A whimper escapes her lips. She lifts her hand, resting her fingers against her mouth, as if trying to keep from showing me she’s so affected.
“That explains everything. The way you were before, and the way you are now. Your lies were catching up to you. Your mask of lies were SLIPPING!” She swipes a glass off the table, causing it to smash against the wall. “Six years. It was all a lie… for six fucking years. That day Bull showed up with my patch, that was him, wasn’t it?” she mumbles. I look down and nod.
“You fucking prick!” She shoves me hard, and anger flares in my chest. “You were the Devil in a mask of a saint.” I furrow my brows. Is she throwing Bible verses at me?
“You weren’t exactly truthful with me either, Cherry,” I sneer, sitting back in my seat and resting my hands behind my neck. Her head whips in my direction, her cheeks flushing with anger.
“I wasn’t exactly in the position to tell you I had a little girl,” she snaps.
I scoff. “Right. Six years wasn’t enough time, huh?”
“Fuck you!” She stands from her chair, tears streaming down her face. “I gave more than my heart to you, Lip. I gave my fucking soul.” She clutches her chest, and my worthless heart feels as if she just grabbed mine and squeezed. “I may not have been on the right path when we met, but at least I had my soul. I loved you and I loved this club; I thought you all were my family. I’ll do anything for family. When an ol’ lady wanted vengeance, I was there drawing blood by her side. This club and you blackened my spirit and for what?” She throws her hands out, hostile. “For it all to be for nothing!” she screams, her face turning near purple. “I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”
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 fucking 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 fucking liar,” she hisses.
“You’re such a fucking 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 fucking 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 fuck 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.