Page 86 of Steel

He shakes his head. “Not a damn thing, apparently. What else?”

“That’s it.” I shrug. “He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information. And I was too busy fighting back to ask.”

Jameson steps closer, tipping my chin up again, except this time, I don’t pull away. I can barely breathe with him this close. His warm leather scent floods my nose, and my chest brushes against him with my inhale.

“Did he hurt you?” Jameson nudges my chin up so he can examine myface.

I swallow hard when he brushes his thumb over my jaw. “No. I didn’t give him a chance before I punched him in the nuts.”

Jameson’s angry scowl cracks with a hint of amusement. “Good girl.”

I didn’t fight Dimitri off for Jameson’s sake. It was to save myself. But something about his praise makes my insides flutter. So many men in my past have been intimidated by a woman who can stick up for herself, but Jameson isn’t.

“Get in the truck, Tempe.” Any amusement vanishes as he releases me and takes a step back, not saying another word as he reaches for the handle and opens the door. “I need to go check in with my men.”

Once I climb in, he shuts the door behind me and heads over to where the cops are still talking to Sonny and Reyes.

“Are you off work?” Austin curls to my side the best he can in his booster seat.

“Yeah.” I force a smile, squeezing his hand. “I am now.”

He glances out the front window, his gaze landing on the cops. “Did someone break the law?”

“It was just a little mix-up.” I angle his face so he’s looking at me and not the men being dragged out of the bar in handcuffs. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“I’m not worried. Jameson will take care of us.”

Austin’s faith in Jameson makes my heart ache because even if his trust is well-placed regarding our physicalsafety, it’s a reminder that Jameson is one more man Austin is eventually going to watch walk away.

“Jameson said someday, maybe I can have a cape like his.”

“His?” I glance over at where Jameson is talking to the cops.

“Yeah.” Austin nods. “A black one.”

That’s when I realize he’s talking about Jameson’s cut.

I turn back to my brother. “You don’t need one of those, Austin. You’re already a superhero without it.”

“Jameson said it’s not about being a superhero. He said his cape is to show who his family is.”

“You already have a family.” Tears sting my eyes with my words because I know what he needs is so much more than I’ll ever be able to offer him. “You have me.”

Austin looks out the window at Jameson, his shoulders sinking.

“Hey.” I squeeze his hand. “I’ve got you, okay? We’re in this together. You and me. I promise.”

Austin curls against my side, resting his head on my arm as he hugs me. And I hold him like I can give him all the things he deserves when I know I’m already failing.

One unstable environment after another.

One home after another.

Solving this problem will only mean more for both of us. And I’d like to think I’ll figure this out like I always have. That I’ll be able to build a life in which my brother can thrive. But there’s always going to be that missing piece.

Austin settles into the silence of the truck, and I watch the scene unfold outside Dirty Drakes.

Marley waves goodbye after the cops finish taking her statement, and she climbs in her car to leave.

---