“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.” Her hand sweeps beside her, grabbing a rifle. My body freezes, and my eyes widen.
“If I let anything happen to Piper, Eric has threatened to end my life, honey. So as much as I want you to be reunited with your daughter, it ain’t happening,” she sneers.
I look at the rifle then her. “I ain’t leaving without her,” I reaffirm, tears in my eyes.
“ERIC!” she screams. My eyes widen, and my heart jump starts in fear. “You better run,” she whispers, her tone eerie. I look at Piper one last time, and then her.
“Go, before he finds you and knows you’re alive,” she mutters. I purse my lips, and as much as I don’t want to, I pull away from Piper. I run down the stairs and out of the house as fast as I can, passing a sleeping Eric on the way, nearly tripping on my feet as I head toward my car. I jump in and look at Eric’s house one last time. I don’t want to leave, but if I stay it could get me killed.
“I’ll be back, baby girl.” I sob, starting the car. “I’ll be back one day,” I mutter, tears falling down my cheeks. I pull out onto the road and gun it, driving as fast as I can back to where I belong. Nowhere, and out of Piper’s life.
***
I sit in the car two freeways over from where I ran into Phillip yesterday. I thought about calling him. I more than thought about it actually, but I just can’t. Men and I, we don’t mix. Obviously. I just need to figure my shit out right now and not be distracted by some dirty-talking, rugged-looking biker guy. No matter how sexy he is; it’s best if I keep my drama to myself. Like Tyler said, I need to stay clear of bad boys, and looking at Phillip I can tell he is every bit of a bad boy. I need to focus on my next pickpocket; I need money. My seat vibrates, and the familiar thunder of a motorcycle sounds behind me. I look in the rearview mirror and find Phillip on his bike, staring right back at me in the mirror. A huge smile creeps across my face, and my toes curl in excitement. How many ramps did he search for me? He swings his leg off the bike, carrying something black in his hand. I frown, unsure what it is. I climb out of the car and that’s when I see it—a helmet. It’s small, so I know it’s not for him. My face falls. What is he planning on doing with that?
“Pretty sure I said don’t make me come find you,” he growls, his tone coming off angry.
I cross my arms and pop my hip out. “Look, Phillip—”
“Lip,” he interrupts.
“What?”
His left eyebrow lifts as he shoves a hand in his jeans pocket.
“My name is Lip,” he reaffirms, his tone coming off strong and confident. I cock my head to the side and eye him from boot, built torso, to rugged face. He looks like a Lip.
“Okay, Lip,” I continue. “I can’t get involved right now. I’m just…” I shake my head, humiliated to say I’m living out of my car and poor. Looking at Lip, I’m sure he has no problem finding girls. He can definitely do better than me. “I’m not the girl for you. I have too much baggage right now, and I can’t get involved. Not to mention I’m staying in my…” I look at my car, but decide against telling him I’m homeless. “I’m staying with my brother until I can find a place to live.”
Lip cocks his head to the side, that tongue of his flicking his lip ring. My stomach flutters with lust. I want to bite that lip ring.
“The way I see it, you should really come with me then.” I snap my head toward him, and my mouth falls open with shock. “And why don’t you let me decide what woman is good enough for me, hmm?”
“What?” I mumble. He walks up to me and grabs my chin softly, lifting it so I have to look at his brown eyes. There is something about gazing into someone’s eyes that makes you vulnerable. You see more than just the color of the iris—you see the color of their soul. The intensity of them has me taking a step back, and I draw in a sudden breath.
“If you’re staying with your brother, then why are you out here picking strange men’s pockets?” he whispers. I furrow my brows. “It’s dangerous,” he breathes.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but…” I inhale, looking at my fingers while I think up an excuse. “It’s just complicated,” I exhale.
“Come with me, Cherry, just for the night.” He shrugs. “If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back to your car,” he offers. “Come on, there’s a party tonight. Don’t make me show up alone,” he flirts, a gorgeous smirk lifting the corner of his lips. Fuck, those lips are amazing. I tear my eyes from him and look at my feet.
“I’m sure you don’t have trouble finding a date, Lip,” I reply, sweeping my hair out of my face. I peer up from under my eyelashes, risking a look at him, and find his chest rising as he juts his chin out. He looks even sexier, and is making it that much harder to reject his offer. I shouldn’t have looked.