Page 120 of Steel

Theonlydamn reason I’m here giving her a choice is because of the little girl we share.

“Steel,” she starts, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Never fuckin’ do. Told you to stay clean, and not only did you not fuckin’ do that, you did it in front of my kid, Heather. You got a choice, rehab or jail. The only fuckin’ reason I’m even givin’ you one is because of Lyric. I’d have tossed you in the clink real quick.” The expression crosses her face again, and I smirk. “Hate me all you want, I don’t give a fuck, but choose before I do it for you.”

“Rehab,” she says quickly through gritted teeth.

“Figured that’d be your choice,” I rumble, climbing to my feet. “You got five minutes to get ready. Kiwi will take you, and I’ll follow. Need to talk to the rehab center to let them know some shit.”

Once everything is taken care of at the rehab center, I head outside, pull up Bailee’s contact, and hit the video call button.

“Hey,” she answers with a smile.

She steps out on the porch and closes the door behind her. “Sorry. I should’ve messaged you or something, but didn’t want to seem rude to your parents.” Her cute little nose crinkles. “You could’ve warned me in your text that I’d be meeting them.”

I blow out a breath and lean back against my bike. “Shit, babe. Sorry. Didn’t think.”

“Hey,” she says softly. “Please don’t stress about it. You got so much going on. It’s been fine. I was just teasing you. We’re getting along okay.”

The way her eyes shutter, I know she’s not being honest.

“Bailee,” I growl.

Those beautiful fucking orbs of hers widen and then she sighs. “Okay, so it was rough start, but wearegood, Jericho.”

“Explain.”

The bark in my voice startles her.

“Steel, you know your ex. I’m guessing that’s what made them leery. I don’t exactly look calm and collected. I’ve got bright red hair and tattoos.”

“Babe, fuckin’ biker.”

“Yes, but you’re also their son. I’m a woman who is about to watch their granddaughter. A stranger who probably remindsthem of Heather. But stop worrying about it. They just needed reassurance, which I was happy to give. It helped that Lyric and I are so close. I swear, your parents and I are practically besties now,” she teases.

“They still there?”

She shakes her head. “No. They were gonna stay at first, but your mom looked tired. They finally were comfortable enough with me and Lyric together that they were okay going home when I urged them to.”

“Thanks.”

Bailee shakes her head. “Don’t thank me for looking out for them.” Her eyes soften and fill with warmth. “Your parents are really great, Steel. They love you and Lyric so much.”

“Yeah,” I agree gruffly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Need something from you.”

“Sure, bossman. What is it?”

“The office off the den. Go in there. Under the desk, there’s a floor safe.”

The phone shakes as she walks through the house, and then the bottom of the desk comes into the frame as she squats under it.

I clear my throat because I just realized what the code I’m about to tell her gives away, but she needs the gun from inside.

Her breath stalls, and she turns the phone away from her face when I rattle off the date. The white pallor to her skin and the pain she tries to hide almost makes me wish I would have changed it.

Hell, I don’t even know why I set it as that.

Except, as I stare into her pretty wounded eyes, I know exactly why I set it as that.

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