by M. N. Forgy
“Looks like you’re bowing to me now, but I’m not just any man.” Zeek squats in my line of sight and smiles hard. “I’m the fucking king of Las Vegas, baby,” he states proudly. I turn my head, not wanting to give him eye contact.
“You’re going to be a dead king,” I mutter, staring off into the darkness. Hands grip my chin, pulling me to look into Zeek’s dark eyes.
“You sure do have a mouth on you, putana.” His teeth grit together. I jerk my head from his fingers, nearly falling over in the process.
“What now, boss?” one guy asks.
“We wait. Lip will call soon.”
The guys stand around smoking, some talking in English, others in another language. I hear a familiar giggle, and my eyes shoot toward the crowd. Two guys shift on their feet and my eyes land on Dolly. That fucking traitor. She smiles and looks my way. Her grin quickly fades, and she purses her lips as she walks toward me.
“Well, well,” she taunts, sashaying.
“You’re a dead bitch,” I snarl.
She flips her hair over her shoulder and laughs.
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, honey. I don’t think you realize who you’re messing with.”
“You’re a fucking traitor, club-hopping like the whore you are.” I smirk, but she just smiles wider.
“You don’t get it, do you. I’ve been with the Sin City Outlaws this whole time, relaying info about Lip back to Zeek.” She tilts her head to the side and gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’d do anything for Zeek,” she mutters.
“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.
“Don’t do it, man,” I warn Bull.
“Why? Why should we go into business with you?” Bull asks Zeek.
“You mean besides getting your bitch back?” Zeek laughs, and the rest of his men chuckle. “‘Cause I got the best shit on the West Coast, and,” he looks at me, “my uncle will not give up until he gets Phillip in our pockets one way or another. He’s blood. He’ll either accept that, or be buried for his betrayal of the DeLuca name,” Zeek threatens.
“Don’t be stupid, man,” Bobby whispers into my ear.
“No! Deal!” I holler. “Your idea of family is not ours. You keep your shitty drugs and the DeLuca’s toxic DNA on your side of the West Coast.” I curl my lip in anger.
Zeek snaps his fingers and the crowd breaks. I see red hair flinging back and forth as two men push and shove Cherry through the group of men.
“I killed our father, my own flesh and blood. The man who brought me into this world. Don’t think I won’t kill your bitch—or you, for that matter.” My eyes widen, and my hand grips my gun harder. I never knew he had anything
to do with Dad’s death. I’m shocked; I thought Zeek was dad’s favorite. Goes to show how loyal the DeLuca name really is, and that strengthens my belief to stay the fuck away from it.
Zeek snaps his fingers again and points to the ground in front of him. A guy kicks Cherry hard, making her fall to her knees and land right in front of Zeek. I step forward, wanting to save her, but the click of Zeek’s gun stops me.
“Not so fast, brother,” Zeek warns. Looking at Cherry, she has streaks of tears marking her dirty face. Her knees are bleeding, and the stitches on her face look to be torn and bleeding, as well. I lift my gaze from Cherry to Zeek. My chest constricts seeing her in such distress, and my hands fist at my side. An urge to hold her and tuck her hair behind her ear surges through me. I love Cherry, no doubt about it. I’ve never cared so much about another person in my whole life. Zeek is a dumb motherfucker for touching her.
“You’ll pay for this,” I growl.
“One last time: you in, or out?” Zeek questions.
“I will never go into business with you, Zeek. Get that through your head now. I won’t put my family in danger because of our uncle’s power trip,” I reaffirm. He takes his aim from me to Cherry, and I react. I jump forward, throwing Cherry out of the way just as a bullet leaves Zeek’s gun. Cherry screams as we fall to the ground hard, and my right shoulder burns with such intensity my eyes water.
“Bobby, get Cherry!” I scream, rolling over to aim my pistol at Zeek’s arm. His eyes widen, and I pull the trigger. His body jolts backward and he falls to the ground. His men scatter, and Cherry is yanked from under me.
“Just me,” Bobby mutters, dragging Cherry to safety.
Rising to my feet, I run behind a green trashcan. My shoulder screams with pain; looking at it, I find blood oozing from it, trickling down my back. I’ve been shot. Better me than Cherry, though.
I peek around the trash can and a bullet goes zipping past me.
“Shit,” I curse, jumping back behind the dumpster.
Aiming my weapon first, I look around the trash can again and spot Zeek beside the building, aiming his weapon at me. Seems that bullet in his shoulder didn’t slow him down. I fire, and a bullet zings as it ricochets off the building.
“You done yet?” I holler.
“Not even close!” Zeek shouts, firing his weapon. Looking over, I find Bull firing his gun at men above me and Bobby holding Cherry behind the bikes.
Enough of this back-and-forth bullshit. I take a deep breath, glance at Cherry one last time and step out from behind the can. I spot Zeek instantly and fire my gun. I fire and fire until I run out of bullets, spraying and praying one hits Zeek’s worthless ass.
He shouts with distress and falls back. I smirk, knowing at least one hit him. His men catch him, and silence fills the air. A loud girlie scream sounds near Zeek, and fear hits my chest that they have Cherry. Checking my guys, I see Cherry is still with them, so I look back at Zeek and that’s when I see Dolly crying over him. That fucking betraying bitch.
Knowing his men will retaliate, and I’m out of bullets, I turn and run back toward the bikes with the rest of the Devil’s Dust.
I slide in behind Tom Cat’s bike, and he helps pull me behind it.
“I got ya, brother,” Tom Cat states, standing up to walk in the line of fire. I grab his pants leg, stopping him.
“Don’t; he’s got more men than we do,” I add.
Tom shakes my hand off his leg.
“He disrespected ours. He needs to pay, or the rest of the West Coast will think they can walk on us,” he explains, and walks off.
“Fuck!” I yell.
“Here.” Bull hands me a gun and I cock it, loading a bullet into the chamber.
“Cover him!” I yell to the boys. I aim over the bike and start shooting Zeek’s men as they pop up over the rooftop of the metal building.
“Die!” shouts from the side of the building, catching my attention. Looking over, Zeek wobbles out with one arm wrapped around his mid-section, where blood pours down his shirt, and his other hand holding a gun aimed at Tom Cat.
“Tom Cat! To your right!” I warn. Tom Can turns and I aim, but Zeek is faster and pulls the trigger first. Tom Cat falls flat to the ground.
“Aaaah!” I scream, running out from behind the bike. Pulling the trigger, a bullet slams into Zeek’s chest. He falls to his knees, staring at me as the light of our childhood fades before he face-plants.
I fall to Tom Cat’s side as he begins to choke and suffocate on blood. I grab the back of his neck and pull him close.
“Bull!” I scream. Bull runs from behind the bikes and drops to his knees beside me.
“We gotta get him to the hospital now,” Bull states. Glancing at the Sin City Outlaws, they seem to be doing the same, looking over their president, not concerned with us.
“Let’s get him there then,” I tell him.
“Lip, we need to get Cherry there, too.” Bull looks at me with wide eyes.
“What do you mean?” I stand, worry snaking through my chest.
“Your bullet. It went through you, and hit her.”
Bobby comes running up to us.
“I called Doc; they have a helicopter on their way. Should be here any minute,” Bobby states, his hands rubbing through his hair anxiously.
“I got Tom, go to Cherry,” Bull orders. I look Tom Cat over one last time, his eyes pinning me.
“Thank you,” I mouth.
“Broth—” He chokes. “We’re br-brothers,” Tom stammers, and tears threaten to prick my eyes. Tom Cat is a brother of loyalty, a brother who would risk his own to protect my life. Whereas my own flesh and blood betrayed me and wanted to end my life.
Sprinting toward Cherry, she’s leaned up against a bike and panting heavily. Blood soaks her skintight top right below her breasts.
“Baby,” I whisper, pulling her head to me.
“You. Get. Piper?” She takes a breath between each word.
“Yes, I did. She’s ours now,” I state, brushing the hair from her face.
A small smile creeps across her face. “Ours?” she whispers, and I nod. The helicopter zooms above us, and I look up. About fucking time.
“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 fucking 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 fucking worried.” Looking over, I find Lip staring at me with tear-filled eyes.
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“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 fuck 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 fucked. 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.