“I hope you like dying for him, ‘cause when I get a hold of you, I’m going to stuff your mouth with those fake-ass hair extensions,” I threaten. Her eyes furrow in with anger.
“Get!” Zeek snaps at Dolly as he walks up beside her. She turns, glaring at Zeek, and he grabs her face hard.
“Don’t mouth me; do what you’re told,” he scolds. She pulls her face from his grip and stomps off.
“You thirsty?” Zeek asks me.
“No,” I reply seriously.
He squats in front of me.
“Aw, don’t be like that. This,” he waves his finger between us, “it’s just business, nothing personal.”
My lip curls. “Gee, that makes everything better,” I respond, sarcasm lacing in my tone. He nods, a half-laugh escaping.
“I don’t get why we have to go through all this trouble, Pres,” a man with a big gut states, his hair curly and long.
“I told you, Uncle wants Lip in the family business, one way or another. This is the only way,” Zeek announces, looking at his shoes.
“Fucking family, they’re nothing but problems.” The guy shakes his head, walking away.
A phone suddenly rings, and Zeek jolts upward.
“You better hope that’s your Prince Charming. I’m getting tired of waiting,” he tells me.
Someone hands him a phone, and his eyes lift.
“Phillip, so nice of you to call,” he greets casually. I can literally hear Lip hollering into the phone.
“Brother, brother. She’s good, no harm. But that will change real quick-like if you and your club don’t want to be friends.” Zeek chuckles, the sound menacing. His face suddenly falls, and he rubs at his chin.
“Yeah, we’ll see you soon.” He hangs the phone up, and I swallow hard. Hope surfaces in my chest that I won’t die today, that Lip loves me enough to save me, and I’ll see Piper again.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIP
“We’re meeting at the docks. Let’s go,” I inform the boys.
“Let’s take care of business,” Bobby states.
Dani steps forward, taking Piper into her arms. Piper’s eyes shoot to mine in fear. Climbing off my bike, I hunch down so I’m the same height as her and she walks into my arms.
“Don’t worry; I’ll be back and with Cherry. Dani is a real good friend of mine, she’s really nice,” I comfort. Dani squats next to me, holding a picture of Cherry. Piper holds her hand out, taking the picture.
“You like toys?” Dani asks, smiling. Piper nods.
“I have a bunch with me if you wanna come check them out ‘til Cherry gets back.” Piper looks at me, silently asking me if it’s safe, if she should go. My heart grows for Piper, the fact she is seeking me out for security is something I can’t help but love.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I whisper. Piper takes Dani’s hand, her eyes not as wide as before but still unsure. I hesitate, not wanting to leave her.
“It’s fine; I got Piper. Go do what you have to do, Lip,” Dani states.
I nod and climb on my bike. Starting it, the rest of the guys jump on theirs and we head out.
***
Nearing the docks, I don’t stop, or slow down for that matter. All I see is red, an ocean of red with a tide of betrayal. My brother is a traitor, and he’ll pay for it. My father would roll over in his grave if he knew his two sons were head-to-head.
We drive into the docks, the smell of salt strong and the winds heftier as we pull up to an old building, rusted and decaying, a street lamp lighting a small circle. Within the circle are a bunch of motorcycles and men standing around. I wave my hand, encouraging the guys to follow me in.
I search the group for Cherry but don’t see her. My jaw clenches. I swear to God, if he hurt her bullets will fly.
Parking a few feet away, the Sin City Outlaws turn, facing us.
“Brother, so nice of you to join us,” Zeek announces, his hands tucked into his torn jeans.
“Cut the shit, where is she?” I snarl.
“Cherry, you mean? She sure is a piece of fineness. I can see why you’re so protective of her.”
I reach around my back and pull my pistol out. “You got about two minutes to show me my girl, before your brains are sprayed everywhere,” I threaten.
“First business, then the girl,” he quips, his tone missing its humor.
“I told you before, no deal.” I sniff and look up at him.
“Then no girl.” He shrugs, grinning.
I point my gun, and he quickly pulls his own from his waistband.
Zeek and I, gun to gun. I used to play hide-and-seek with him, play video games with him as a child, and now I’m going to kill him.
“The way I see it, neither of us is going anywhere then,” I sneer.
“What are your terms?” Bull asks, stepping up beside me.
I turn my head, giving Bull a sideways glance, my arm still outstretched.
“No, we ain’t doing business with him,” I add. Bull widens his stance and thumbs his belt loops.
“State your conditions, son,” Bull states, ignoring me.
“I supply, and you make sixty-percent profit,” Zeek replies, his eyes never leaving mine.
“What are we talking about here? Drugs, Guns, Women?” Bull questions.
“Drugs. Pick your poison; I move it all.” Zeek smiles proudly.