The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(56)

Six years of lies. Six years of deceit. Six years of false emotion and underlying secrets. I don’t see us ever coming back from this.

***

“Cherry?” I slowly open my eyes, seeing nothing but the gray sheets. I eventually gave in to my feelings and covered my head with the sheets, crying it all out on the shitty floor. I must have fallen asleep.

“Cherry, babe?” It’s Dani.

“What?” I croak, my throat feeling like raw hamburger. My eyes burn and feel swollen from crying so hard, and my throat is scratchy from screaming and yelling. I feel worn out… used.

The sheets tug upward and the lights from above beam with such a force I wince and turn my head away.

“Damn, girlie,” Dani whispers, her face conveying sympathy. I hold my hand up, stopping her.

“Don’t. I don’t need that shit. Just go,” I demand, pointing at the door, not looking at her. I am not the weak one. I don’t cry and I don’t have relationship problems. Yet here I am with all of the above. I don’t need someone to judge me, or to feel sorry for me. I just want to be left the hell alone.

“Don’t give me that shit. Sit up. I got a cold soda and some music.” Dani grabs my arm and pulls me upward.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass?” I mutter, sitting upright. I push my back against the dresser and squint at her. She’s beautiful—long dark hair, green eyes, and a red slinky top with black shorts. You’d never guess she had two kids with the figure on her.

“Yeah, Shadow tells me all the time.” She laughs and I close my eyes. I seriously don’t want to think about men right now. “Shadow told me what happened. I’m sorry, Cherry. I’d kick Lip’s ass if it’d make you feel any better, but I know it won’t.” She slides down, sitting directly in front of me. She leans her back against the bed and tosses a soda can between her legs toward me.

“The joke’s on me ‘cause I really love Lip. Dark, light, all of his shades,” I scoff and grab the soda. Anger is slowly replacing my sorrow, but not fast enough.

“I hear you weren’t very honest with him, either.”

My eyes snap to hers and she raises a brow, waiting for an explanation. Instead, I pop the top to the soda can and let the fizzy cool contents slip down my sore throat.

“Seriously, Cherry, how could you not tell me you had a kid?” she continues. I set the soda down and pin her with a serious glare.

“I wasn’t really in the position to tell anyone, Dani. I wasn’t a mother. I had my rights taken from me. I saw Piper in the mornings when I could, and I had to be very careful about it. I had very dangerous men after me. I couldn’t risk it.” Lowering my gaze, I finger the soda top.

“Piper, that’s a cute name.”

I smile, and then tears prick my burning eyes. “Oh, Cherry,” Dani’s voice is laced with sympathy. She slides across the floor and embraces me in a warm hug. “It’s all right,” she whispers into my hair. I slowly push her off me and wipe under my eyes. I have to keep my chin up, got to stop this pity me bullshit.

“I’m fine. Really, I’ll be okay,” I reassure her. I think a piece of me knew there was more to Lip, a darker, more devious side. An inner beast that was lurking within the depths of his eyes, or the growl in his tone when he was angered. It was always there. I just refused to acknowledge it. I was too set on finding someone that was kind and gentle, making me feel like a f*cking princess after Eric killed me emotionally. Now it’s time to suck it up, and face the beast that I’m in love with.

“You know I have your back, right?” My teary eyes find hers and my bottom lip shakes with the urge to just bawl.

“How? I’m not an ol’ lady. I’m not a part of this club. Lip didn’t want me here, Dani!” My voice begins to rise and Dani just shakes her head, a small laugh lifting from within her chest.

“It doesn’t really matter what Lip wanted. My dad gave you that property patch, right?” I nod, not sure what she’s getting at.

“My dad patched you in. He wanted you as family, and he made you one of us. You can tear off ‘Lip’s Property’, but that Devil’s Dust rocker? That’s no lie. You’re my sister through and through.” She gives a tight-lipped smile. My heart pains, not with one of heartache, but one with love and adoration toward Dani. She’s strong, she’s beautiful, and she’s the best damn sister I could ever ask for.

She stands and when I look up, I see a black iPod in my line of sight.

“What’s this?” I ask, taking it from her.

“It’s mine. I listen to it a lot when I’m in a mood or need my emotions sorted out. Or when I don’t know how to feel—the music does it for me.”

I nod. “Thank you, Dani.” I whisper.

“I gotta get back in there. Zane is probably raising hell with Bobby right now. Keep your chin up, Cherry.”

I stand on tired legs and grab the sheets.

“Oh, and Cherry?” I turn, finding Dani halfway out the bedroom door.

“Yeah?”

“If you really love Lip, make him hurt. Show him what he’s giving up.” She smirks and shuts the door. I furrow my brows, not sure if I want Lip or not. A piece inside of me still does, but my mind is confused on whether it would be smart to forgive him.