Page 97 of Steel

Tears shimmer in her eyes at the intensity of my voice, but I need her to fucking hear me and understand.

When she brings her hand up and curls her fingers around my jaw, I fight to control the shiver of pleasure that her touch elicits. I’m unable to keep from leaning into the warmth of her touch, though, so I don’t even try fighting it.

It’d be nothing more than a losing fucking battle anyway.

“Yes, I know that. I trust you, Jericho. I wouldn’t have come to you if I didn’t.”

Pieces snap together inside me at the surety of her tone.

“Good.” My fingers tighten on her chin, holding her in place, and I dip down to place another kiss on her lips before I step away so she can climb inside. “Get in so we can go.”

I listen to my two girls greet each other as I pull away from the club, and I bottle up what I’m feeling at this moment because I’m not sure it’s something I’ll ever be able to experience again. Especially when Bailee calls Lyric her heart song in that gentle voice she’s reserved for my daughter.

Lyric and Bailee talk in quiet tones as I drive us to my place, and for once, my mind is empty enough to enjoy listening to the two of them bond.

“The club will probably be callin’ before much longer wantin’ me to come help them. I’m goin’ to need you to stay with Lyric while I do that.”

“You trust me with her?” she asks quietly.

I peer over at her in surprise, having thought it was obvious since she had met Lyric. “Of course, I do, Hummingbird. Don’tjust bring anyone into her life. You matter. Saw the way you were with her the last time and know you’ll give your life for hers if needed, but that’s not something that’s goin’ to happen because I got both of you.”

Bailee smiles at me softly and does that fucking humming thing that drives me crazy. It’s where her pet name came from. Don’t hear it from her often, but when I do, fucking hell, desire dances up my spine. Bailee places her palm against my thigh, her touch hot and heavy on top of my jeans.

Reaching out, I wrap my hand around her thigh, and her sigh of pleasure goes straight to my dick. As much as I want to order her to tell me what happened tonight, I don’t want to bring up anything that’s going to leave nightmares behind for Lyric. Luckily, it’s not much longer before we’re pulling down my driveway and climbing from the cage.

I follow behind my girls as we head into the house. “Lyra, shower. Pizza good for supper?”

“Yes. Bee, are you staying?”

Bailee smiles at her and runs her fingers down her cheek. “You bet I am, my heart song.”

The way Lyric leans into her touch, you’d think she’d never felt another human’s touch in her life. Maybe, though, she just ain’t felt a touch as warm and loving as Bailee’s. Outside of mine, anyway.

“Yay,” Lyric says softly before skipping out of the room and down the hall.

Bailee watches her go and then turns to me with a gentle smile and misty eyes. “You’re so lucky, bossman. She’s so amazing that it stuns me.” She walks up to me and places one hand on my chest, lifting the other to tangle in my beard. “Do you realize how much she is you? Your looks, your attitude . . . just everything. It’s all you. I would’ve loved her on that principle alone, but you can’t help but fall in love with her just because she’s her.”

“Yeah,” I reply gruffly, not knowing what else to say to that.

I know how lucky I am to have my girl. Lyric has been the best thing in my life from the moment she was born. Despite the way her mother fucking manipulated her conception, I don’t regret her being conceived. Never would. She’s my life.

Leaning in, I brush a kiss across her lips. “Goin’ to order this pizza then you good to tell me what happened tonight before Miranda?”

Her eyes darken with fear, and my fingers contract at her hips. I slide my hands around until they cup her ass and pull her to me more securely, needing her to feel safe.

She nods and buries her head against my chest as I take my phone from my pocket and pull up the website to the pizza joint.

“What do you want?” I ask after putting in my and Lyric’s order.

“Just some cheesy bread and a soda. I’m not too hungry. Not after tonight.”

I nod and settle my lips on the top of her head while I add her stuff to the order and check out. “Be here in thirty. Probably won’t be here, so if you don’t mind, just stick mine in the fridge and I’ll heat a slice or two up when I get home. Ready to tell me what happened?”

She shakes her head but then blows out a breath and nods right after.

“There were some more threats to a few of the girls,” she finally says.

“Fuck. Same shit?”

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