Page 135 of Steel

My men work through the rooms one by one.

The house is larger than it looks from the outside. A long hallway stretches all the way to the back with bedrooms on either side. Dirty mattresses and clothes scatter the floor, and handcuffs hang from the metal bed frames, telling me exactly what the Iron Sinners use this house for.

Another mess to clean up for another day.

Havoc and Soul clear half of the rooms while I clear the others. And Ghost sets up a perimeter with Legacy.

“A few men made it to their bikes before we could clear the garage. I think one was Reyes.” Havoc pops his knuckles.

“Fuck.” I wipe my hand down my face. “Is anyone tailing him?”

“Yeah, but we were too slow. He’s gone.” Havoc shakes his head. “Any luck in here?”

“It’s clear.”

No Tempe or Austin.

No Dimitri.

Gunshots ring out from the side yard, and I rush outside to see what’s happening.

Legacy’s standing at the corner of the house, firing at a few men hiding behind a truck in the distance. One pops up, and Legacy aims for his forehead, painting the desert with brain matter.

I press my back to the side of the house and take two more out as they try to rush Legacy from behind.

“Jameson!”

At first, I think I’m imagining Austin’s voice. But when he calls my name again, his cry splices my heart down the middle.

I search the yard to see where his voice is coming from, and that’s when I spot little legs running as fast as they can toward me.

“Jameson!” Austin screams again.

An Iron Sinner catches sight of him at the same time as I do, but the moment he makes a move, I plant a bullet in his chest and run toward Austin.

“Cover us,” I yell for Legacy, who shoots anyone in an Iron Sinners cut.

My legs burn as I run to Austin. Tears spill from his eyes when I reach him. I scoop him up, pulling him back toward the cover of the house. His little arms hold me so tight they’re cutting off air.

Or maybe he’s not that strong, but either way, I can’t breathe.

I can hardly think.

Nothing matters outside of keeping him safe.

Some families are born, but some families are built—like my club. Like Austin and Tempe coming into my life. The kind of family I never wanted because I’m not a good enough man to deserve this kind of love.

But as Austin shakes in my arms and a sob rips from his chest, I’m that man for him. It doesn’t matter that I’m not his father; he’s my kid. My responsibility. My ray of sunshine in a desert where I didn’t think I could stand any more heat.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’re safe.” I rub his back, holding him close, wishing I could erase the pain that’s filled his life to the brim.

I hug him tighter, trying to absorb what he’s going through.

“Austin.” I rub my hand down his back. “Where’s your sister?”

I scan the yard, but there’s no sign of her.

Austin lifts his head, and his cheeks are stained in tears as he looks to the left. I follow his gaze to a large shed that stands at a distance.

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