Page 145 of Steel

“Just me, Hummingbird. Stand down.”

“Oh, thank god,” she cries softly.

The door opens wider and then her beautiful, terrified face is right in front of me. She marches over and steps into me. I grit my teeth as pain zaps through me from the unexpected jarring of my body, but no way in hell am I going to fucking complain about it. I love the feel of her heat against me. It lets me know she’s here, she’s safe, and she’s fucking breathing. That’s all I’ll ever need. Because a world without her is a fucking dark one,and now that she’s bringing me into the light, I don’t think I’d survive being shoved back into the shadows. Not when it comes to my life with her.

“Let’s get inside, baby girl. Don’t need to be exposed too much out here.” I turn to Jordan. “Thanks for the ride. You can head back. We’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll grab my bike then. Be careful going back, Prospect.”

“If it’s okay with you, Steel, I’d like to sit on the house tonight, make sure you all are good.”

My respect for the alley cat grows as he shows his need to look out for another member without being ordered.

I nod. “If you wish. Call my phone if you need anything or if you spot something that shouldn’t be there.”

“You got it.” He nods at Bailee. “Ma’am.”

Bailee smiles at him. “Thanks for bringing him home to us. Please make sure to come in if you need anything.”

Fucking love the way she’s claiming this home as hers.

“Thank you,” he says before sliding out the door.

I lock up behind him, double-checking the alarm before letting Bailee guide me into the kitchen.

“I need to see you before I help you to bed,” she says softly.

She gets me situated on a stool before flicking on the light. As soon as it lands on me, I wince, and she lets out a sharp gasp.

“Jericho. Oh, god.” She steps between my thighs, her fingers drifting lightly over my face. “They did a number on you.”

“Beat my ass,” I admit with a chuckle.

My fingers tighten on her hips when her eyes water.

“It’s not funny,” she chokes out.

“I’m fine, baby girl. Not the first time I’ve had my ass kicked. Doubt it’ll be the last in this lifetime.”

“Don’t. I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Babe,” I say, moving one of my hands to cup her chin and lift her face so I can peer into it more. “Need you to listen tome. This lifestyle ain’t for the faint of heart. We already had this discussion. You want to be with me, you need to be able to handle the shit that comes with it. That means there are goin’ to be times when I might come home broken and bleedin’. I need an Old Lady who can stomach that. I’d like for you to be that, but not goin’ to change what the hell I do to have you. That’d be changin’ the core of who I am, baby girl. Hope I know you enough to know you’d not want that for me.”

She grabs my beard and tightens her hold, sending tingles of pain through my face. “Fucking stop. You know I’m here. I’m in this. I can freaking worry about it, dick. Just because you’re a macho man badass who’s going to come home to me now and then with some marks I’m going to have to clean up doesn’t mean I’m going to run. Violence has always been a part of my life. I was born into it, bossman. Stop trying to coddle me ‘cause I don’t need it. Let me freak the hell out when you come home barely alive and then let me kiss you better and we’ll be good to go. But don’t ever make me squash what I’m feeling to appease you. We’ll never make it if you do that.” She tugs gently so that she has my attention. Not that it ever moved from her. “Do you understand?”

“Hear you, beautiful.”

“Good.” She leans down and lightly brushes her lips across mine. “Are you hungry? Do you need me to make you anything?”

“Just need you in my arms,” I admit gruffly, dropping my hands to her ass and pulling her tighter to me.

I rest my head between her tits and breathe her in as she runs her fingers through my hair.

The way I need this woman, the way I crave her, it’s fucking scary. She’s the one I’d go to fucking war for. The one I’d gladly bleed for. The one I’d give my last breath to if it meant she got to breathe just a bit longer in this world. Don’t plan on ever goinganywhere, but this life I live, my days can be numbered. All it takes is one enemy that I don’t see coming.

Instead of running from what she makes me feel, I should be cherishing it, shoving it inside, and basking in it until I’m no longer able to.

“I never should’ve come here,” she says, sniffling. “This entire mess is my fault. I have people who could’ve helped me.”

Pulling back, I push her away enough that she’ll look down at me. “Stop that shit. I did all this because I give a fuck about you. Wouldn’t have done shit if I didn’t. Stop puttin’ it all on your shoulders. I’m a goddamn adult and can make my own decisions. You do have people who could help, but this is the life I’m in, baby girl. This is the life I know. Killer isn’t someone who’s goin’ to be easy to take on. Not for us and definitely not for anyone not familiar with the way we live.”

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