The Lies Between Us (The Devil's Dust #4)(74)

“You’re going to be fine, baby; the medics are here.”

“I’m really cold,” she mutters, her eyes looking distant. Glancing down at Cherry’s gunshot, I see blood pouring through her fingers, and I panic.

“OVER HERE!” I scream at the medics.

Two people dressed in blue jumpsuits sprint toward us and place Cherry on a stretcher. As they strap her in, medics begin to scream and holler and I turn into a f*cking wreck.

“We’ve lost a lot of blood on this one!” someone shouts. Tears prick my eyes, and I tug on my hair.

“Do something! Fucking do your job!” I scream.

“I got a heartbeat!” a medic with long hair hollers, and I can’t help but smirk with relief.

“Sir, we can’t do our job if you’re yelling at us!” one of them yells at me. Ignoring them, I jog alongside them and grab Cherry’s cold hand.

Lowering my mouth to her ear, I whisper “I love you, Cherry.”

They push Cherry in the chopper beside Tom, and a man with chubby cheeks pulls a sheet over Tom’s face.

“Time of death, 11:23AM.”

My eyes widen and my mouth drops open, the need for vengeance taking root in my chest. Before I could yell at them to do their job better, the helicopter took off. My world spins, and my heart races. My woman is hurt, and I’ve lost a brother. 11:23AM—a time I’ll never forget, because at that time I realized I’m not invincible, that I can’t fix everything, and I can lose everything with the snap of a finger.


CHERRY

“Baby?”

Blinking, the word echoes in my head, and I wince.

I lift my hand and wipe at my eyes, and a warm palm cocoons mine.

“Cherry, baby, you had me so f*cking worried.” Looking over, I find Lip staring at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Lip?” I croak, my heart beating faster knowing he’s close.

Using my hands, I push on the bed to sit up, but my side buckles under the pain.

“Don’t, you were shot.” Lip frowns. That’s right. Zeek tried to shoot me but Lip jumped in front of him and took the bullet—well, most of it. It went through his shoulder and hit me. I look down and pull my shirt up, finding a huge patch.

“You lost a lot of blood, but they got to you just in time,” Lip states. “They had to remove the bullet in surgery, but everything went smoothly.”

He pauses, like he’s searching for words. Finally, he looks up at me again, sadness taking over his features.

“Cherry, I have something to tell you.” Lip sits on the bed, grabbing my hand. Hairs on my neck rise, and my eyes widen.

“What?” I whisper.

“Tom Cat, he—” Lip looks up, tugging his lip between his teeth.

“What about him?” Tears begin to leak from my eyes.

“He didn’t make it, baby,” Lip mutters, tears falling down his cheeks.

I close my eyes and cry, a terrible sob escaping my lips. To lose one of our own, it’s a pain that roots deep within the chest. It never goes away.

“Come here.” Lip pulls me into his arms, and I hug him right back. I cry hard and loudly. Tom was one of us, and we lost him. I loved Tom; he was so friendly—horny, but friendly.

“The funeral is tomorrow,” Lip states.

“I’m going,” I add. I will see him one last time and pay my respects, regardless of what kind of shape I’m in.

“You can’t, baby. You need to stay in here and –”

“Fuck that, Lip, I’m going!” I shout, wincing from the pain in my side. Tom gave his life for us, and it’s the least I can do.

Lip smirks and runs his fingers over my lips.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Lip mutters. “Cops came in a little earlier for your statement, but Doc pretty much told them to f*ck off. I told them what the rest of the guys did, that we were ambushed by some guys but couldn’t make ‘em out. We’re The Devil’s Dust. We have enemies everywhere.” He winks. “So if they come back, you need to stick with that story,” Lip states. I furrow my brows and nod. “The cops ain’t going to be handling this; you know as well as I the justice system is f*cked. The Devil’s Dust will be taking care of this, babe.” Lip brushes my hair from my face and kisses my forehead. I don’t argue, because he’s right. I don’t trust cops to take care of this, not after my last run-in with the justice system.

“But they believed you?” I ask.

“They pretty much know we’re lying, but they have no proof.” Lip shrugs.

“Can I come in yet?” someone hollers from the doorway. My eyes widen with excitement; I know that voice from anywhere.

Lip laughs. “Yeah, come in.”

Piper rushes in wearing a pink little dress, and hair shiny and combed. She looks so youthful and happy.

“Piper!” I cheer with excitement. To see her, it makes me want to move mountains, regardless of the pain I’m in.

“Cherry!” Piper chimes. She crawls onto the bed, and I cry harder as I pull her into a big hug.

“Easy now.” Lip laughs.

I hug her tighter, her little heartbeat pounding against my chest. I take in the smell of her, the feel of her skin against mine, and I swear to God I’ll never let her go again.