Page 7

Chapter seven

My phone goes off back-to-back, and each time, I glance at the phone holder on the dash. Heather is pulling her usual bullshit, and I know she’s wanting to take off for her next fix of drugs or dick.

I don’t give a fuck. I’m just glad she’s waiting until I get my girl before she does it. At least I can give her that—she’s not so far gone that she doesn’t put our daughter in danger.

‘Course that bitch knows I won’t hesitate to put her ass in the ground if anything happens to Lyric while in her care.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

I’ve only recently bought a place, otherwise, I’d already have custody of my daughter. The club is too unstable of a life for her, and too much shit goes on there that I don’t want her around. That’s the only reason Heather’s even maintained custody of Lyric.

When I first met Heather, she wasn’t as bad as she is now. Or maybe she was, and I just didn’t see it. It’s not like I was paying attention to much outside of what she had between her legs.

That’s all there’s ever been between us.

Halfway decent sex.

Until Lyric was born anyway.

At least I can say I tried. Fuck, I tried for so long for Lyric, but it was never going to work.

All the lights in the apartment are on when I pull up, and I spot Lyric watching from the window.

My heart softens as I see her bounce up and down when she catches sight of my Bronco. Heather walks over to her and says something that has my girl losing all her animation, and my fingers tighten around the steering wheel.

I’m up and out of my vehicle in less than twenty seconds.

I don’t know what she said, and at this point, I don’t even give a shit. She fucked with my girl’s happiness, and that’s all I need to know.

Normally, I’d do the decent thing and knock, but right now, I’m too pissed off to worry about formalities.

Heather’s scowling down at Lyric when I walk through the door.

“Lyra,” I rumble, using the nickname I gave her soon after she was born.

She glances at me and gives me the brightest fucking smile ever. It never fails to light up my heart.

“Daddy,” she squeals, pulling away from Heather and running over to me.

I catch her and swing her into my arms, settling her on my hip with a kiss to the crown of her head. “Hey, Princess. Got your stuff ready?”

Before much longer, she’s going to be too big for me to hold like this, and I’m going to miss the fuck out of it.

She nods. “Yup. My bag is on my bed.”

“Go get it while I have a chat with your mom.”

“Okay,” she says happily, scooting down and running off.

“The hell did you say to her?” I growl when Lyric is out of earshot.

She shakes her head. “Nothing. Just told her to get out of the damn window.”

Fucking liar.

Heather struts up to me and rests her hands on my chest. “When are you going to come back home, baby? Lyric and I want you back with us.”

I hold in my sigh at the old song and dance. I go through this with her every damn time we split. Normally, I’d give in right away, but this is the longest we’ve split up since Lyric was born, and for the most part, it’s been fucking nice not having to wake up to her dysfunctional bullshit.

Grabbing her chin between my fingers, I pull her head back so I can look into her face. Her eyes are clear, but there’s white residue around her nostrils.

I rub it onto my thumb and hold it up to her. “How long?”

She knows better than to lie about this, so her shoulders sag. “Last night.”

“Where the fuck was my daughter?”

“She was sleeping, Steel. I went outside. I swear, I didn’t bring it in here. I promised, and I haven’t broken it.”

Strangely, I believe her, so I release her chin and step back. “Nothin’ has changed, Heather. Shit’s too unstable when we’re together. Our girl deserves better than that. She deserves happy parents, and we’re never goin’ to be that if we’re in a relationship.”

Heather cups my cheeks. “But we can be that, Steel. I can do better. I can stay clean. I promise. For you and Lyric, I will.”

She lifts to her toes and tries to kiss me, but I turn my head away. There’re only a few times I’ve kissed her, and it’s been almost two years since the last time. I don’t like it because it feels too intimate, and that’s something that Heather and I rarely are.

Except with Bailee , a little voice whispers.

I hear Lyric singing as Heather’s words fly around in my head. I don’t want to entertain her idea, but doesn’t my girl deserve to have both her parents with her every day? Doesn’t she deserve to have a whole family instead of this broken one?

“Please? For Lyric?” Heather begs.

It’s the small hint of triumph in her voice that has those stupid fucking notions screeching to a halt.

I’ve been down this road with her so many damn times.

Too many, honestly.

But my girl does deserve to have a mother who is clean. So, if manipulating Heather gets that for her, then I’ll do whatever I have to in order to secure her sobriety.

And even though it’ll never happen, I still find myself saying, “You get clean for good, I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you,” she breathes, wrapping her arms around me.

There’s a part of me that does give a shit about her as the mother of my daughter, and I did give her seven years of my life, so I wrap my arms around her and give her the human touch I know she craves.

“I’m ready, Daddy,” Lyric says, pulling me and Heather apart.

I grab her bag and ruffle her hair, chuckling when she jerks away with a scowl. “Give your mom love, kiddo, so we can hit the road.”

I waste a few minutes trying to untangle from Heather when she hugs me goodbye, but soon, we’re on our way.

“Music,” my little princess demands.

Laughing, I put on some old rock so she can jam out.

Lyric is her father’s daughter.

For the next fifteen minutes, we sing along with each song, carrying on our own private rock concert.

Every time I glance in the rear-view, my girl is bobbing her head, her feet dancing to the rhythm as she belts out the lyrics she knows by heart. Turns out I named my daughter well.

Fuck.

Did my life even matter before she was born? Because it doesn’t seem like it.

No, I’m pretty sure my life truly began when my daughter came into this world screaming her lungs out.

It’s not been perfect. Hell, most of it was fucked-up beyond recognition, but every single second with Lyric is one I would never change.

“Hey, Daddy?”

I peer into the rear-view mirror, and she’s staring at me with her lip caught between her teeth. Reaching over, I lower the volume of the radio.

“Yes, Lyra?”

“Are you and Mommy getting back together?”

“That what you want?” When she glances down at her lap and then back to me, I understand that she’s terrified to give me honesty. “Look at me, Princess. Always speak your mind with me. You want Mom and me to get back together?”

“No, Daddy. I don’t think I do. I love you and Mommy, but I don’t know if I want to live with her anymore.”

I wait until we’re inside the house before I answer her. Taking a seat on the couch, I pat the spot beside me. “Come here, Lyric.” I make sure to keep my voice gentle so she understands that she’s not in trouble.

She sits and folds her hands in her lap but keeps her eyes on mine.

I fucking hate that her pretty green eyes hold such defeat. What the fuck is going on over there?

“Why don’t you want to live with her anymore, Princess?” I ask, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I just don’t like the things she does. They hurt me.”

Her words make my heart pound so hard that I have to caution myself not to get too angry until I find out the meaning behind them. I swear to fuck, though, if that bitch laid a hand on her, I’m finishing her life tonight.

“Gonna have to make that a little more clear for Dad. How is Mom mean? Does she hit you?”

Lyric’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “No. I promise.”

“Know you can tell me if she or anyone else touches you, right? You won’t get in trouble.”

“I know, Daddy, but she doesn’t.”

“Okay. Said you don’t like the things she does, that they hurt you. Can you tell me what you’re talkin’ about?”

The next few minutes are spent listening about how my daughter doesn’t like when her mom acts funny. She tells Lyric that she’s sick and has to take medicine to get better and that there are only certain people who can get her medicine for her.

Lyric is fucking smart, so I think she has some idea about what’s happening with her mom, but she also doesn’t really understand.

“Does she take this medicine when you’re around, Lyric?”

“No. She said it’s only for adults and doesn’t want me accidentally taking it. When I asked her where she takes it, she says outside because that’s where she keeps it.”

Well, she’s trying to be as honest as possible to Lyric, so I guess she gets credit there, but it doesn’t negate the fact she’s still fucking high around my daughter.

“How many times you see her when she’s not feelin’ good?”

“Not a whole bunch, but sometimes I do.”

I grit my teeth to control the explicit words that want to spew from my mouth. Lyric doesn’t deserve to have them aimed her way when her mother is the one who should get them.

Heather has been skating on thin ice for the last seven years, but today was the first time she’s offered to get clean for Lyric, so I have to hold out hope that our daughter is worth that much to her.

“I’m sorry, baby girl. Me and Mom will have a talk. It’ll take some time to get you here with me full-time, but I’ll do whatever I have to, to try to help your mom get over her sickness. Okay?”

“You promise you’ll try? I don’t like when she’s sick.”

With a sigh, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and snuggle her to me, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “Promise, Princess. Now, what did you have for dinner?”

“Mommy gave me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

“That’s all?”

She nods. “Mommy said that’s all we had.”

Fuck. Looks like I’m going to have to do the goddamn grocery shopping so I know my daughter has fucking food to eat.

“How about I order us some pizza?”

Lyric beams up at me. “Really?”

“Of course. I have to make sure my favorite girl eats, don’t I?” I tease, gently poking my finger into her belly before lumbering to my feet.

Her beautiful little giggle is music to my ears, and it’s a sound that never fails to bring a smile to my face.

“Bathtime, Princess,” I tell Lyric as I start to clean up our pizza mess.

“Daddy, don’t you know you aren’t supposed to get into water for at least thirty minutes after you eat?”

I pause in the middle of tossing the paper plates in the trash and glance over at my daughter. Her eyes are twinkling, and she’s got a toothy smile on her face.

“Pretty sure they’re only talkin’ about swimmin’,” I reply with a laugh.

“Well, ain’t that what I’m doing in the bathtub?”

Lord, save me from my smartass daughter. “No. You’re takin’ a bath.”

She waves her tiny, dainty hand in the air like royalty. “You say potato, I say pah-tato.”

I shake my head. “Too much like me, girl. Get in the bath or no Goosebumps book.”

With a huff that’s full of attitude, she stands and puts her hands on her hips. “Aunty Nova and Hendie were right. You are such a party pooper, Daddy.”

“Remind me to have Uncle Wraith spank your aunt and their little shit of a son,” I mutter.

“Dollar in the swear jar, Daddy,” she sings as she skips to the bathroom.

Tossing the plates into the trash, I grab a dollar out of my wallet and march over to her jar on the fireplace mantle and add it to the rest.

The damn thing is almost full because my daughter never fails to catch someone cussing. She’s got the perfect honorary family to make sure her jar stays full year-round. At this point, the girl will have her college education paid for and still never have to work.

Once I have our mess cleaned up, I decide to get some shit done while Lyric is bathing. The first thing I need to do is check on a certain red-haired temptress and then start digging to see what I can find out about the Night Skulls.

STEEL

You good?

It’s only a few seconds later that I get a reply, and I lean back in my chair with a smile.

HUMMINGBIRD

Peachy keen. I’m all tucked in like a good little girl.

STEEL

You’re too much trouble. Send me a picture to prove it.

My cock stiffens in my jeans, and I let out a quiet groan when the picture comes through. She’s laid back on a bed with the top of her bare tits showing while the rest of her is covered with a silky black sheet. The hand not holding the phone is resting on top of the covers right above her pussy. Her eyes are hooded, and she’s got her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

The first thing I do is save the image to my phone, and before I realize what the hell I’m even doing, I save it as my wallpaper and lock screen.

A serious debate plays out in my head about keeping it or removing it, but I justify it by telling myself it’s the perfect wank material and having it there is more convenient.

STEEL

Fuck, baby girl. Cock is weepin right now.

HUMMINGBIRD

Show me.

I listen to the monitor I put in the bathroom for when Lyric bathes so I can hear her. The water is still splashing around, and she’s talking to her toys, so I know she won’t be finishing her bath anytime soon.

I undo my jeans and pull my thick cock out. Wrapping my hand around the length, I stare at the picture she sent while I pull a few quick tugs so I can get some of my cum leaking out. Once the first drop rolls, I snap a picture, and then with much disappointment, I tuck my angry cock back inside.

STEEL

Make sure to show me how messy your pretty little pussy gets after you use my cock for visual aid.

I shove my phone in my pocket and stand to rearrange my softening cock before heading into the kitchen to wash my hands.

I grab Lyric a glass of milk and heat up her chocolate chip cookie.

It’s not long after that she’s skipping in with her hairbrush and bottle of detangler. While she climbs onto the barstool, I situate her milk and cookie in front of her before grabbing the detangler.

Lyric munches happily on her late-night treat as I work the tangles out of her hair.

“Down or braided?” I ask.

She leans her head back to look up at me with a silly chocolate smile. “Braided, Daddy, like always.”

“Did you bring a ponytail holder?”

Lyric holds her wrist up to show me the purple band on it. “Always do.”

I gently tug her hair. “Smartass.” She smirks, and before she can even open her mouth, I slide another dollar from my pocket and smack it onto the counter. “I know.”

When I first started learning how to do her hair, we had more fails than we did successes. I refused to give up, though. I’d be damned if my princess would walk around looking a mess just because her dad kept letting fucking hair get the best of him.

Now, my fingers are quick as I fold the pieces of her hair together and secure it in place with the ponytail holder.

“We doin’ a book tonight?” I ask as I rinse out her cup and wipe down the counter.

“Yes. I got one from the school library.”

“Go climb in bed. I’ll finish up here and be there shortly.”

A few minutes later, I shut off the lights in the kitchen and lock up the house as I head to Lyric’s room.

I chuckle quietly when her head nods and her eyes flutter closed before she jerks back awake. “Goin’ to be awake enough to listen, Princess?”

She gives me a sleepy smile and a slow nod, so I tuck the blanket around her tightly.

“Like a burrito,” she murmurs.

“Like a burrito,” I confirm, dropping a kiss to her forehead.

Lyric has loved being in some form of a swaddle since the moment she was born. She can sleep without it, but it’s a lot more restless. The first time I tucked her in like this, she giggled and said she felt like a burrito. It’s been our thing ever since. Lyric let it slip one night that Heather doesn’t do it, so she has to roll into it herself. At first, I was pissed, but when I realized it was something that would stay ours, I was grateful that she didn’t, although I feel a little guilt knowing my little girl doesn’t get to sleep as well.

Of course, it was just another thing that Heather ended up resenting. Sometimes I wonder if she’s jealous of her own daughter. I hate fucking thinking that way, but sometimes her actions support it.

I climb into bed beside Lyric and open the book. We only make it to the end of the first chapter before she is asleep.

Sliding the bookmark in place, I close the book and set it on the nightstand. I drop a kiss to her forehead and climb from the bed, flipping off the lamp on my way out.

My phone went off while I was reading to Lyric. I do my best to not have it in my hand when I’m with my daughter unless it’s important. Since they didn’t try to get a hold of me again, I was sure it could wait and didn’t bother with it until I settled into bed.

I grab it off the nightstand, where I’d put it after I undressed, and check the message app. There’s a few from the guys wanting to make sure I’m good because they haven’t heard from me since I left the club Friday night. I shoot off a quick group text letting them know I’m good and I’ll talk to them later, then I pull up Bailee’s message.

My dick hardens before I even press play.

It’s only a short forty-five second clip, but she catches the moment she squirts all over her hand, and it’s the hottest fucking thing I’ve seen.

It always is.

After the first time she squirted all over my fingers, I made it my fucking mission to get her off so damn hard, she does every time I fuck her.

At the end of the video, she moves the camera to her flushed face. She peers into the lens with hooded eyes and smirks. “Your turn, bossman,” she purrs before the video goes black.

Climbing out of bed, I hurry over to lock the door and grab a towel and my bottle of lube. I drop my boxers before slipping back into the bed. Before I get too comfortable, I cast my phone to the TV and bring up the video Bailee sent me. Then I settle back against the headboard, press play and set it to repeat, and pull up my camera. Once it’s ready, I grab the bottle of lube, press record, and squeeze some out onto the head of my cock.

A groan rumbles from my chest as I brush my palm over the tip and then stroke down, spreading the lube. I keep my eyes on Bailee’s fingers as my hand glides over my length, matching her rhythm.

I work my cock faster, rougher, until my balls grow tight and tingles spread over my body. Not moving my eyes from the TV, I wait until I see the tells come over Bailee. As soon as the first drop comes out of her, my toes curl and a guttural groan shakes my chest as cum shoots from my angry cock onto my hand and abdomen. As I bring the camera to my face, I make sure to trail it over my body so she gets to see the mess she helped make. When it’s aimed at my face, I stare intensely into the camera.

“You’ve been repaid. Go the fuck to sleep.”

After making sure it sent, I toss my phone on the bed and grab the towel to clean up.

Thank fuck I use water-based lube. It’s not as sticky as the other shit.

I clean everything up, wash my hands, then go check on Lyric before climbing back into bed.

My mind drifts to the Night Skulls. Since I can’t bring the club in on this yet, I shoot off a couple messages to some people who run the streets, putting word out that I’m discreetly seeking information on the MC.

Hopefully, it won’t take long to get something back.

In the meantime, I’ll do whatever I have to so Bailee stays safe.

Shit like what just happened can’t happen again.