Page 155 of Steel

Whatever comes our way, with this woman at my side, I know we’ll fuck the world up.

We check in with Lyric and my parents before we head into the club. Mom informs us my girl is having fun and for me to take care of what I need to.

After we hang up, I help Bailee down from the Bronco and pull her along behind me to the doors of the clubhouse.

I’m trying not to think of what’s going to happen when we walk inside.

My brothers seem cool with everything, so I need to trust their word.

The club whores are my main concern. They can be catty, and some of them have the tendency to be territorial when they have no right to be.

Shit gets annoying as fuck.

Not wanting Bailee to be caught unaware, I stop us in front of the door and turn toward her.

I tug a lock of short hair and stare down into her face. As much as I cared about Heather because she was the mother of my child, I didn’t have this need to reassure her and really worry about her comfort.

With Bailee, even though our relationship scares me, I have an incessant need to let her know that outside of my daughter and my mom, she’s one of the most important women in life.

“The club whores—” I start, but she lays her finger across my lips.

“I’m not stupid, Steel. I already know you fucked them.”

“They can be bitches,” I try again.

Bailee shrugs. “Most women can be.” She squeezes my hand and lifts to her toes, brushing her lips against my cheek. “Stop worrying about stuff you can’t control. I’m a big girl and can handle my own against women who want to act like we’re still in high school.”

She steps around me and pulls the door open, dragging me in behind her.

Once we’re inside, she freezes as heads turn our way. I guide her behind me and lift my chin, daring someone to open their mouth.

Most of my brothers turn back to what they were doing. The few club whores who aren’t at their normal job either gaze with open curiosity or glare with spiteful jealousy. The ones staring with curiosity are some of the few who are low on drama and understand they have no claim on any of our patches.

Those are the ones I give a respectful nod to. The others get a disdainful glare that has them scurrying away.

Bailee steps up beside me. “Stop acting scary and glaring at them,” she admonishes.

“Need to stop actin’ like they have a reason to be jealous,” I mutter.

She laughs, sliding her hand into my back pocket.

I toss my arm over her shoulder, pulling her into my side as I guide us toward the bar.

Prospect Axel is behind the bar, and he gives me a respectful nod when we sidle up to it. “What can I get you?”

“Water for me,” I tell him before glancing down at Bailee with a lifted brow.

“Same for me. Thanks,” she says quietly.

I spin on the barstool until I’m staring around the common room, then I pull Bailee between my legs, her ass resting snug against my dick. I band an arm around her stomach, holding her in place as I scan the room for Wraith.

He and Crow pop out of his office. He spots us standing over here and makes his way to us. It’s only moments before he stands in front of us with his arms folded across his chest. His blank face and intense eyes as he stares Bailee down set off a riot of emotions inside me.

I’m ready to jump to my feet and face the threat head-on when Bailee stops me by digging her nails into the skin of my arm. Sherubs her palm along it before climbing to her feet, forcing me to let go of her.

Bailee stares up at him, her body loose to show him no signs of defiance. “I’d like to apologize to you and your club, Wraith. I truly meant no disrespect to you, Steel, or the Dirty Mavericks. I’ve been so terrified, constantly looking over my shoulder, that I didn’t think of the damage I could be inflicting on other relationships. My brother and the others trust you all, and I should’ve done the same. However, I know Steel intimately, and while I hadn’t seen him in over three years, I had to have faith that he still wouldn’t leave me bleeding out while Killer hunted me down. All this is on me, and I’m coming to you in the hopes of making it right.”

She bends over, her plump ass perking up in my face as she grabs the round canister from her shoe. Bailee straightens and passes it over to Wraith. “These are the only copies.”

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