Page 42 of Break Out

“Is Uncle Cal coming too?” I asked Dad.

“No. Shut the fuckin’ door,” Dad said after he came inside.

I didn’t like his tone, but I closed the door.

“I’ll tell you what I told Warden. She doesn’t need your fuck-ups leading a threat right to her!” Dad shouted.

“Dad!”

Steel locked eyes with me. “He isn’t wrong. Nothing but dumb luck kept Warden out of a raid.”

“You don’t make any sense, Steel. Told her you don’t want the baby, but now you’re protecting her, as if you’ve claimed her, even though you haven’t.”

Well, Mom had a big mouth. She’d called me at eight-thirty demanding to know when I was going to hunt Steel down. I’d shared that I’d already done it late last night and he didn’t want the baby.

His eyes widened. “I said I wouldn’t do parenthood again. Not the same as not wanting the child.”

Dad’s nostrils flared and his eyes slid from Steel to me and back to Steel. “She’s my daughter and part of the Riot – we’ll keep her safe.”

Steel smiled. “And so will I. Two MCs protecting her are better than one. She’ll be well taken care of.”

I blew out an exasperated breath. “Okay, since you’ve forgotten I’m standing here, nobody has actually threatened me.”

Dad’s dry look spoke volumes.

Steel opened his mouth to speak, but I held up my hand. “Fine. A rival MC won’t tell me they’re going to fuck me up, they’ll just do it. But nobody’s—”

“Word gets around, Jade. Hell, other MCs fuck with our club bunnies in an effort to fuck with me.”

Dad inhaled through his nose, and I suspected the comment about club bunnies bothered him like it did me.

“Fuckin’ hate this,” Dad muttered.

Steel chuckled. “It’s good I’m not contrary.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

His eyes were remorseful, but I was done. “Both of you leave. I’ve got a gun and I’m capable of taking care of myself and my lime-sized peanut.”

I stormed out of the room, but only got as far as the mouth of the hall before Steel caught my bicep in a firm grip.

“Don’t be that way.”

My lips pressed together. I stared down at his hand on my arm and up at him. “Don’t be an overbearing Neanderthal and I won’t have to be that way.”

He chuckled.

“Are you laughing?”

He failed to clear his expression. In fact, his smile grew wider. “Never.”

“There’s nothing funny.”

“‘Lime-sized peanut?’”

I fought a smile. “You had to be there.”

He pressed his lips together. “Wish I had been, Jade.”

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