Page 12 of Steel

“What else?”

“He told me how to get in and where to go. He said he needed me to get something from my dad’s room and that it was hidden in a panel in the wall by the bathroom. A secret compartment that I just had to push once to release the lock. But he didn’t tell me what was in there. He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information.”

“And you just went along with it?”

“Yeah.” I take a deep breath, my throat burning with my reason. “After they shot my mom, I figured they weren’t bullshitting.”

I dip my chin and pick at my sleeve, finding another speck of blood staining the green cotton. My throat clogs, and my eyes burn as I fight back tears. I can barely remember what happened. It was all so fast.

The pounding at the door.

The scream.

The blood.

When I look up, I see Steel staring at the proof of my story, not that he seems to care when he looks back up at me.

“Havoc, go check Helix’s room for the compartment.”

“Got it, Prez.” Havoc walks out of the room.

Steel lifts off the wall and finally steps back, making some distance between us. “Ghost, put her in a room until I figure out who the fuck sent her here, then meet Soul—”

“A room? Wait.” My hands are shaking. Panic swells in my chest. “I told you everything. You can’t keep me here. That’s all I know.”

“And you expect me to just accept you at your word? You’re not going anywhere until I figure out what the fuck is going on.”

Steel turns to walk away, and I jump forward and grab his arm, realizing my mistake when he freezes and looks down at me with a glare so cold it has me stepping back.

“Wait. Please.” I brush my hands over my arms. “You don’t understand. I have to go back. If I don’t… they’ll… shit.”

I clutch my stomach and sink against the wall. The room is spinning, and my heart hammers in my chest. My throat burns, and my eyes are on fire as the tears start falling and bile rises in my throat.

Showing weakness is dangerous, but I can’t help it. The walls are closing in, and my insides might as well be splitting open. I wipe the rivers from my cheeks, but the tears won’t stop falling.

Steel steps in front of me, tipping my chin up. “Tempe, finish that sentence. They’ll what?”

I blink up at him, hating that he’s seeing me like this. But I’m out of options, and even if it turns out Steel is the worse of two evils, if I say nothing, he’ll keep me here, and that can’t happen.

“Please.” It’s nearly a whisper as I beg mercy from a man who is better known for inflicting punishment. “Do what you have to do to me. But I’m all Austin has now. Please don’t let them kill my brother.”

4

Steel

“What do you think?”Ghost leans against the wall opposite me in the hallway. “Can we trust anything she’s saying?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question? You’re the one who vetted her and everyone else in Helix’s life after shit went down.”

My nerves grate at the reminder of my former vice president’s betrayal. He thought he was owed something when none of us are. Tried to take out his own club to advance his interests and strip me of my position. He was a liar and a snake. And now his daughter is sneaking into my clubhouse, trying to steal from me.

The second Tempe said Helix’s name, a chill ran down my spine. A reminder I’m all too familiar with lately. A constant whisper in my ear telling me the war never really ends, it simply changes.

New enemies.

Evolving threats.

I don’t know who sent Tempe here tonight, but if they know she’s Helix’s daughter, it means choosing her for this task was intentional. My rivals are getting creative, finding new ways to use innocent blood against me.

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