The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(55)

“You got me something?” I questioned. Her face lit up with a flush of pink as she pulled her fist out and opened it. It looked like some sorta bell in the shape of a skull.

“It’s a gremlin bell,” she informed.

I grabbed it, and it chimed.

“How did you get this in here?” I asked, looking it over.

“I have my ways.” She smiled, shrugged then smiled harder. “I used my puppy eyes and insured them you couldn’t kill anyone with it.” She laughed. “I saw it at the biker shop. It said it helps keeps evil spirits or gremlins from messing with your bike, and makes your travels safer.”

I trailed my eyes from the bell to her. Those gray eyes cutting me, slicing through my walls of shame and guilt. No matter how much of a piece of shit I feel, I just can’t seem to spit the words out that she’s a job.

“Nobody has ever given me anything before,” I muttered. Her face went still, and her lips parted.

“I love you, Lip,” she whispers. My balls sunk into the pit of my stomach and my chest constricted with an unfamiliar emotion. I grabbed her by the back of the head and pulled her into me, the smell of her flower shampoo strong. I closed my eyes and inhaled it, and kissed her forehead. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell her, because that will be the day she stops looking at me like I’m her world, her f*cking man.

“LIP!” I tear my eyes from the bell to see Bull and Shadow both eyeballing me.

“What?” I mutter.

“Do you love her?” Shadow repeats. The question strikes my chest like lightning.

“I don’t know. Before, I would say no, but now I’m not sure.” I look back at the bell and rub the pad of my finger over it. “She’s grown on me,” I mumble.

“Lip, I think it’s in everyone’s best interest if you just back off. Leave her be. Just let her go, man,” Shadow suggests. My chest lifts with every fury-infused breath I take. My brows pull together and my jaw clenches.

“Let her be?” I question. Shadow gives me an off look before glancing at Bull, unsure. “You gave her to me, you put her in my f*cking hands, and you f*cking patched her in as MY property. That means she’s f*cking mine.” I slam my fist on the table. “Mine! I will choose what I do with her. You won’t tell me to stay away from her.” I stand from the table, and knock my knuckles on the wood. “She’s my goddamn property,” I reaffirm, my voice deep and rough.

“It wasn’t my intention for you to go and fall in love with her, Lip,” Bull rasps, swiping his hands through his hair. My brows furrow, then widen. Realization that I may in fact love Cherry sends pain through my chest. Scowling, I point at Bull and Shadow. “Just…” I shake my head, thoughts of love and hate swirling through my f*cking head. “Just stay out of it,” I mutter before leaving.





CHAPTER NINE


CHERRY


I slam the door to what was once mine and Lip’s room. The impact from the door closing rattles the bottles of beer and perfume on the dresser. I sink down to the floor, my hands tangling in my hair in my moment of distress.

“How can this be? How could this have happened?” I cry. This nightmare of horror is enveloping me. The scythe the Devil himself used to tear my heart from my chest made it so painful the depths of my wellbeing may never be the same again. My bottom lip trembles with the thought of being deceived for so many years. I fell in love with Lip, shared things with him I never have with anyone else. I close my eyes and tears slip down my cheeks.

I knew Lip was hiding something. I f*cking knew it. I just didn’t suspect it ‘til recently, when his mask of Prince Charming started slipping. Funny thing is I preferred the f*cked-up, kinky Lip over that bullshit fake Lip he was before. I guess because I always knew deep down he was more than he let on, that he was capable of causing mayhem.

I form fists in my anger. I was so stupid to think some guy off the side of the road would just fall in love with me and invite me into his family as easy as Lip did. I was naive enough to lift my walls, to trust again. I let my wings out and flew with the wind, only that wind turned into a hostile storm and I got swept up in its gust before I knew what was happening.

“Fucking *!” I scream. I keep screaming, so loud my throat burns, but I don’t stop. I continue to shout, demanding this hurt buried deep inside to leave at once.

I stand on wobbly legs, my voice nearly gone and my throat feeling like I swallowed razor blades. I swipe my arms along the dresser in a fit of rage. One by one, the empty bottles, clothes, and cosmetics go flying across the room.

“Lying son of a bitch!” I shout with my now-raspy voice, gripping the half-naked chick poster hanging on the wall and ripping it down. I grab every picture of slutty twat waffles hanging on the walls and tear them down the middle.

“I hate you! I hate you!” I cry, pulling the blankets and sheets off the bed. The bed that Lip and I f*cked in—or what I thought was making love—many times before.

The sheets tangle around my arms, halting me from tearing the mattress onto the floor. How fitting—soft sheets that portray comfort and solace trapping me in a strong hold. I turn and twist, trying to break free, but I fall to the floor in a heap of fabric.

My fury and anger smothered with blankets cocooning me, my emotions spring through me with such a force nothing escapes but a stream of tears and gasping.