Chapter 22

Pistol textedand said it went well, and they were on the way back. That was like ten minutes ago and I've been impatiently waiting for them to get back so I can get a full report. I'm glad it worked out and my brother and the two girls could help him. The thought of him decorating that tree alone didn't sit right.

This is why I love my club and my brothers. Pistol sacrificed his own time to watch my man and the girls decorate a tree, even though he surely had more fun things to do.

As I lie in bed, my fingers swiping through videos on my phone, a knock on the door interrupts my scrolling.

"Come in!"

The door slowly opens."Hey, Prez, thought you might like an update on Iggie that didn't come from Pistol," Kiki giggles. She closes the door behind her, approaches the bed, and stands next to it, her eyes fixed on me.

"I didn't know you were back already," I tell her, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

"Just got back. But it was good. I had fun, actually, and so did Marni. If she decides to stay, Iggie offered her a job once she turns eighteen. You should know Pistol kinda told him off."

I growl, my low rumble echoing through the room. I know my best friend is protective of me, but I didn't ask him to say anything. If he made the situation worse, I will kick his ass.

"Oh, calm down. It wasn't too bad, I promise. But I did kinda agree with him. I told Iggie he shouldn't base his opinions and decisions on your past. He needs to base them on how you are with him now. That he needs to hear you out."

"Why? You don't know what happened or why, Kiki, so why involve yourself?" I ask her, my voice filled with curiosity. I should be mad since she's put her nose where it doesn't belong, but I can't help but think it's shit Ignatius needed to hear.

"You're right, I don't know what happened. But I know you and you're a good man. An asshole, don't get me wrong, but you got good bones. You seemed happy, you both did, and I think you both deserve that."

"Thanks," I tell her. She moves from beside the bed and heads toward the door. "Kiki."

"Yeah, Prez?"

"You know you aren't supposed to talk to me like you do, right? That I should beat your ass in front of the guys so you know your place with me?"

It's true, I let this woman get away with a lot more than the other whores and I know the others notice. I can't seem to care, though. Kiki is one of the best people I know. She's not here to snag her an old man, and she never gives us trouble.

"Yeah, I suppose you should and you can if you need to. I'm not real good at following rules when it comes to my friends. And Steel, while you might be my prez and I respect you in front of the brothers and in public, you're also my friend. I just want to see you happy. You deserve it." She smiles.

With a gentle thud, the door closes behind her, and I lean my head back, thinking about what she said. I suppose she's right. She always acts accordingly in front of the members and when we're in town, but when it's just me and her or even Pistol, she's freer with her mouth. She trusts us and she should. I also guess she's right that somewhere throughout the few years of her being here, she crossed the line for me from club whore to friend.

I don't have time to keep dwelling on her, though. I need to talk to Iggie and tell him I didn't put them up to talking to him about me. I sent them to help, that's it. I need to apologize, even if he doesn't want to hear from me.

Now though comes the hard part, should I call or text? If I call, he could just send it to voicemail and I'll never get to say my peace. But if I text, he can read it and decide not to respond, but at least he knows what I have to say.

Shit! This is hard. Who thought I'd ever be making such stupid but important choices? I'm going to call and if he doesn't answer, I'll text.

Hitting his contact, a sudden rush of air fills my lungs as I expand my chest, trying to contain my nerves.

It"s just a call.

Holding the phone, my palms become sweaty. Who am I? Or more like, who the hell does Iggie make me?

The phone rings until his voicemail picks up. I hang up and click over to my messages.

Me- Hey I called and figured you wouldn't answer but it was worth a try. Just wanted to let ya know I didn't ask anyone to talk to you tonight about us. They were asked only to help with the tree so you weren't alone. So I'm sorry about that other part.

The bubbles pop upand disappear for fifteen minutes. I watch as my heart beats crazily until finally a message pops up.

Ignatius- It's fine. Thank you for sending them. They were a lot of help. I wasn't thrilled with their words but what Kiki said does make sense and has me thinking.

My stomach dropsto my asshole, probably even out of my asshole. He's thinking about what? About us? Christ, at this point, I'm like a lovesick teenage girl. Get me a notebook so I can doodle little Steel hearts Iggie all over it.

Me- Thinking about what?

Ignatius- This whole thing. Us. I don't even know anymore.

I'm goingto kiss Kiki the next time I see her. That beautiful, smart whore. Fuck. I feel like I'm going to be sick.

Me- Can we talk?

Me- In person?

Ignatius- Yeah. You should tell Kiki if she ever decides beauty school or sex isn't for her to try a couple's counselor.

Me- Ha! Where do you wanna meet?

Ignatius- The coffee shop on Main St Monday after I'm off say, 6pm

Me- I'll be there

Ignatius- Steel I want to know everything and the truth. I'm going out on a limb meeting you so you owe me the truth about it all

Me- No problem. I planned to tell ya anyway that creep just beat me to it. See you then

Holy shit!He's gonna meet with me and at least hear me out, which is all I can ask at this point. But there's still danger lurking in the shadows, threatening my man's happiness, and that won't stand. I'm gonna need to push harder to find out who our rat is before Monday. All the money in my wallet says it's either Pepper or Combo since they've been against anything involving making the club an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

I need to call a meeting with my officers and tell them we have forty-eight hours to figure this out.

* * *

The next morning,the guys are standing outside my office waiting for me.

"Everything okay, Steel?" Trucker asks, a coffee in one hand as he rubs his brow with the other.

"Yeah. Let's get inside and we'll talk more," I tell him.

I unlock the door and open it. The only sound in the room is shuffling behind me as they follow. Moving to sit at my desk, I kick my boots up onto the top and wait for Pistol to lock the door.

"I talked to Iggie last night." I rub my throat while I speak.

"That's great. I told him a few things last night. Glad I could help," Pistol admits, his face looking proud as a peacock.

"Yeah, we'll talk about that later, dickhead. You're lucky it worked out in my favor so far. It could have gone the other way and then I'd have shot your ass."

"I got too nice of an ass to be shot. It worked out though, huh? Regular ol' cupid." He chuckles, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Enough!" I slam my boot on the desk. "This is serious. The timeline to figure out who took those pictures and who left them for Iggie has moved up."

"When?" Hawk asks.

"Monday morning. It's Saturday, so we have forty-eight hours. He's agreed to meet with me and talk, but I will not risk it if he's being followed or being around me is a danger to him."

"Well, my search revealed nothing on anyone in his close circle. I did tap Pepper and Combo's phone and while they talk a lot of bullshit about all of us, nothing that screamed rat. But I'll keep tabs on them still," Hawk tells the room and I can tell he's upset that he doesn't have better results.

"I want them under a fucking microscope. Nothing is left unchecked," I snap, and he nods.

"Prez, say the word and I'll tail them. They won't even know I'm in the shadows until it's too late." Viper licks his lips and stares at me. He's always hated the two of them for the bullshit they spew, and I've held him off, but now? I want answers. I just have a sinking feeling in my gut they"re our leak.

"Hawk, you had our landlines tapped, right? After the incident." Zero looks at Viper out of the corner of his eyes.

"That cunt fucked another man the day after we got hitched. He was supposed to be a brother? He deserved to get shot. I should have shot her ass, too." Viper stands, spinning around and punching a hole in the wall.

"Enough! Viper, you'll be repairing my goddamn wall," I tell him and then look at Hawk. "Psychotic ass bastard," I mumble.

"Yes, Prez," Viper growls.

"Yeah, we did have them tapped. I forgot all about that since we haven't had any reason to check them. What's up?" Hawk answers, looking at Zero with a raised brow, not sure what he's getting at.

"I was thinking that if Michaelov said he spoke to someone about changing his order and it wasn't Prez, then maybe we could go back and see if we recognize the voice on the call."

"They do record so I could, but we'd have to know the date and time of the call. Can we ask Michaelov and see if he remembers?" Hawk asks, turning his gaze to me.

"Yeah. I'll get in touch with him. He won't like it, but tough shit," I tell him. "Adjourned until I hear from Michaelov. Then, Hawk, you can find the call and we'll see if we recognize the voice."

The guys filter out of my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I remain seated, wondering how things got so fucked in every aspect of my life so fast.

A knock pulls me from my thoughts. "It's open!"

In walks Cody and I can't help but roll my eyes. He looks like a roided-out John Travolta, but his personality is that of a seagull. His mind is always on one thing and that's whose dick he can ride to get ahead.

"What do you want, Cody? I'm busy."

"You've seemed stressed lately, so I thought I'd come see if I can help you out," he pauses and licks his lips. "In any way?"

I stand up and take the few steps across the room to him. Getting right into his personal space and since he's only five-eleven or so, he has to glance up at me. "I'm good, Cody. Now get out of my office. Don't come in here looking for a quick fuck and act like it's a service to me."

He's either really brave or really dumb, but either way his breath hitches and he runs a hand down my ribs. "Are you sure, Mr. President? I could be a real good boy."

Fuck me. Did he just pull a Marilyn Monroe line on me and think it would work? Who the hell voted for him to be a whore? I'm gonna have to look into that shit cause no means no in this fucking clubhouse.

My arm snaps out and I wrap my hand around his throat, picking him up so he's on his tiptoes. "Don't forget your place, whore. No always means no in this fuckin' club. You hear me? I've never fucked with you before and I sure ain't gonna start now. If I was feeling lonely, I'd be more likely to fuck Gabe or Kiki than you."

His eyes widen and I can feel him swallow hard behind my tight grip. "Yes, Prez," he hisses as I restrict his airway.

Letting him go, he falls back, stumbling, and gasping for air. "Out!" I bark and point at my door. He glares at me, but leaves my office.