Page 76 of Steal

Dig raises a brow at me, knowing full well I heard them, and I sigh before I look toward Colt, who, yet again, is wearing a fake smile. It doesn’t even reach his eyes.

I know I’m partly to blame. For the past week, he’s barely focused on anything other than watching me closely, as if I’d disappear, and I know it didn’t help that I became silent after we slept together in the shower. We dried off, I stitched him up, then went quiet on him.

I’m confused, and I have every right to feel that way.

I love him, there’s no denying that, and I know he’ll leave this club if I say the word; I know the man would do anything for me, for our daughter who he keeps close, just like I know he threatened my mother to leave town, something Perrie told me, but I don’t know how to overcome the past.

I side-eye the men but roll my eyes when I see Pitbull and Anchor now standing next to Shotgun and Dig, all looking at me.

I shake my head at them, look at the clock behind the bar, where Western is serving drinks, and mumble, “Fifteen minutes to go….”

“Cass…” Anchor rasps, and I groan, knowing they want answers but won’t get them from their president.

“Colt Brody,” I say loudly a few minutes later, annoyed with the eyes I feel on me, causing several more eyes to come my way, including Colt’s.

“You ready for us to take her home, Trouble?” he asks with a furrowed brow as he passes his drink to Acid.

I quickly shake my head and say, “No, there’s still twelve minutes left….”

He tilts his head at me while his words float around me—he was going to leave Killian’s patch in party for me. Damn.

“What’s up then, Trouble? You want a drink?” he continues as the brothers look between us like a ping pong ball.

I look toward the men beside me before I look back at Colt and demand, “Are you or are you not hanging up your cut?”

Everyone freezes, but Colt ignores them and asks, “Did they put you up to this?”

I shrug, not denying it, and I answer, “I’m kind of getting fed up with being asked several times a day.”

Colt glares at the brothers, and Anchor lifts his hands in defense and states, “You’re the glue to this club. I mean, look what you’ve just done. You’ve patched in a man you trusted to look after your woman when you couldn’t. you’ve raised the club’s interests and reputation, and let's not forget, you are the person every brother goes to in their time of need….”

Colt growls, “But that doesn’t change things, Anchor, and you know it. Cassidy and Moira come first, not the club….”

Brothers start talking over each other, causing Moira to stir in my arms, and I huff as I try to stand. Canine quickly comes tome and helps me, and I send him a smile as I look around the room. Everyone tries to give their opinion on how to keep Colt as their president, and honestly, it’s amazing to see.

They adore him and look up to him. After spending the first four years of us together, trying to prove himself, he’s created an amazing environment in the years I’ve been gone.

“And you can still put us first,” I say loudly, getting everyone’s attention. I lock eyes with Colt. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with us, because my trust is broken,” his eyes turn sad, “but I know you are not handing in that leather, because it is your life.” I peer around the room. “These men are your family, our daughter’s uncles, aunts, and cousins. Family, Colt, something Perrie and I lost when our dad died….”

He looks down as Piston walks over to me and takes a sleeping Moira from my aching arms. I give him a smile in thanks and then look back at Colt, locking eyes with him. “I love you, Colt. I do, and you know this, and you also know the club is not why I am struggling.”

He keeps his eyes connected to mine, and I know he can sense the sincerity because he sighs, “Okay.”

“Okay,” Savior says next to him, raising a dark brow at him.

Colt shakes his head and confirms, “I won’t hand in my cut." The club jumps up, cheering, and Colt says loudly, “But you all need to convince my girl to stay.”

Piston nudges me, and I look at him. He gives me a small smile and asks, “Can I take her home? She can stay the night with me and Nat, help feed the baby in the morning, and maybe you and Steal can really talk….”

I wince and say, “I don’t know?—”

He cuts me off, “I know you're scared about leaving her, but I also know you and Steal need to hash things out. You love him, Cassy, and you two have the kind of love everyone would dream of. Moira will be safe with me, and you know it.”

He gives me puppy dog eyes, and I roll my eyes, but nod. He grins, then mumbles, “I’m so going to be the favorite uncle,” before kissing my head and walking out the front door, making me smirk.

I look back to Colt, who frowns as Piston takes Moira. It’s not just me that has struggled to have her out of our sight. I sigh, throw my hands up, and state loudly, “Okay, tops can come off….”

The clubwhores all cheer, but I narrow my eyes as Ginger goes toward Anchor, seductively taking off her top. He sees her coming and quickly dodges her, going round the table, and I nod, happy.

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