Page 132 of Steel

While she’s getting our girl up, I get the table set and wait for them.

For the next thirty minutes, I watch the interaction between my girls and let it bring me the peace that’s been hard to find lately. With everything going on with the club and the way shit’s been happening at our businesses, it’s been hard to find time to breathe, and the only time I seem to manage it is when I’m here at home with them. Bailee has been staying here more than she has Sinful Saloon. Scares the shit out of me, but it’s the only thing I’ve felt right about for a long damn time.

It’s been bugging me that I missed out on three years with Bailee, but I also don’t regret it because I know Heather would have made it even harder than she has for me and Lyric. Bailee was an unfortunate sacrifice that had to be made so that I couldhave my daughter around the way I needed her to be. I did a lot of damage to my Hummingbird in the past. Don’t doubt I’m going to cause more before we settle into smooth sailing. It’s just the way my life is. Want to minimize it as much as I can, but I’m a fucking prick. Know that much about myself. Don’t like using words unless they’re necessary, but for her, they all seem to be.

Want to give Bailee everything she wanted from me last time, but it’s hard to do when I still have one foot out the door because of the shit with Heather. That bitch has fucked my life up more than I thought she could. My fault, because I was the one who gave her the power to do that. Makes me worried about what I’ll let Bailee get away with because of how much I feel for her.

My phone pings with a text, and since there’s so much going on with the club, I need to check it. Any other time, I wouldn’t bother while I’m at the table with my kid.

There’s a message waiting from Wraith wanting me to show my face at the clubhouse today. We got things going down, and he wants to meet about our game plan.

“I can finish cleaning up here, bossman, if you need to head out,” Bailee says quietly from beside me.

“Wraith wants me at the club.”

“Then go. Lyric and I are good. I’m sure we’ll find things to keep us occupied until you get back.”

I glance to Lyric. She’s watching the interaction between me and Bailee with a bright smile on her face. “Good with me goin’ to the club, Princess?”

“Yeah, Daddy. Like Bee said, we’ll be okay. Better do what Uncle Wraith wants before you make him mad.” She giggles. “He’ll whip your butt.”

“I don’t know,” I reply, lifting my arm and making a point to flex my muscles. “Think I could take him, Princess.”

Lyric rolls her eyes. “Duh. You’re my daddy. You can take anyone.”

Fuck, kid.

I wink. “Damn straight.”

Climbing to my feet, I place a kiss to the top of Bailee’s head and one to Lyric’s. “Call your brother to come stay, Lee.”

She shakes her head. “No. I don’t want to put him in this any more than he already is. There’s too many people I care about who could get hurt.”

“Babe, can’t get a prospect to come stay ‘cause the club. Em and her people are also busy today. Don’t want you here alone if we can help it.”

Bailee sighs, folding her arms. “Fine.”

I march back to her and cup her face in my hand. “Gonna tell the club while I’m there. It’s time.”

She nods. “Yeah, probably past that. Let me know if you need me. I’ll have Reed bring us to you if you do.”

“Big boy, baby girl. Can take care of myself.”

Bailee lifts her hand so she can wrap her fingers around my jaw. “I know you are, bossman, but I also know what these guys and that club means to you. I won’t let you take them on by yourself, and I sure in the hell won’t let you ever lose them over me.”

Her words fuck with me, and I drop my forehead to hers, needing her as close to me as possible.

Fuck. If she could crawl inside me, I’d probably let her.

“Not gonna lose them, baby girl, but fuck, just knowin’ you’d have my back with them means the fuckin’ world.”

Sparks shoot from her narrowed eyes. “Of course, I have your freaking back. You had mine without a beat. You and me, bossman. Always.”

Fuck. I gotta get the hell out of here so I can breathe through these things she’s making me feel. They’re smothering the fuck outta me and making me want to blurt things I ain’t ready to say aloud. Things that make my skin itch and my body twitch.

“Gotta go,” I say gruffly, giving her a kiss and backing away. “Lock up behind me and keep the gun near.”

The scents of leather, beer, and sex that slither through my nostrils when I step inside the clubhouse is as welcome as going home to my girls is. It’s familiar and it’s brotherhood. It’s scents that let me know I’m in a place where I’m welcome.

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