“What’s going on here?” one of the tribal policemen asked.
Steel spun around, his face breaking out into a wide smile. “Sam. How the fuck are you?”
“Dude.” Sam bumped his fist against Steel’s. “It’s been too damn long. How’s your ma?”
“Okay. Yours?”
“Getting old. Fuck, we’re all getting old.” He laughed as his partner came up beside him. “I don’t know if you remember Sani. He was a few grades behind us in high school.”
Steel shook his head. “Nah, I don’t remember. Sorry, bro.”
Sani smiled. “No sweat. I was just a freshman when you were a senior. I’ve heard a lot of stories about you. Not sure how many of them were true.”
“If it deals with chicks, they’re all true. I can attest to that. This guy was a woman magnet back when we were in school.” Samuel punched Steel lightly in the arm. Steel glanced quickly at Breanna; she was talking with the two FBI men.
“So what happened here?” Sani asked.
Samuel turned to Mika. “Hey, Mika. Is this dude with you?” He pointed to Roy. She nodded. He looked at Steel. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.”
Steel crossed his arms. “He’s trying to cause disruption between Chenoa and me. I told him to fucking butt out. He didn’t.”
Samuel nodded, then asked Roy, “Do you agree with that?”
“No. I’ve been living with Mika and Chenoa, and I have a right to be involved in what happens in her life. The bastard is a hothead. He’s always hanging around here, flirting with Mika. He threw the first punch.”
“Did you adopt Chenoa?” Samuel asked as Sani wrote in his notebook.
“No.”
“Are you her stepfather?”
“I’m like one.”
“But are you legally her stepdad?”
“No.”
Samuel wiped the sweat off his face. “Did you see who threw the first punch, Mika?”
She nodded. “Steel.” He stared impassively at her.
“Did you throw the first punch, bro?” Samuel asked Steel.
“Fuck, I don’t remember. I just know he pissed the shit outta me. He was getting in my face, and then we were going at it.” Several people in the crowd agreed with him, stating that they’d seen the whole thing and Roy threw the first punch.
“They’re fuckin’ lying! They’re protectinghimbecause he’s one of them. I’m the outsider.” Roy broke away from Mika’s grip and came closer to Samuel. “I didn’t throw the first punch. He did. I was just protecting myself.”
In the end, Roy was issued a summons for court, charging him with simple battery—a misdemeanor. They didn’t charge Steel for anything.
“You’re fuckin’ crooked. I’m being railroaded here!” Mika pulled Roy back and stroked his arm.
“What a pussy,” Steel said. Mika threw him a scalding look. He laughed.
“Mika, take him back home because I’m ready to run him in.” Samuel took a step toward the couple.
Mika said something to Roy in a low voice, and then they walked away.
Samuel cupped Steel’s shoulder. “You take care. Don’t be a fucking stranger. Next time you come by to see your ma, look me up. We can catch up.”
“I’ll do that. Say hi to your mom.” He glanced at Sani. “Good seeing you, dude.”
The two tribal police officers went to their SUV. As they spoke briefly with the two agents, Steel motioned for Breanna to come over. When she came up to him, he whispered, “Don’t tell the fucking badges shit about me.” She nodded and pressed her lips together. He wanted to kiss those lips and hold her close. “I’ll see you later tonight. I love you, baby.”
“Me too. Are you okay? Your face is really starting to swell.” She looked over her shoulder when the two agents called out her name. “I have to go.” She backed away.
“Seven tonight,” he said in a barely audible voice.
“Okay,” she mouthed, and then she whirled around and walked quickly to the waiting car.
He watched as the car faded away into the distance, then went over to his bike, slipped on his cut, and made his way to his mother’s house for a visit.
