Page 210 of Steel

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too, Lyra.”

No sooner did she show up, she’s running back into the fray with all the other kids. I grimace when she steals the ball they’re kicking about, dribbling it around the yard between her feet before narrowing her eyes at Hendrick as he comes at her to steal it away.

Fuck.

“Lyric,” I yell in warning.

My daughter looks over her shoulder at me, that devious little smirk crossing her lips, then she draws her foot back and pitches it forward against the ball.

I watch in horror as it sails through the air, aiming straight for Hendrick and nailing him right between his legs.

He goes down with a cry, and Bailee’s eyes jerk that way.

“Lyric Skye Richter, get your little booty over here right now,” Bailee orders sharply, one hand on her hip, her other pointing a finger right in front of her.

I hide my smile when Lyric hangs her head, knowing she’s just earned her mama’s ire.

“Ohh, you’re in for it now,” Hendrick snickers.

“Hendrick Walker James,” Nova barks, “over here.”

This time, I’m unable to stop the chuckle from escaping at the way both kids look chagrined at being caught.

Trouble is brewing in their future, and I’m not exactly sure how I’m feeling about it.

Wraith places his fingers in his mouth and lets out a sharp whistle. “Grub is ready. Women and kids first.”

I kiss Raya on her cute button nose. “Let’s get our beautiful mama some food. What do you say?”

She smacks my cheeks. “Da. Da. Ma. Ma.”

“Takin’ that as agreement,” I say, tweaking her curly blonde hair and walking over to the table of food.

Raya and Kian take after their mama in physical appearance. They have her blonde hair and icy blue eyes, while the rest of our kids look like they were straight up pulled out of my ass. Bailee’s chosen to grow her hair out, but she’s left it that bright red we dyed it to when she made her way back into my life. She’s sporting more ink now, turning some of her scars into even more beautiful pieces on her. She’s made all of them a part of her now, and she can meet her own reflection without flinching or doubting the beauty she sees in the mirror.

Bailee wears her scars as her badge of honor.

Lyric is helping Jude make his plate while Bailee makes her way up with Kian and Nero. She starts to grab a plate, but I take it from her gently.

“Go sit, Hummingbird.” I pass Raya off to her after I place a kiss to her forehead. “Take Raya. Got the boys.”

She cups my cheek. “You sure?”

Exhaustion lines her eyes, and I brush my finger around them, leaning down to kiss the scar on her jawline. “Sure, baby girl.”

“You’re too good to me,” she whispers.

Grabbing her chin, I hold her still. “My queen. Always goin’ to put you first. Fuckin’ love you.”

“Love you too, bossman.”

The woman is crazy if she thinks I’m ever going to do anything but put her first. I learned my lesson on that in a way I never want to experience again. I’ve got so much shit to make up for that I’ll never stop showing her how remorseful I am and how deeply in love with her I am. We’ve been taking monthly counseling classes together since the day she told me she was pregnant with Jude. She’s told me repeatedly that we no longer need them, but I think they make us stronger. They teach us to never forget how important we are to one another and how essential communication is.

Kian and Nero each grab one of my hands, pulling me from my thoughts. “Ready for some grub, my little devils?”

Nero, my quiet one, just nods while Kian, the most outgoing of our children, bounces on his feet and licks his lips.

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