Page 57 of Steel

“Jameson. Tempe.” Austin runs up, cutting off our conversation. “The ramp is ready.”

“All right, show us.” I squeeze Austin’s shoulder.

But as soon as I start to move, a bang at a distance freezes me in place.

Instinct tells me to run. To duck. To grab my brother. But I can’t seem to make my body do any of those things.

I’m still processing the first bang when there’s a succession of others at a distance, and Jameson’s body slams into me so quickly, it takes me a moment to process what he’s doing.

He has one arm around Austin and the other around me as he puts himself between us and the gunshots without hesitating for a second. He shoves us back into the barn, shielding us as gunshots continue to ring out from all around.

His body is flush with mine as he presses me to a beam, and only when the gunshots stop does he take a step back.

“Austin.” Jameson looks down at my brother first. “Are you okay?”

Austin’s hands are shaking, gripping my arm.

“I—” Austin’s voice stutters, and he doesn’t take his eyes off Jameson as I drop to my knees and start patting Austin’s shirt, checking for injuries.

“Nothing, he’s good.” I pat his arms and stomach and then rest my hands on mine. “We’re both okay.”

Except we’re not. None of this is.

Looking up at Jameson, I process what just happened. His hand is on my shoulder; his body’s between us and the doorway.

“You protected us,” I whisper.

He kept us safe.

16

Steel

My patch gives mestrength.

It gives my men hope.

The Twisted Kings are my family as much as my own blood.

The responsibility of leading them is what I was born to do, and I’m damn good at it.

At least, I thought I was.

The attack on the perimeter of the compound was another reminder we’ve been on the defense for too long. War is on the horizon, and our enemies have proven they’ll show no mercy.

My fingers clench, and I can still feel Tempe and Austin shaking in my arms. I didn’t think fear was something I could feel, but when that first gunshot rang out, all I could do was throw myself at them.

Tempe doesn’t want anything to do with me or my club, but she was all I saw in that moment. Her and herbrother—with those eyes that see straight through me. I had to protect them.

What is it about her?

The girl makes me borderline happy.

Content.

At peace.

What the fuck am I going to do with that?

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