I’ve never been great with numbers or computers. In school, I was better at getting into trouble than passingtests. Thankfully, the club doesn’t give a shit if I’m book smart so long as I can handle what needs to be done for them.
“Legacy said he’ll have something for us in a day or two.”
“Good.” Steel taps the arm of his chair. “How’d the transfer go?”
“It’s done. I still can’t figure out how the cops could have suspected that warehouse. We were careful.”
“Can’t seem to be careful enough lately.” There’s grit in his tone, and I hate that everything he says lately sounds like he’s suspicious of Emery.
Steel and I have butted heads more than a few times over the years, but we’ve never struggled with trust until Emery came into the picture.
“I don’t think Zane had anything to do with the eyes on our shipments,” I say. “Since the Iron Sinners fell, there have been plenty of other clubs sniffing around. Could have been any one of them.”
“Didn’t say I thought it was Zane.”
“You didn’t have to.” I shake my head. “Look, I know you’re pissed about the wedding.”
“I’m pissed about a lot of shit right now, but the wedding isn’t one of them.” He leans forward, bracing his forearms on the desk. “A heads-up would have been nice, but we both know you’ll do what the fuck you want either way. If you’re happy, then good. You deserve it.”
There’s no sarcasm, and even if we’ve been at odds about Emery being here, his statement sounds genuine.
“Thanks.” I clear my throat.
Steel nods. “Shit’s about to hit the fan. I feel it. We need a united front to see that shit through. We’ve got to figure this out for the club.”
“Did Tempe make you practice that speech in the mirror?” I joke.
Steel glares, but he can’t hold back his chuckle. “She might have made me promise to bring it up.”
“Figured.” I laugh because that sounds like Tempe, playing the peacekeeper, drawing out Steel’s soft side when she knows she’s the only one who can. “She’s a smart one.”
“Don’t I know it.” His phone rings, and he pulls it out. “Speaking of…”
Steel leans back, and the chair creaks with the movement. He’s smiling now. But not the same smile he gives the guys when they tell a joke or do something stupid. It’s the smile reserved only for Tempe and their kids.
“Hey, wildfire,” Steel answers. “I’m just finishing—”
His grin falls, and he shoots to standing. Tempe’s voice is panicked on the other end of the line, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.
“When?” His tone is that of the president now. “Ember? Austin?”
Tempe says something that has Steel’s shoulders loosening, even if it does little to erase the tension.
“Okay, we’ll be right there. Stay inside with the kids.” He hangs up, and his phone is already ringing again, just as mine starts to ring from my pocket. “Let’s go.”
Steel bolts out of the office with me on his heels. At the side of the bay, I spot Havoc on his phone, his expression grim.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask, pulling my phone out and seeing Chaos’s name on the screen.
Steel types out a text instead of answering the next call coming through. “Feds just stormed the property.”
“What the hell?” I follow after him, shoving my phone into my pocket as Havoc jogs out of the shop, aiming for his bike. “At least we moved the shipment off-site last week.”
“They weren’t there for guns.” Steel pauses at his bike, his jaw tense.
I’ve known Steel my whole life. Long enough to know whatever he’s not saying is not good.
“What happened?”
