Page 171 of Steel

It puts me on fucking edge.

The parking lot is packed when we return.

Bailee jumps down, glances around with a grimace, then turns back to help Lyric down. My little girl isn’t wary at all. She hops down with a huge smile, her body humming with excitement at spending so much time with her honorary family.

I climb from my bike and go to them. “Get some prospects to grab your stuff. You two get in the clubhouse while I help Wraith get everyone else situated. You know where my room is? If not, Lyric can show you.”

“I remember.”

Distaste colors her tone, and I know it’s because of what happened with Rachel the last time we were here.

“Ain’t got to worry about her, baby girl.”

She shrugs. “I wasn’t, but thank you for reassuring me.”

“Will when I can,” I promise, pulling her to me to steal a quick kiss. “Get this sexy ass inside with our girl.”

Bailee grabs my beard when I step away and guides my mouth back to hers for another kiss before she backs away with a bite to my lip.

“Minx,” I growl, smacking her ass. “Inside.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” she sasses, earning another growl from me.

She laughs as she grabs Lyric’s hand and glances down at her. “Race you inside?” After Lyric giggles and nods, she adds, “Last one in has to deal with Dad’s stinky socks tonight.”

Lyric takes off with a screeched, “Not it!”

Bailee blows me a kiss before chasing after her, and I watch them go with a dopey smile on my face.

“Oh, you got it bad, brother,” Linc chuckles from beside me.

“Don’t fuckin’ know what you mean,” I say with a scowl.

Linc places a hand on my shoulder and gives me an affectionate squeeze. “You fucking do. Gotta say, it looks good on you. Rarely saw you with a smile with the other one.”

“Never had much to smile about with her.”

Before I get a chance to say anything else, a gorgeous car comes squealing up to the gates. I tense, grabbing my gun and aiming it at the black car idling in front of us.

Pretty fucking sure we’re all shocked at the beautiful, tiny woman who slides out of the driver side. Long black hair swings in pigtails over her shoulders, and wide curious eyes peer out from behind the large black frames perched on her nose. She only stands about an inch above the roof of her low-sitting car.

This tiny slip of a woman doesn’t let all the guns aimed her way stop her. She moves her fingers in a little wave. “Hiya, boys.” She spots Sage trying to peek around Crow’s big-ass shoulders and amends her greeting. “Oops. And girls. I’m looking for Hendrik Quintero, Ghoul, and Whizz. I promise I’m no threat toyou, but there is one coming, and if you let me in, I’ll tell you all about.”

I move closer and hear Tweek whisper, “Holy fuck. This is Chimera?”

The hacker Crow, Tweek, and Jagger have been working with to help bring down the people who murdered Crow’s family.

Wasn’t expecting . . . her.

She hasn’t really paid attention to Tweek yet, her eyes mostly staying glued to Crow. “My arms are getting really tired, so if you could decide my fate quickly, it would be totally cool. Also, I kinda gotta pee. I didn’t have time to stop on my way here.”

Gremlin grabs Sage to take her inside while Wraith, Crow, and Thrasher walk to the gate. I stay at their backs, close enough to hear what’s being said and to get to them quickly if needed, but far enough away that I can protect them and the rest of the people in the club.

“What’s your name?” Wraith demands.

With a sigh, she drops her arms and holds her hand out to him. “Keegan Kennedy, at your service.” Wraith refuses to shake her hand, and her face drops.

Was she really expecting him to take that chance?

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