Page 6 of Steel

Pain and agony mix in her voice, and it puts me on edge. “Tell me what’s happening.”

“Someone is after me. I’ve been shot twice. Another club. Caught them committing murder on camera.”

Her words are stilted, as if all her concentration is focused on getting them out. She said she’s been shot twice. Fuck. If her speech is already slurred and stilted, it’s likely she’s losing too much blood.

“Lee?” She only hums in reply, and my worry ratchets up. “Listen to me, Lee,” I bark.

“I’m listening,” she whispers.

“Good girl.”

“Hmm. I like when you call me that.”

Memories of our time together try to flood my brain, but I shove them out so I can keep her focused enough to keep her alive until I make it to her.

“Can you ping me your location, Hummingbird?” A few seconds later, a message comes through with her location. “That’s really good. Not far, Lee. Only take a bit to get to you. Were you able to stop the bleedin’?”

“A little bit. They’re still bleeding though.”

I keep talking to her as I climb from the bed, ignoring the low protests from the club whores behind me. Much as I hate to say it, they don’t mean shit to me. They’re warm cunts to slide my dick into when I need to fuck and that’s it.

Thank fuck I don’t have to deal with bullshit drama from them.

Got enough of that in my life with my kid’s mom.

I make sure to hold tight to the condom as I pull it off, tying it at the end and carrying it to the bathroom to flush it.

Not going to trust this shit around anyone again.

Heather taught me a valuable lesson on that front. Don’t regret my daughter, Lyric, at all. Other than my club, she’s the one bright spot in my fucking life. Going on seven and she likes to act like she’s going on thirty.

“How you doin’, Hummingbird?” I murmur as I pull on my jeans.

“I’m doing okay. Can you talk to me, Steel? I’m really scared, and I don’t know if they’re going to find me.” She blows out a breath. “If they do, can you make sure to get hold of my brothers and let them know I love them?”

I remove the phone from my ear long enough to pull my t-shirt over my head and slide my cut over my shoulders. “Don’t be talkin’ that bullshit, babe. Ain’t nothin’ happenin’ to you.”

Her laughter is soft, and it caresses my insides like it always has. “You a fortune teller now, bossman?”

The familiar endearment sends a pleasurable shudder over me.

“Might be. Can tell you I’m goin’ to see that beautiful face of yours soon.”

“Hope so,” she whispers. “It’d be nice to see you again.”

“Yeah. Can agree with that.”

“Will you tell me about her? Your daughter?”

“Only if you promise to keep yourself alert.”

Jogging down the stairs, I catch the party still raging in the common room. It’s a typical Friday night, and it’s one of the few I’ve participated in since I scraped Heather off my boots. Crow and Sage are in the game room, and he’s got her crowded against the pool table. His arms are around her, and his face is soft as he looks down at her. She’s everything my brother needed, and I’m fucking thankful she didn’t give up on his ass when he was pulling all his bullshit. Hell, sometimes he still pulls bullshit, but she doesn’t back down. Not ever. The way those two love each other, fuck, it’s something out of this world. Never saw anything like it and doubt I ever will again.

Wraith and Nova are playing a game of darts with Bender and Melanie, the four of them laughing at something.

I don’t want to interrupt them, so I glance around the room until I can find Thrasher. Just need to let someone know I’m heading out in case they need me.

Thrasher’s leaned back against a wall talking to Jagger, and they come to attention when they spot me coming toward them.

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