “It was just as hard for me as it was for you. Now. Calm. The. Fuck. Down.”

“No! You don’t get to tell me to calm down. In fact, you don’t get to tell me anything anymore. We are done.” She shoves me away from her, her eyes holding the look of hatred. “You’re a f*cking liar,” she hisses.

“You’re such a f*cking hypocrite. Your lie isn’t any less than mine. We both lied, both went into this withholding truths from one another.”

“You couldn’t even look me in the eye since you’ve been out of prison, Lip. So I guess you can count your blessings that we’re done.”

I grab her by the face and pull her toward me, my patience with her gone.

“Did it ever occur to you that I couldn’t look you in the face because I was living a f*cking lie that burned me every time I laid eyes on you? I was falling for you, Cherry, but I didn’t know if that was because I was told to or because I really was. You don’t even know me; who I am deep down may not be the man you want to love.”

She tears her face from my hold, and her eyes furrow. “I guess we’ll never know. Huh? ‘Cause the man I’m in love with isn’t real.” She seethes the last part and shoves against my chest hard.

I take a step back and rub at my chin. The idea she has a little girl, a little girl she’s been seeing for years and has never told me about, pisses me off more than anything. She’s a mother, a role I never thought Cherry would take.

“Yeah, I can say the same about you,” I mutter, placing both my hands on the back of my neck. She throws her hair over her shoulder and wipes the tears from her cheeks.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m done. We’re done. I’m getting the f*ck out of here and away from-”

“Not so fast, darlin’,” Bull states, stepping back into the room, Shadow following closely behind. Shadow gives a sympathetic look; he clearly knows I’m not in the best of situations right now.

“Excuse me?” Cherry huffs.

“It’s too dangerous out there, and besides, seeing how I didn’t keep my word to the judge, he may come after my club. I don’t need him picking you up and trying to use you as leverage or some shit. That wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.” Bull sits in his chair and kicks his boots up, not seeming nearly as agitated as I am.

“So, what’s that supposed to mean?” Cherry questions.

“Lockdown,” Shadow replies.

Cherry scoffs and rolls her eyes. From what I heard when I was in prison, when the club went on lockdown, Cherry would go MIA. She’s not one to follow orders. It’s one of the many reasons why I’m attracted to her.

“You better keep your pretty little ass right here in this club, damn it!” Bull orders. He lowers his head, his dark hair shining against the lights. “If I have to lock you in a room to keep your stubborn ass safe, I will,” he threatens.

“FINE!” Cherry shouts, her hands outstretched on either side.

“I’ll send Lip to get you some things. The club will be tight with everyone here, so you’ll be sharing a room with him.” Shadow smirks, knowing the position he’s putting me in. Fucker.

“Oh that’ll be-” Cherry nods sarcastically and bites her lip. “That’s just perfect,” she continues.

“Shadow, tomorrow find this ex-boyfriend; I want his every move. Report back as soon as you can and then we’ll make our move. We will get this figured out, Cherry.” She purses her lips and nods. “You can go now,” Bull directs.

Cherry shoves past me and leaves the room in a fit of anger. I sigh heavily and fall into the chair. My chest f*cking hurts with an ache I’ve never experienced before.

“You all right, son?” Bull questions, and I nod.

“You love her?” Shadow questions. I shove my hands into my pockets, thinking about that question, not sure how to answer it, when my hands hit my gremlin bell. I pull it out, and look it over. The chrome of it is tarnished, but it still dings all the time. It f*cking annoys me.

“You got thirty minutes, inmate,” the prison guard yelled before slamming the door. Cherry was wearing a white dress that went to her thighs, with white high heels. My dick instantly went rock-hard. I f*cking wanted her, and badly. It’d been too long since my dick felt the wetness her * had to offer. I stepped up to her and grabbed her under the thighs, lifting her in the air. The smell of cherries and flowers wafted around me. I inhaled deeply. The smell was a scent of freedom, a scent that reminded me of my lies and sins to a woman who wanted nothing but my cold f*cking heart. Why is she sticking around? Why does she care so much about me? I grit my teeth. Because I made her believe I was something I’m not. I close my eyes, and set her back down on her feet. Pulling my fingers away and distancing myself from her is almost as painful as looking her in the eye every day. She laughed, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“I got you something,” she whispered. My brows pulled together.