Getting closer to the main area where everyone seems to congregate, I hear yelling and shouting. I follow the noise to outside of the club. The Ghost Riders are here, and are head-to-head with the Devil’s Dust. I cup my mouth, my heart slamming against my chest in fear.
“All I’m saying is he never showed up back at the club, and he was last seen here,” the president, Stunt, points at Bull. Stunt turns his head and lowers it in a menacing way, pinning Lip with a look of death. “And your man here had beef with him for laying hands on his cunt.” I scowl at his insult.
Lip pushes Bobby out of the way and puffs his chest out in that way he does when he’s angry. Stunt’s shoulders rise; they’re nose-to-nose, and my palms are sweating with fear.
“You better watch who the fuck you’re talking to,” Lip threatens. Stunt swiftly darts his hand behind his back and pulls out a black gun. Gasping, I step forward, but Dani quickly grabs me by the shoulder to stop me from going any further.
“I know exactly who the fuck I’m talking to,” Stunt growls, holding the barrel of the gun to Lip’s head.
“Do it. Fucking do it, you pussy,” Lip taunts. A whimper travels up my throat in pure fear. Lip is insane; I’ve never seen him look death in the eye with guns blazing and not give a fuck. He’s always been so careful, and not one to take on a confrontation. But that was before he went away, before the truth that he was just acting like Prince Charming. This is the real Lip. This is who he is. Reckless, no regard to reason. Yet here I am on my tiptoes, ready to run to his defense. I still love him, whether I want to or not.
“Lip!” I cry, trying to get his attention. He slowly turns his head and his hard face softens when he sees me. He looks down, like he’s pained that I’m seeing him like this.
“Look, your man was warned about messing with my property. He hurt her, and I retaliated. I did what I had to, to protect her,” Lip confesses, his attitude of ‘I don’t give a fuck’ gone. My eyes dart toward Stunt, curious if he’ll shoot Lip.
“Come on, Stunt. If anything, this ass-wipe did us a favor,” one of the Ghost Rider members adds.
“Doesn’t matter. He was a brother, have some loyalty,” Stunt snaps.
The guy steps up; he’s shorter and has a big beer gut. “He nearly got me killed after he fucked an ol’ lady from another club, who just happened to be property of a fucking president. He was reckless, he had no loyalty and you know it.” The guy looks at Lip. “Let the boy go and let’s go home.”
Stunt gives Lip a sideways glance as if he’s thinking about it. I survey the Devil’s Dust, noticing Bobby’s hand on his weapon sitting in the back of his jeans, and Bull’s handling his pistol in his holster. They’d go to war with another club to protect Lip. They’re a brotherhood; I envy that about this club. Loyalty is the common DNA that runs in their blood—they all have it.
My hand is grasped by a smaller palm. Looking to my side, Dani gives me a tight-lipped smile and squeezes my hand. She’d have my back no matter what—I know it, and I feel it. I’m family.
“Yeah. Fine, but we ain’t open for business anymore,” Stunt responds, replacing his weapon back in his waistband.
“I think that’s best,” Bull agrees. Everyone seems to relax as the Ghost Riders retreat back to their bikes. Now that the show is over, everyone starts going their separate ways, but I can’t seem to move. My eyes are glued to Lip. He told that guy to kill him, and in doing so, I realized I still care for Lip, that I want to try and work through our lies. But does he? Lip eventually strides toward me, his teeth biting on his lip ring.
He stops in front of me and crosses his arms, his stance cocky. I rear my hand back and slap him in the face hard. His head whips to the side, his arms uncrossing to grab at his face.
“Don’t ever do that again,” I sneer, tears filling my eyes. He removes his hand, revealing a bright red handprint. I huff and return to the room, angry that he makes me care, pissed that I love him, and furious that I ever climbed on the back of his bike.
***
Dinnertime rolls around, which consists of burgers and chips. I grab a tomato from the fridge and start slicing it up for the tray of sides.
“Cherry, I don’t like ‘matoes. They taste weird,” Zane says, lifting on his tiptoes to watch me slice it.
“You think so?” I laugh. He scrunches his nose and nods.
“Yeah, I’m not a big fan of them, either,” I agree.
“My mom says I should eat them ‘cause they’re good for me.” Zane sticks his tongue out, and I giggle.
“Well, mommies know best.” I smile. Zane acts like he’s going to gag and runs off. I shake my head at him and grab an onion to slice next. As soon as the knife cuts through it, I feel the room shift and my back tense. I glance up and find Lip grabbing a plate. Seconds go by, but they feel like minutes. I peer up from under my lashes and find Lip staring at me once more. My breath hitches, and a sharp piercing fills my finger.
“Ouch!” I gasp, shifting my eyes to my finger. Blood gushes out of my finger. Fuck, I’ve cut it.