Page 14 of Steal

“I love you,” I repeat. “I know I haven’t been the most attentive boyfriend, but you have to know that you are everything to me.” I lean my forehead against hers. “I didn’t realize how bad it looked, but you should have told me instead of running away, Trouble.”

She scoffs, trying to pull away, but I hold her tight and continue, “I get it. I’ve canceled a lot in favor of Faith, but she’s family, Cass, you know this, you know the club rules—family first. You don’t want my cut yet, and until I finally have that leather on your back, I need to answer her when she calls; otherwise, I’ll have the older generation on my back.”

She moves her head, and I sigh until she snaps, “Well, maybe I’m done being your doormat!”

I grit my teeth. “Don’t fucking make me choose between my club and you, Cass. It’s not fucking fair when you know I’m learning to take over from my father, because at the end of the day, despite all my hard work, if I have to choose, you’ll win every time.”

She shakes her head, completely mishearing what I said, and snaps, “Do you hear yourself?” She tries to pull away from me, but I don’t let her, and she growls, “I never have given you an ultimatum and I never will, all I’m saying is I’m done being second best. I needed you, Steal!” I growl at her using my road name, but she ignores it. “You were supposed to pick me up before we went to the gym, but instead, you chose her, and I ended up walking into that gym to see my sister trying to give our father CPR! I needed you, and yet you weren’t there!”

Her tears fall, and it fucking kills me, and so does the fact she’s putting the anger of her father’s death on me.

“You say family first, but what the hell am I, huh?” she croaks, “your fuck buddy, that’s what I am. You don’t love me, Steal,” I growl again, “if you did, I’d be more of a priority for you.”

Done with this bullshit, I grip the back of her neck and squeeze tightly before I snap, “First of all, don’t ever fucking call me Steal again. I’m your Colt, and I always have been. Secondly, youaremy priority, Cass, you just don’t see it. Does Faith come first sometimes? Yeah, she does, but instead of seeing it as me keeping my word to my club to prove to them I can be a good prez when the time comes, you’re seeing it as me putting the girl I fucked first.”

She nods and confirms, "Okay, so I can go fuck a guy for four years and then spend all my time with him. Is that what you’re saying?”

I swear to fuck.

Not giving a shit about our audience, I quickly move us so she’s leaning against my bike, and I’m covering over her with my body, making her gasp. I growl, “No one will ever get to fuck you except for me, do you understand? You aremygirl, my fucking heart, and if you’d just fucking wear the cut that I got you, then all this bullshit can stop, and I can put you first like I’ve always wanted! I’m not just an ordinary brother, Cassidy, I’m the next in line, and the rules are different for me, especially when Faith’s mom begged my dad to look out for her. I got it all put on my back because I stupidly fucked her before you came along, and you know this!”

Her tears fall, and I quickly wipe them away as I whisper, “I know you’re not ready, especially with your doubts, but don’t expect me to give up on us. These past two months, not seeing you, has killed me, Trouble.” My eyes race between hers. “If she calls when I’ve planned to meet up with you, I’ll try and push it onto someone else. I’ll do better, Cass, but don’t push me out, not now, not after losing your dad….”

“Starting tomorrow?” she asks, but I frown in confusion and say, “No, starting right now.”

Hope shines in her eyes, and I press my lips against hers, and I fucking melt at how much I’ve missed these lips.

I know it won’t be easy, not with me trying to prove myself to the club, but I’ll ensure that I make things right.

4

Cassidy

I bite my bottom lip as I scan the crowd, my eyes going to my little sister, who looks lost in her own world. Eli, Acid, and Aurora, who is like a sister to them, sit near her, chatting away, yet she’s not paying attention.

My heart drops when I scan the crowd again, but I don’t see Colt.

Yesterday, he promised me he was going to start making some changes and that I’d become his priority like he’s been mine, and yet, he’s not here.

Surely, he hasn’t forgotten about my graduation?

My heart pounds in my chest as the announcer asks family members to take a seat, and I quickly grab my phone, bringing up Colt’s number before pressing the call button.

It rings several times, and just when I think it’s going to voicemail because maybe he’s just running late, he answers it.

“Hey, Trouble,” he answers, and I open my mouth to ask when he’s getting here but close it when I hear, “Hey, Steal baby, do you have a dollar? I’m a little short….”

Faith.

My heart sinks, and tears blur my vision as I question, “You’re with her?Today?”

I hear him sigh. “Yeah, Cass, I am,” before he says, “Here you go,” to her.

“Look, Trouble, you know I still have to be around her. She’s club, family, and besides, the prospect who was supposed to escort her to the grocery store got called away, and I have no idea where the fuck Acid and Eli are,” he says.

I shake my head and look up as the announcer says, “Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, please give a round of applause for our graduates….”

“Cassidy, what was that?” he demands, and my eyes tear up.

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