Page 78 of Steel

Not fucking happening.

I’ve got plans for today, and they won’t fucking work if I’m pissed-off again. Bailee doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about tobe unable to resist the lure of an irresistible pair of innocent, charming green eyes.

I’m about to use my daughter to get my Hummingbird to talk to me, and I’m not even the least bit ashamed about it. Bailee has been wanting to meet her for a long time now, and I think it’s time. Hell, if I’m honest, it’s probably past time.

“We’re going to have to work this out, Steel. I don’t understand why you’re not talking to me,” Heather says.

I cut my eyes to her, and whatever she sees in them has her taking a few hesitant steps back.

Fucking smart decision right now.

“Don’t you?”

Her throat convulses as her fear permeates the space of her living room. “No. I have no idea, Steel.”

“Liar,” I say softly, the threat threading my tone clear. The skipping of Lyric’s feet coming down the hall keep me from continuing with the rest of what I want to say. “You and I got shit to talk about, but not while our daughter is around. Goin’ to make one thing clear right fuckin’ now, Heather. Not your property. Don’t own me. Keep your fuckin’ claws sheathed.”

Lyric is back in the living room as the last word pours from my mouth, so Heather doesn’t get a chance to say anything back. Not that I believe she would. She’s not that fucking stupid.

Fucking hope not, anyway.

“Ready, Daddy,” Lyric chirps.

My girl. Always a happy little thing.

She walks over and gives her mom a hug, holding on tightly, then kissing her on the cheek and whispering something in her ear before coming back to me and grabbing my hand.

“We’ll talk more when I bring her home,” I tell Heather, waiting until she gives me a nod of acknowledgement before leading us out the door.

There’s something off about this drive, and it smacks me in the face when I glance in the rear-view mirror and glimpse the somber expression on Lyric’s face.

My normally chipper daughter is full of sadness, which is not something I’m used to seeing on her. There are little needles digging into my skin at the fact that I’m having to witness it now because there’s only one person responsible for putting it there.

Reaching over, I turn the volume down on the stereo and call her name. “Lyric?”

She peers up at me, and god-fucking-dammit, she smacks a smile right on her face so I don’t have to see her without it.

“It’s okay to be sad, Princess. Don’t have to be happy all the time.”

“I know.”

“So, you can drop the fake smile, girl. You don’t pretend with your dad, right? Feel what the fuck you need to. Want to talk about it?”

She nibbles on her lip, and I think for a few seconds about getting on her but decide to let it go since it’s not as important as my girl’s mental health is.

Lyric nods slowly. “Think so.”

“Then I’m all ears, Princess. We have time.”

“Promise you won’t be mad?”

I shake my head, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “Nope. You know I don’t make promises I can’t be sure I’ll keep.”

“Right,” she whispers, nodding and glancing down at the fingers she’s twisting together in her lap.

Lyric has to make the decision to talk to me about this on her own, so as much as I want to push her on it, I keep my mouth shut and watch the road, keeping my eyes peeled for any trouble that might come at us.

“Mommy keeps saying we’re going to be a family together again. Why does she keep saying we’re all going to be togetheragain? I thought you said we wasn’t? She said you guys love each other, that’s why. You don’t ever lie to me, Daddy, so I don’t know why she keeps saying that. Did you change your mind and realize you love her?”

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