Page 10 of Steel

The sharp, musty odor from the alcohol wipes stings my nose as I clean away the blood from around the wound. “Always will.”

Where my words are quiet, her surprised gasp is loud.

The muscles in my face tighten, and the hair on my neck stiffens.

Shit.That is not what I meant to say.

“Talk to me. Distract me because it hurts so bad,” she says tightly.

I’ve had to help patch up the brothers so many times that it’s basically muscle memory at this point. “How you been?”

She snorts, and I duck my head to hide the smile flirting with my lips. “Thatis the first thing you want to ask me? I’ve been fine, Steel. How about you? You and Heather still on that fucking exhausting merry-go-round you call a relationship?”

When I glance up, her pain-filled eyes are wide with horror at her bitter words.

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Steel. I don’t know where that came from.”

How is it that I’ve never really accepted the damage I’ve done to her? She never hid her feelings for me when we were together.Damn near killed me the last time she pleaded with me to stay, but I couldn’t risk my daughter. She comes before anyone. Even myself. If that means I eat shit every single day for the rest of my goddamn life, then I’ll swallow it like it’s the best fucking thing I’ve ever tasted. Lyric already has one fucked-up parent. No way in hell would I be another.

I tried to see Bailee a few months later, when Heather and I split again, but she told me no. Not wanting to believe her, I showed up on her doorstep. Her Range Rover was there and the light from the television was on, but she didn’t answer the door when I knocked. I knew she was standing on the other side of it. I couldfeelher there, silently pleading with me to leave.

It was harder than I thought it’d be to walk away that time because I knew that would be it. She’d told me no—something she’d never done in all the times we’d been together—

and that told me she was finished. I cared about her enough to respect her decision.

Doesn’t mean I could go cold turkey, though. I eventually had to reach out in a text to check on her, needing to know I didn’t hurt her too badly.

Fuck, I was a fool to think a woman like her would come out of our toxic mess unscathed.

Bailee’s heart is too big and full of softness. Someone like her would get eaten alive in my world, and I think that’s the main reason I’ve kept her in a neat little box. If she would have been in my life every day, there’s no way I wouldn’t have eventually given in to her pleas to stay. That would have done nothing but piss Heather off, and I would have lost Lyric. No piece of pussy is worth that, no matter how I feel about its owner.

“Let’s get this cleaned up and get the hell out of here in case someone comes back, yeah?”

It doesn’t take long once I’m focused to get the wounds clean and bandaged with some gauze until I get a doctor to check herout. Luckily, I have an old acquaintance of my parents who owes me a favor, and tonight, I’m going to collect it.

After her leg and shoulder are taken care of and I’ve got some pain medicine in her, she holds on to my shoulders while I help her get her jeans back on. It’s a good thing my focus is legendary, otherwise, I’d probably be the world’s biggest asshole and bury my face between her legs to take her mind off the pain.

My road name was given to me because I’m able to lock shit behind a steel vault without a problem, which means I never have an issue walking into dire situations without knowing the possible outcomes. Doesn’t mean I do it, though. I’d be a shitty Road Captain if I did. It’s my responsibility to make sure my brothers get to where they’re going safely and without issue. The overall command goes to me when we’re on a run, and I’d not be able to do that effectively if I didn’t plan for every outcome.

Shit can get someone killed, and we’ve lost enough brothers.

I hand my cut to Bailee to hold while I pull my t-shirt over my head then put it back on. “Get this on and we’ll make our way outside.”

I help her slide the shirt over her head, taking the time to ensure we don’t irritate her wounds further.

Fuck, I forgot how good she looks wearing my clothes.

“Good to walk? You can lean on me, but I need my arms free in case we have a problem.”

Bailee straightens her spine and lifts her chin, determination settled on her beautiful face. “I can walk. Don’t worry about me.”

“Too fuckin’ late for that,” I mutter, grabbing her hand in mine.

“You could’ve just said no, Steel. You didn’t have to come,” she snaps, trying to tug her hand from mine.

I tighten my hold. “And if I didn’t, you’d be fuckin’ dead.”

“No, I wouldn’t. Stop exaggerating.”

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