Page 133 of Steel

I inhale deeply, needing to breathe it in and savor it in case it’s the last time I get the chance.

There’s no telling how they’re going to handle the fact that I’ve kept this shit from them. Especially now we know that Killer has been targeting the club. I’m gonna be lucky if I walk away from here with my life, let alone my colors. We don’t fuck around with betrayal, and that’s what I did. Wasn’t my aim. Protecting them and Bailee were the only thoughts going through my head, but I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to get them to see that or not.

Before I get the chance to talk to anyone, my phone rings. I don’t recognize the number, so I decline the call. Anyone who’s important to me is stored in my contacts. It goes off again, this time with a message.

UNKNOWN

It’s me. I wanted to check on Lyric. I don’t like it here, Steel. I want to come home to my girl.

Fucking Heather. How the hell is she able to send me a text? From what I understood, they’re not allowed cellphones at that facility. The only calls they’re allowed to make are from the phone in the lobby that’s monitored by the staff. I’m going tohave to check in with the center and find out how she was able to get a cell, because if she’s able to easily access things she’s not supposed to have, that doesn’t bode well for her not being able to get her fix.

Ignoring the message, I shove my phone in my pocket with a scowl.

Sage comes barreling through the common room, running people over in her haste to get out of here. The expression on her face tells anyone that she’s ready to fuck their shit up if they even think of coming at her, so I just step to the side as she rushes past me.

Wraith steps out of the room off to the side, his eyes connecting with mine. “Church. Go let Crow know. Him and Sage are at it again.” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before turning on his boots and walking back into the room.

It’s only a few minutes later that Crow is rushing down the stairs, his violet eyes scanning the room with a violent scowl on his face.

“Just about to come find you. Your woman ran out of here with a huge ass scowl on her face. Didn’t even stop to say anything to Wraith. He’s called Church.”

Crow’s eyes narrow on me, and the hair at my nape stands at attention. If anyone notices the way I’ve been acting lately, it’d be this big motherfucker. He pays attention to fucking everyone. Wouldn’t be a good VP if he didn’t, I reckon. Just makes getting away with shit a lot harder. One of the reasons I ain’t been around as much as I needed to be.

“What’s going on with you?” he asks.

“Just got shit goin’ on,” I reply.

Ain’t no sense in telling him alone when I plan on telling all of them once Church is over.

“Heather giving you shit?”

I snort. “When isn’t that stupid bitch? She’s goin’ to keep fuckin’ around with my daughter, and I’m goin’ to put a bullet between her fuckin’ eyes. She thinks she’s goin’ to keep Lyric from me. Caught her ass high as a fuckin’ kite the other day with my girl sittin’ in the livin’ room. That shit was just layin’ on the table right next to her.”

Even just thinking about it again has the rage drifting back through me.

“Need me to pay her a visit?”

I scrub my hands over my face as exhaustion weighs me down.

Wraith whistles, grabbing our attention before we can finish the conversation. Not gonna complain because I don’t want to be fucking talking about that shit anyway. It’s just going to piss me off all over again, and I ain’t got the time for that.

Wraith waves us over into the room. The brothers start filing in behind me. Gremlin, Bones, Crank, and Jagger all take up space against one side wall while Fender, Rembrandt, Bender, and Griz rest against the other. Wraith, Thrasher, Ronin, Tweek, Blade, and Phantom are in their normal spots around the table, so I pull out my chair and take a seat to join them.

My body tightens, and my fists clench against the thighs of my jeans when I feel someone step up behind me. It doesn’t feel like an enemy, but I can still sense their dark energy rolling through me, letting me know who is at my back. If there is one person I don’t want to have there in a way that’s not friendly, it’s fucking Crow.

This motherfucker is scary as hell, especially when he wraps that chain around someone’s neck and cuts off their air supply or he’s swinging that barbed bat around.

I catch the look that Wraith aims at Crow, and my entire world crumbles.

They already know.

Whatever happens from here, I won’t go out with regrets. I can’t regret doing what I had to do to keep my woman and my brothers safe. That alone will make me go out with a smile. I should have fucking held my girls a little longer this morning.

Wraith’s eyes meet mine unflinchingly. I lift my chin, meeting his stare head-on but hoping he can read the apology in mine. “I was brought some concerning information tonight. The threats against the girls at Sinful Saloon, we were sure they were connected to the shit Crow has going on. Come to find out that’s not the case. Looks like we have a rival club wanting some attention. The Night Skulls MC has decided to make their presence known to us through our girls. Anyone have any idea why?”

Crow’s and Wraith’s anger licks against my skin. I can’t hold my President’s eyes any longer, so I drop my head, rubbing the back of my neck in weariness.

“It’s not what you think, Pres.”

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