Page 105 of Steel

Something’s got to give soon because keeping Bailee and my club separate is taking its toll.

Preferably before I end up with any more women’s blood on my hands.

Chapter twenty-eight

I hope something isdone sooner rather than later, or I’m going to have no choice but to step in because I refuse to allow my beautiful girl to experience an ounce of the pain I did at her age.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when my phone rings and Emmy Lou’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey, lady. Got some things to go over with you,” Emmy Lou says.

“Please tell me you got something that will help us catch Killer.”

Emmy Lou sighs heavily, and papers rustle across the speaker. “Fuck, I wish we did. This Killer is a lot more elusive than we originally gave him credit for. We’ve not been able to find much on him, which is surprising. Steel has given us all the information he has on Killer, but it didn’t get us much further than we already were. There’s something Willow wants to run by you, though. I’ve got you on speaker.”

“Sure.”

“Hey, Bailee,” Willow greets.

“How are you, Low? How’s Deacon and Xander?” I ask, referring to her husband and stepson.

“They’re doing great,” she replies, and I can detect the smile and love in her voice.

“So, what is it that you want to run by me?”

“All right. Emmy Lou already told you that we’ve not been able to get as much as we’d like on Killer. I don’t think we’re going to either without help. Help from people who have a better connection with his world than we or the Dirty Mavericks do.”

“Who are you thinking?” I ask.

“Desdemona. Thrasher’s mom. She runs the prison, and if anyone would know anything about Killer, it’d be her. That means Thrasher will find out. She doesn’t keep shit from her son, not after everything that happened with her daughters.”

My first reaction is to tell her absolutely not, but I’ve been protecting myself against this shit for so long, that no one else can protect me if it’s all I ever do.

Still, there’s no way I’m going to let Steel’s club brothers find out about any of this before he has the chance to tell them himself.

“No.”

“Lee, you can’t—”

“Sorry,” I interrupt Willow. “I meant, let me talk to Steel first so we can let the club know before they find out from anyone else.”

“You two still haven’t told them?” Emmy Lou barks. “Do you even understand the consequences of what can happen when they find out?”

My back straightens at her tone. I feel guilty enough without her throwing shit down my throat. “Look, I know we’ve known each other a long time and that Steel is your friend and I respect that. But you don’t know everything, Em, so don’t come at mein anger. I already feel like shit that they don’t know. Steel was the only person I trusted enough at first to protect me, but do you not think I can see the toll it’s been taking on him? There’s already been plans to bring the club in. He’s just been busy with club shit and hasn’t had the chance.”

“Do you know their rules?” Emmy Lou asks quietly, her anger gone and worry in its place.

“Not really,” I admit. “Things were never like that before with us. It’s only now that things are . . . different.”

“Never betray the club and protect each other at all costs,” Willow recites.

“What do you think him keeping this shit from them is?” Emmy Lou asks.

Oh, hell. Acid builds in my stomach as I think about it, and before long, I’m fighting it from traveling up the back of my throat.

Why didn’t he tell me how bad it would be? I knew. I’m not stupid, so I knew it wasn’t something they’d be happy about, but hell, I must be more naïve than I thought if I seriously believed he would only get off with a slap on the wrist.

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