Page 56 of Steel

The flash of fear in her eyes assures me that she knows it’s not an empty threat. I’ve already given her more leeway with my daughter than I should have. I’m tired of playing these fucking games with her whenever shit doesn’t go her way.

“Shit is changin’ right now. You don’t come here, and you definitely do not fuckin’ stay here. From now on, I come to yourplace to get my daughter. Same rules will stay in place. Fuck up when it comes to our kid—drugs, any of all that other bullshit—there’s no more Lyric. Will go for custody so damn fast, you’ll be left wonderin’ how you got fucked without receivin’ any pleasure from it. My girl’s feelings are the only reason I didn’t have custody before, because for some reason, that little girl still sees the best parts of you and she loves those parts. Love her, but I’m done. Feel me?”

Heather nods. “I feel you.” Then she aims another scowl at me, making her look unattractive and bitter. “Who is she?”

“Not your business.”

“It is! I’m the mother of your daughter. You made me a promise to get back together and then you fucked someone else. That makes you a cheater, Steel.”

“No, it doesn’t. Not together. Not been together. Never promised shit. Said I’d think about it if you kept clean. Told you what I needed to tell you so you’d do right by our daughter. Most that makes me is an asshole.”

Heather stares at me for a few seconds and then her eyes fill with tears before a sob rips from her chest. “Did you ever love or care about me? Because it sure doesn’t feel like it.”

I blow out a breath and rub the back of my neck. “Don’t want me to answer that because you’re not goin’ to like my answer.”

“Of course, I do.” My eyes narrow a bit when her cries seem a little more exaggerated. “It’s the least I deserve.”

Does she think I’m so stupid that I don’t know a manipulation tactic when I see it?

“Care about you,” I tell her and watch as triumph flashes behind her watery eyes. “In the capacity that you’re the mother of my daughter,” I add on, catching the anger she’s not quick enough to keep from displaying at my admittance.

Funny how quickly her tears dry up at my words. There’s nothing I despise more than a manipulative bitch, but since this one is who she is to my daughter, it’s her only saving grace.

“Finished here. Get your things and get gone. Bring Lyric to you sometime tomorrow. And Heather, I meant every fuckin’ word I’ve said. Rules still stand, and you’re still expected to stay clean. That little girl fuckin’ deserves it.”

I wait until the taillights of her car disappear before I lock the place up and arm the security system. The thought of climbing into the same bed that Heather was lying in naked has me wanting to find the closest toilet to hug while I spew whatever the fuck is left in my stomach. Instead of doing that, I grab some clean linens from the hall closet and change out the bedding, putting the ones that were on the bed in a trash bag and tossing them out my back door to burn later.

Once the bed is good with fresh bedding, I yank my clothes back off and climb between the sheets, grabbing my phone so I can shoot off one last text to my pretty little Hummingbird before I let the sandman take me away.

STEEL

Out of sight. Doors locked. Had a good time, baby girl.

HUMMINGBIRD

So bossy.

The sight of her reply has my eyes closing with a smile on my face.

Shit’s been crazy for a while now between the club, whatever the hell that bullshit is with Heather, and now all this. Forthe first time I can remember, I’m just fucking emotionally exhausted, and I don’t know what the hell to do with that.

Chapter sixteen

Things have been quietaround Sinful Saloon for the last two nights, but I know when Kenna lets out a terrified scream after headlining that our reprieve is over.

Another black rose.

Another cryptic note.

I’m passing a drink over to a customer with a smile when the spidery sensation of someone’s eyes crawls over my skin. It’s not the eyes that have my heart racing and sweat beading on my upper lip—it’s the malevolence behind them. My eyes wander around the club as I serve customers, and even though the sensation doesn’t go away, I’m unable to spot anyone.

For the next few hours, I do my best to push the nauseating knowledge of being in someone’s crosshairs from my mind while I work, but each time someone sneaks up behind me or that chill slithers up my spine, I’m unable to forget. So, I stay vigilant until I can talk to Steel and let him know what’s going on.

When Reva comes storming to me with murder bleeding from her eyes, something tells me it won’t be much longer until Steel is marching through the doors.

“Come with me,” she orders, grabbing the bottle I was about to pour from and slamming it down on the counter.

“What’s going on, Reva?” I ask, thankful she’s moving at a speed I can keep up with because of my injury.

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