Page 69 of Steal

She does as I instruct, taking big, deep breaths, before nodding and getting back to my leg. She furrows her brows as she wiggles around in the wound, and I grit my teeth.

“Keep steady, brother,” Piston whispers, and I nod, muttering back, “Just keep fucking hold of me.”

I think everyone has now realized exactly what I mean to Cass, something they should have noticed years ago; I mean, fuck, I treated her like shit in favor of the club, and she stayed…until she couldn’t.

“Dammit,” Cassidy chokes, her tears falling before she looks at me and says, “it’s lodged too deep, I-I…oh God, I’ve got to make the wound bigger….”

Terror and true fear fill her eyes, and I breathe heavily as I nod. “Do it.” She shakes her head, her body trembling, and I snap, “I picked Faith up the day you walked in on your dad having a heart attack and your sister doing CPR, I forgot your graduation, I forgot to pick you up and left you in the pouring rain when I was the one who arranged the date.…”

“Uh, Prez, what are you doing?” Piston questions while Cannon stutters, “Ah fuck, he’s trying to anger her, so she does what she needs to….”

Cassy’s eyes race between mine as I say, “I chose a fun run with the club instead of your birthday, I chose to drink with the brothers to ensure they knew I was there for them when you went to mourn your father on his first death anniversary.”

“Colt, please,” she begs, but I shake my head and continue, “I stood by Faith every time she caused shit with you, every time she tried to aggravate you. And when you were the one who got the blame, I stood by her.”

“Stop it, Colt!” she shouts.

I ignore her and continue, "On our second anniversary, I was shopping with Faith because her car had apparently broken down, and I sat back, allowing my father, a man who adores you, to ban you from the clubhouse for something you didn’t do.”

“Fuck, Prez,” Pitbull snaps, “stop….”

I grunt and quickly bite my bottom lip to stop the shocked shout as Cass digs the knife into my leg, making the wound larger. The boys hold me tighter as she drops the knife and digs into my leg again for what feels like fucking hours before she gasps and pulls the bullet out, throwing it on the floor, then grabbing the rag off Cannon, and pushing it onto my leg.

I blink and fall back a little. “Fuck,” I grind out, I think you need to ride my bike back for me, Trouble.”

Pitbull mutters, “I think he’s lost his mind from the pain.”

I roll my eyes and admit, “It’s not the first time she’s ridden my bike, and it won’t be the last.”

Cassidy doesn’t say anything as she wraps my leg.

I know I’ve just brought back a lot of shit, but I knew she wouldn’t cut me without getting angry. She may still be mad at me and may be struggling to forgive, but I know she loves me, and causing this much pain was too much for her.

“Cannon, can you get my bike ready, Piston, have Killian ride Acid’s bike, and tell Acid to drive the truck back to the club with Moira and that bitch. Anchor wrap and weight down that fucker’s body, then follow the truck back.”

The brothers nod and move, leaving Cass and me alone.

“Did I just ensure we took twenty steps back?” I ask after the door shuts, and she sniffles but shakes her head.

“No, I knew what you were doing, I just…I should have come to you instead of coming here alone,” she admits.

I cup her cheek, forcing her to look at me, and the pain shining back at me fucking kills.

“Tank was watching us, Trouble. You leaving the way you did, it helped keep them in the dark,” I say, wiping her cheeks with my thumbs. “Help me stand, and let me ride bitch, yeah?”

She chuckles then stand on her shaky legs. I accept her hand and grunt as I stand, then put my arm over her shoulders, giving her some of my weight. I allow her to guide me out of the warehouse to Cannon and Pitbull, who’re sitting astride their bikes next to mine.

“Piston and Anchor are riding back with Killian and the truck, Tank should be near the bottom of the ocean,” Cannon states and I nod as Cass helps me onto the bike.

I take deep breaths as I keep my bike up by my right leg, then wait a beat before I look at Cass when she doesn’t climb on. She’s worrying her hands, flinching as she irritates her already red and busted knuckles.

“Come on, Trouble,” I say, and she swallows hard before admitting, “I haven’t ridden since our last date….”

I nod and say, “Good,” making her snort. I pat the seat. “Climb on in front, and I’ll guide you like I used to.”

She bites her lower lip, says, “Maybe I should ride with one of them,” and nods to the boys, angering me.

I narrow my eyes and snap, “First of all, I can’t fucking ride, and secondly, like fuck are you getting on the back of a bike with someone else, and you know full well why!”

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