Page 30

Chapter thirty

Next Day

After I drop Bailee off at Sinful Saloon, I head for the clubhouse. There’s so much shit going on there right now, and I feel like I’m not pulling my weight. I wear an officer patch, but right now, I can’t say that I fucking deserve to have it on my vest.

I’m stopped at a light a few blocks from Heather’s apartment when my intuition washes over me, urging me to turn toward it. Since that’s where my daughter is, I follow my gut as it has yet to fail me.

I aim the bike that way and twist my wrist on the throttle to send me hurtling down the road. The angry growl from the pipes accompanies me on the quick trip. The closer I get to Heather’s apartment, the more the venom in my gut sharpens, eating away at me.

I fly into the apartment complex, ignoring the horn from the angry driver I cut off, and pull to a stop in front of the building Heather lives in. Kicking down the stand with the heel of my boot, I jump from the bike and stride toward my destination.

My knuckles pound against the steel door, echoing through the little balcony area. The television plays from behind it, but no one comes. When my second knock goes unanswered, I reach for the handle and find it unlocked.

Shoving it open and stepping inside, a growl erupts from my throat. I take in the scene with clenched fists and tell myself to calm down. Right now, my daughter needs my calm so I can take control of the situation.

A little orange pill bottle, an empty baggie, a blackened spoon, a lighter, and a used syringe are set in a tray on the table in front of my daughter.

I’m going to kill this bitch.

Lyric glances away from the screen and up at me. The blankness of her normally lively eyes eats me.

“Mommy took medicine to make her feel better and then she fell asleep,” Lyric says in a monotone voice.

She gives me a smile, but it’s wobbly and doesn’t reach her eyes.

I squat next to the couch so I’m closer to them. As surreptitiously as I can, I reach behind Lyric for Heather’s neck so I can try to find a pulse.

As much as I want to fucking slit her throat for what she just did in front of Lyric, a ball of relief hits me when her pulse flutters erratically under my fingertips.

“Hey, Lyra, why don’t you walk outside with Dad?”

“But I’m watching TV.”

I grind my teeth because I know I’m going to have to be real with my girl so she understands the seriousness of what’s going on right now.

Grasping her chin in my hand, I turn her to face me. “Lyric Skye, I need you to listen to me. Got to get your mom some help. Do you hear me? And while I do that, I need you out of here.”

She stares at me for a few seconds before tears fill her eyes and she nods. “‘Kay, Daddy.”

Brushing a kiss against her forehead, I help her stand and take her outside. Not wanting her far from me, I lead her as far as the steps and sit her on them as I pull my phone from my pocket.

I pull up the number I’ve had to use too many times when it comes to Heather. This is going to be the last time. This was her last chance.

“Steel? Everything okay?” Kiwi asks in greeting.

“Need you at Heather’s.”

Kiwi curses. “Fucking again?”

“Lyric was right in front of her this time,” I admit.

“That stupid fucking cunt,” she snarls. “You warned her.” Then she sighs. “Let me grab my bag and I’ll be there. Lyric okay?”

I drop my eyes to my girl and observe the way she’s picking at her jeans as she stares out into the world. “Physically, yeah.”

“Poor baby. You know who to call to make sure she’s good mentally?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. I’m walking out the door now.”

“Thanks, Kiwi. Goin’ to call Mom to come get Lyric.”

We say our goodbyes, and I pull up my mom’s contact. Other than Bailee and the Old Ladies at the club, my mom is the only other positive female role model my girl has in her life.

My parents are great despite the life I live. They definitely didn’t envision this one for their only kid. Surprised the shit out of me when they were just as supportive of me in this one as they would be if I’d gone on to be a pilot like my dad.

That’s never been the life I wanted. It killed me to watch the disappointment fill my dad’s eyes when I told him I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps. But it only lasted for a few seconds before acceptance replaced it. None of us has ever looked back either. They don’t push me for something they know will never happen instead choosing to meet me where I’m at in life.

I’ve always kept them as clueless as possible about things that aren’t exactly above board. They’re not stupid, so I’m sure they know and just choose to stay oblivious to it.

It’s safer for them that way.

They’ve adopted my club brothers and the Old Ladies as their own, never judging them or looking down on them for who they are and what they do. They’ve only met one or two of the club whores by accident, and even then, they were treated the same. Honestly, the only time I’ve ever noticed them not being their normal, accepting, and loving selves was when Heather was around. They really didn’t like her. They did their best not to show it, but sometimes it came through.

Not that I blame them.

Heather makes it really fucking hard for anyone to like her.

“Eric?” Mom asks, using the shortened version of my given name when she answers.

“Ma, need you and Dad.”

“What is it, honey?”

“Need you all to come get Lyric from Heather’s. Shit happened and I gotta stay here to clean it up.”

“All right. We’re at the grocery store but leaving right now. Give us about ten minutes.”

“Thanks, Ma.”

“Always, my boy. Love you.”

I grunt as her words hit me. “Me too.”

Saying those three words have only come easy to me when it comes to my daughter. There’s always been this sort of filter when it’s anyone else.

Mom and Dad never seemed to mind, which I’m fucking thankful for.

After ending the call, I brush my hand over Lyric’s hair. “Be right back. Goin’ to check on your mom, Princess. I’ll leave the door open.”

“Okay, Dad,” she says quietly.

This has left a scar on my girl and that, more than anything, is something I’m never gonna forgive this woman for.

When I step back inside, Heather is struggling to sit up and holding her head with one hand while using the other to hold her balance on the couch cushion.

I lean against the doorjamb and watch her struggle. A better man would be helping her, but I’ve known I wasn’t a better man for a long fucking time. Should I feel bad? Should I have some empathy? Fucking probably, but I can’t and, more importantly, I don’t. This woman has put me and my kid through too much shit.

As far as I know, this is the first time she’s done this in front of Lyric, but it doesn’t fucking matter. It’s the last time.

Her head swivels around the room, and when her hands start to shake, she realizes something is very, very wrong.

Damn straight it is.

She must feel me watching her because her head jerks my way. Her hazy, dull eyes widen when she spots me looming in her doorway like I’m the devil himself.

Right now, I sure in the hell feel as if I am.

“Steel,” Heather whimpers.

“Heather.”

I don’t say anything else, letting the silence drag as she tries to find her way out of this fuckup she’s created.

Before walking over to her, I stick my head out the door to check on Lyric. My tension and fear eases when I see that my mom and dad are sitting with her.

I turn my head toward Heather and growl, “Stay.”

She blinks owlishly at me as if struggling to understand my words.

I don’t waste any more time on her ass, instead heading outside to meet up with my parents.

They climb to their feet when I make it to them, and Mom immediately wraps her arms around me. She only comes to my chin, so I rest it on the top of her head and then squeeze her tight.

“Ma,” I rumble.

Mom pulls away with a gentle pat to my arm. “You look exhausted, sweetie.”

“Fuckin’ am.”

Dad steps up, and we do a one-armed hug with a slap to the shoulder that conveys our love for each other, then he steps away.

“Son.”

“Dad.”

“What do you need from us?” he asks.

“Can you take her to my place? Got someone who’ll stay with her until I finish dealin’ with this shit.”

“You know we don’t mind staying, Eric,” Mom says.

“Know that, Ma. Just don’t want you all stayin’ out late. Don’t know how long this is goin’ to take.”

“We’ll stay with her there as long as we’re needed,” Dad says firmly, folding his arms over his chest in a familiar pose.

I shake my head and scrub my hands over my face. “Fine. I’ll still have her come over just in case.”

It doesn’t escape my attention that I’m essentially introducing my woman to my parents, but I just don’t have it in me to run scared right now.

“Lyric, do you want to go say bye to your mom?” I ask.

She nibbles on her bottom lip as she thinks over my question. “Do I have to?”

I squat down so I’m at eye level with her. “Don’t have to, Princess, but think you should. She’s goin’ to have to go away and get better for a while.”

“Will she be okay, Daddy?”

The way her voice shakes when she asks that nearly kills something inside me.

“Know I won’t make you a promise I can’t keep. Promise I’ll do what I can to make sure she gets the help she needs. Okay?”

Lyric reaches out to put both hands on my face, and I watch as the blankness fades. “You’re the best daddy in the whole world.”

“Fuck, kid,” I exclaim gruffly, wrapping her in my arms tightly. “Love you.”

“I know.” She pulls away and pats my chest. “Love you too, Dad.”

“Go with Grams and Gramps. I’ll be home when I can. Bee will meet you all there.”

I stand, scrubbing my palm over the top of her head, and turn back to Mom and Dad. “Goin’ to run her in to say bye. You want to come in?”

Mom wrinkles her nose. “We’ll wait here.”

“Send Kiwi in when she gets here.”

Thirty minutes later, I sit on the coffee table in front of Kiwi and Heather. I sent a text to Bailee earlier asking if she’d find a way to the house so she can sit with Lyric until I get home.

Bailee tried to play it cool, but the excitement and happiness came through anyway. Trusting her with my girl wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world for me, especially after this fucking shit, but I know there’s no way in hell Bailee would ever do anything to harm Lyric. She loves her as much as I do. ‘Course, I thought Heather did too, but there’s also a part of me that knew she didn’t.

Resting my elbows on my knees, I dangle my hands between them as I regard the pale, shaking woman across from me.

“This was your last chance, and you fucked up bad,” I inform her.

“Steel,” she whispers shakily.

“No,” I bark. “Shut the fuck up. You got high with my kid right in front of you. She watched you fill that needle with nasty shit and shoot it into your fuckin’ arm.” I grind my teeth together. “Warned you. Told you what I’d do. You’re done. You’re no longer allowed to see Lyric for a while. I’m goin’ for custody. Something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

The words are bitter coming out of my mouth because I know this could possibly hurt my daughter. I’ve given Heather too many chances. This time, she put my fucking kid in danger, and that’s something that won’t ever fly. I do what I can to protect her from the life I live. She should have been safe with her own fucking mother.

Hatred flashes in Heather’s eyes, but I’m past the point of giving a fuck how she feels about me.

The only damn reason I’m here giving her a choice is because of the little girl we share.

“Steel,” she starts, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Never fuckin’ do. Told you to stay clean, and not only did you not fuckin’ do that, you did it in front of my kid, Heather. You got a choice, rehab or jail. The only fuckin’ reason I’m even givin’ you one is because of Lyric. I’d have tossed you in the clink real quick.” The expression crosses her face again, and I smirk. “Hate me all you want, I don’t give a fuck, but choose before I do it for you.”

“Rehab,” she says quickly through gritted teeth.

“Figured that’d be your choice,” I rumble, climbing to my feet. “You got five minutes to get ready. Kiwi will take you, and I’ll follow. Need to talk to the rehab center to let them know some shit.”

Once everything is taken care of at the rehab center, I head outside, pull up Bailee’s contact, and hit the video call button.

“Hey,” she answers with a smile.

She steps out on the porch and closes the door behind her. “Sorry. I should’ve messaged you or something, but didn’t want to seem rude to your parents.” Her cute little nose crinkles. “You could’ve warned me in your text that I’d be meeting them.”

I blow out a breath and lean back against my bike. “Shit, babe. Sorry. Didn’t think.”

“Hey,” she says softly. “Please don’t stress about it. You got so much going on. It’s been fine. I was just teasing you. We’re getting along okay.”

The way her eyes shutter, I know she’s not being honest.

“Bailee,” I growl.

Those beautiful fucking orbs of hers widen and then she sighs. “Okay, so it was rough start, but we are good, Jericho.”

“Explain.”

The bark in my voice startles her.

“Steel, you know your ex. I’m guessing that’s what made them leery. I don’t exactly look calm and collected. I’ve got bright red hair and tattoos.”

“Babe, fuckin’ biker.”

“Yes, but you’re also their son. I’m a woman who is about to watch their granddaughter. A stranger who probably reminds them of Heather. But stop worrying about it. They just needed reassurance, which I was happy to give. It helped that Lyric and I are so close. I swear, your parents and I are practically besties now,” she teases.

“They still there?”

She shakes her head. “No. They were gonna stay at first, but your mom looked tired. They finally were comfortable enough with me and Lyric together that they were okay going home when I urged them to.”

“Thanks.”

Bailee shakes her head. “Don’t thank me for looking out for them.” Her eyes soften and fill with warmth. “Your parents are really great, Steel. They love you and Lyric so much.”

“Yeah,” I agree gruffly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Need something from you.”

“Sure, bossman. What is it?”

“The office off the den. Go in there. Under the desk, there’s a floor safe.”

The phone shakes as she walks through the house, and then the bottom of the desk comes into the frame as she squats under it.

I clear my throat because I just realized what the code I’m about to tell her gives away, but she needs the gun from inside.

Her breath stalls, and she turns the phone away from her face when I rattle off the date. The white pallor to her skin and the pain she tries to hide almost makes me wish I would have changed it.

Hell, I don’t even know why I set it as that.

Except, as I stare into her pretty wounded eyes, I know exactly why I set it as that.

The safe beeps with each number she puts in, and I watch her face keenly to see if she recognizes them for what else they could mean besides what she’s assuming.

“Emmy Lou’s wedding date, huh?” she asks in a voice void of any emotion, not looking at me.

Fuck. Of course, that’s the first place her stubborn mind goes to.

“Look at me,” I bark.

Bailee keeps her eyes on the safe, terrified to let me see the pain on her face. I don’t have to be in front of her to feel the hurt roiling inside her. It screams at me across the line, begging for relief.

My fist clenches against my thigh, fighting the need to sling my leg over my bike and rush to her. “I said fuckin’ look at me.”

This time, her tormented eyes find mine through the screen.

“What else happened on that day, Lee?” She just stares at me, so I repeat my question, softening my voice. “What else happened?”

“It was the first time we were together.”

“Most beautiful fuckin’ person I’d ever seen.”

Bailee snorts. “Em was beautiful.”

“She was,” I agree, “but you were fuckin’ ethereal, Hummingbird. Stole my fuckin’ breath, and that shit’s not been right since. That code is ‘cause of you, baby girl, not some other woman.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, lowering her eyes back to the safe.

“Don’t. It’s my fuck-up. Didn’t think you’d assume anything different. Should have.”

Bailee blows out a breath and gives me a shaky smile. “So, what am I getting in here for?”

“Gun.”

She sucks in a sharp breath but nods.

“Where’s Lyric?” I ask.

“Bath. She was quiet and withdrawn at first. It took me a while, but I was able to have her smiling again. We painted nails, and I braided her hair.” Bailee’s eyes fill with sadness. “I listened as she told me what happened. She broke my heart, Steel.”

“Yeah,” I say, agreeing with her. “Gun, Hummingbird.”

I steer us back on track when a text comes through from Ronin asking where I am.

“Right.”

She sits the phone down, resting it against the leg of the desk so I’m able to see everything she’s doing.

“Know how to use that?” I ask when she pulls the gun out.

“I know how. Reed made sure because of me going off all the time on my own. I just never liked carrying one.”

Explains why she didn’t have one on her the day she ran into Killer.

“Show me,” I order, needing to be sure.

Once I’m satisfied, I go over the security system with her. How to arm and disarm it, where she can find the camera feed, all that shit. But my protective instincts still claw at me, refusing to be settled.

“Lee, gonna have Em come sit with you for added protection,” I tell her. She grinds her jaw, wanting to argue. “Need you two protected. The more eyes, the more protection. She does this shit for a livin’, Lee.”

Bailee closes her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again and giving me a soft smile. “Okay.”

I have her take my phone to the bathroom door so I can tell Lyric goodnight and then do the same with Bailee.

Before I head toward the clubhouse, I shoot off a quick text to Em asking her to go stay with my girls until I get home. She responds back shortly, agreeing and telling me Killer Kitty Inc. are on them too.

After thanking her, I toss my leg over my bike and fire it up. I roar out of the lot and throttle toward the clubhouse, secure in the knowledge that my girls are protected as best as possible.