31. Steel

31

Steel

I’m never the last one to church, but the weight of today sits on my shoulders, and when I take my seat at the head of the table, it’s no lighter.

“Where are we at with the Iron Sinners?” I ask, leaning back in my chair.

“Titan got our message.” Ghost smirks. “Went over as well as we’d expect.”

“Good.”

After storming Dimitri’s house, we burned it to the ground. The kid who cooperated walked free to hopefully make better choices moving forward, but the others weren’t so lucky. It’s not my preference to leave bodies the cops could trace back to the club, but Titan’s going for the jugular, and I refuse to sit around and take it.

No matter what happens moving forward, we’re fighting back. I’ll skin the entire Iron Sinners population until I get the answers I’m looking for .

Until Tempe and Austin are safe.

“When do you think he’s going to retaliate?” Legacy asks, tapping his boot on the ground because he can never sit still.

“Sooner than later,” Ghost answers. “He and his men have been seen scoping out a few of our businesses across town. They’re anxious and looking for an opening.”

“Anxious is good. Means Titan’s about to make a mistake.”

My men give me shit sometimes because I don’t make big decisions for the club without thoroughly analyzing what I’m getting us into. But it’s better to be right than impulsive. I’d rather strike hard when I know it’ll hurt than throw darts and wait for something to stick.

It doesn’t matter if we’re thirsting for blood. It’s my responsibility to make sure the club is prepared in every situation.

Titan isn’t known for doing the same.

He’s impulsive. Antsy.

Sometimes it works in his favor. Like when he caused a scene outside the compound and got us to thin our crew around town to reinforce our border. But right now, I’m hoping to use it against him.

I look over at Ghost. “Any leads on who’s working us from the inside? I need to know who took those pictures.”

Ghost shakes his head. “Everyone checks out on paper, even the prospects. Which means Titan probably had someone with skill wipe their public records. I’m starting to think he has someone besides Richter running security after it took me so long to hack the flash drive. Whoever encrypted it is good.”

“As good as you?”

Ghost smirks. “I cracked it, didn’t I?”

I nod, thankful Ghost is on our side because if there’s something to find, he will. No matter how long it takes.

It’s a blessing and a curse when time isn’t on our side right now.

“No one outside this room knows we have a traitor in the club, and it needs to stay that way until we weed them out.” I look around the room. “Soul and I are going to sit down with every member until we figure out who is working against us. Someone is going to crack.”

“And when we find out who the traitor is?” Havoc grins.

“Then we’ll have a little party.”

All my men look happy about that, even if nothing about this situation is settling. There’s something satisfying about painting the Shack in a traitor’s blood. And it’s something we’re all too familiar with after Helix and his accomplices turned against us.

“If that’s all we have on the traitor, let’s move on to the next order of business.” I cross my arms. “The appeal went through, so it’s official. Chaos is getting out.”

“Fuck yes.” Havoc pounds the table with his fist. “How did Monroe manage that?”

“Looks like the prosecution’s secret witness backed out.” I glance over at Soul, and he grins, knowing exactly why that is.

Soul is my VP for a reason, and the lengths he’ll go to for the club outrival everyone’s but mine. He might seem like a carefree guy, but beneath what he shows the world are depths that lead to his twisted, dark side. A side that teases the line between immoral and sick if it means the Twisted Kings will benefit.

Havoc grins. “Well, isn’t that convenient?”

“When’s he coming home?” Legacy asks.

“Friday. They’re processing the paperwork now, but they’re also being dicks about it, so it’ll take an extra few days. I told Chaos to sit tight and not piss anyone off until he’s on this side of the gate. We don’t want him giving them any excuse to keep him in there.”

I glance over at his empty chair at the table, ready to have all my brothers back in their seats.

“We needed that good news.” Legacy brushes his hair back. “If shit keeps going how it is with the Iron Sinners, we’re going to need another set of hands.”

I nod. “Soul already filled Chaos in. He’s ready to get to work.”

“But first…” Soul laces his hands behind the back of his head. “The man deserves a proper welcome home.”

I chuckle, nodding my head. “The prospects are already on it. The Reno and LA chapters are coming out for the celebration.”

Our enemies might fear Chaos for his borderline sadistic methods of torture, but he’s revered by his brothers in the club for his loyalty. It’s why he has the respect of the club, regardless of how much he lives up to his road name.

“It’ll be good to have him back.” Soul rests his elbows on the table. “And who doesn’t love an excuse for a party? ”

“Especially a chapter mixer.” Havoc grins.

Whenever more than one chapter converges, shit gets wild. Last time our Reno brothers were in town, we had to rebuild part of the bar after someone lit a match to the spilled booze, thinking it would turn out like it does in movies.

My men might be smart in battle, but they’re reckless drunks when we’re celebrating.

“Better hide your girl if the Reno crew is coming, Steel.” Soul winks at me. “Reaper might respect ya, but without your name on her back, he’s gonna shoot his shot no matter how much it pisses you off.”

“Maybe even to see how much it’ll piss you off,” Legacy points out, ticking an eyebrow in a challenge.

They aren’t wrong. Reaper and I have been friends since we were kids, and that’s exactly why he’d do it. The second he catches wind of something between me and Tempe, he’ll test just how deep my loyalty to her is. And the thought of another guy making a play on her has me seeing red.

“About that—”

“Oh shit.” Soul’s eyes widen. “Are you about to say something stupid like I think you are?”

I scratch my jaw, knowing I’m about to break every rule I thought was absolute before I met this girl. “Yeah, I am.”

“Are you claiming her, Prez?” Legacy plants his elbows on the table, and the entire focus of the room is on me.

I look around at my brothers, knowing that for the past thirty years, nothing has ever been more important to me than them. But Tempe and Austin changed that. I’d give everything up, from my soul to my cut, if it meant keeping them whole.

When I moved them into my house, it was supposed to be temporary. A safe place to store them since I never slept there anyway. But from the moment Tempe and Austin walked inside, I knew I never wanted them to leave. A sentiment that’s growing with every passing day.

I need them in my life like I need air in my lungs.

If they leave, I’ll never recover. And it’s about time I do something about it.

“Tempe’s mine,” I say, looking around the room. “I want to ask her to be my old lady.”

My patch gives me a lot of power in the club, but the reason we’re a brotherhood is that the most important decisions made between these walls aren’t made by one man. They’re put to a vote. And nothing is more important than inviting someone to become one of us in any capacity.

Claiming an old lady included.

When that happens, she becomes part of the club. The club vows to support and protect her from there on out. Even in the event of a brother’s death, she’ll always be taken care of.

She’ll always be family.

“I know her loyalty has been in question—”

“Mostly by you,” Ghost points out.

“Right.” I nod. “Helix being her father didn’t help win over trust.”

“Or her trying to kick your ass when she met you,” Ghost pipes up again, smirking .

“All true.” I glare at him. “She’s got fire.”

Havoc leans forward, grinning. “Gonna need it if she’s going to put up with you, Prez.”

“That’s for sure.” Legacy chuckles.

“Damn.” Soul shakes his head. “I’m gonna owe Chaos two grand. I swore it wasn’t going to get this far.”

“Does that mean you’re offering your support?”

Soul straightens up, planting a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t pretend to understand it, but she makes you better, Jameson. Of course I fucking support it. I want what’s best for you, brother. And apparently, that’s her and the kid.”

“Thanks.” I nod.

“Besides…” Soul pulls back, grinning. “Less competition means more pussy for the rest of us.”

“Beautifully said.” Havoc laughs, and I just shake my head. “Congratulations, Prez.”

He smacks me on the shoulder, and Ghost nods, offering as much of a smile as he ever does, which isn’t much.

“When you gonna ask her?” Legacy tips his chin up.

“This afternoon.”

“Hence the sudden change of plans, moving the barbeque to Lake Mead? Getting all romantic on us, huh?” Legacy grins, and I nod. “Let’s hope she says yes then.”

The guys laugh, and I shake my head. “She fucking better.”

“She will.” Havoc nods. “You know she will.”

I think she will.

But I also understand this life is hard, especially being with the man sitting at the head of this table. Tempe is a strong woman, but I’m asking for all her faith. All her trust. I’m asking her to not just believe in my club, but in me .

Either way, I’m willing to put my pride on the line and see this through if she’ll give me a chance. Because when I consider not claiming her—of not living up to the promises I’ve made Austin—I can’t fucking breathe. If they walk out of my life, I might not recover. The three of us aren’t the family we saw ourselves having, but that’s what we became anyway.

Hopefully, she feels the same.

“If we’re done here, I’d say this calls for a drink.” Soul stands up, and the rest of the guys follow.

They slowly filter out of the room, and when the doorway clears, I spot Tempe through it, standing in the center of the clubhouse.

She’s wearing a dress I’ve never seen before, and the sight of her nearly stops my heart.

It’s maroon on the top, and it hugs her chest. The waist is a thick band of black fabric that molds to her, flowing out at her hips. The full length of her smooth legs is on display. And when her eyes meet mine, she steals what’s left of my desiccated heart.

She’s it for me.

I’m a goner for this girl.