Page 189 of Steel

I woke up this morning needing a distraction from the countdown in my head. I need to think on a decision that’s getting easier to make the more Killer comes after us, but the thought of leaving Steel and Lyric threatens to bring me to my knees.

After a few hours at work, I realize it isn’t where I want to be. Sinful Saloon isn’t busy at this time of day, so Reva is cool with me heading home.

I’m climbing into the car Steel’s parents dropped off to us when my phone pings with a message.

STEEL

Heather wants to meet. Goin’ now.

My fingers tighten around my phone as I read over his message.

And so, it begins.

My throat constricts as I set the phone in the cup holder and turn over the engine, my thoughts running chaotically through my head.

Keaton and Poe sit in the lot, waiting for me to leave so they can follow. For a minute, I consider running away from whatever Heather’s cooking up, consider trying to lose them, but I don’t have experience doing something like that. It can’t be hard, can it? I’m in a car, and they’re on bikes.

I could leave him before he leaves me, but then it wouldn’t just be him I abandon.

No.

He said he loves me, so I need to trust him. Need to have hope he has more faith in me than whatever lies Heather is telling him about what happened.

Not ready to go back home yet now that I know he’s not there, I head into town. There’s a little girl who has a birthday soon, and what better way to distract myself than searching for presents for her?

Unfortunately, there isn’t much at the shops in town that I felt fit my girl, so I walk out of the last shop empty-handed.

Something up the street catches my eye, and when I latch onto what was begging for my attention, my breath catches in my throat. Knowing what she did to him and how it affected him, I can’t believe Steel’s actually got his arms around Heather as she snuggles into his chest.

Honestly, I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s just like our past all over again. He leaves her and comes to me. He leaves me and goes to her. Round and round in an ugly toxic circle.

I don’t know. I thought this time was going to be different.

Will I ever learn?

Bailee wanted to go to work today. I didn’t think it was a good idea after the shit that happened yesterday, but she begged me, saying she couldn’t sit around thinking about what happened.

I never have a damn chance against those beautiful begging eyes of hers.

Dad brought us a spare vehicle to use as we wait for the insurance payout on the Bronco.

Keaton and Poe are on Bailee duty for as long as she wants to be there today. If I didn’t have other shit to do to protect her from Killer, I’d be sitting on her ass myself.

I’m about to climb on my spare bike when my cell rings. I groan when I see Heather’s name. Fucking last thing I want to do right now is deal with whatever bullshit she’s got going, but she’s my kid’s mom.

“What?” I answer.

“Steel?” she croaks.

Her voice has me straightening on the seat. “What’s goin’ on?”

She sniffles. “I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“Got shit to do,” I tell her with a sigh.

“Please,” she pleads. “It’s important.”

Worried it might be about Lyric, I cave. “Miriam’s. Twenty minutes.”

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