Page 77 of Steal

Heaven never came to the club much, and no one knows about her son apart from Colt and me. I am fully aware that Anchor hasn’t signed their divorce papers and fights with her in court every four months when she tries to get the judge to approve without Anchor’s signature. I watch him stay true despite knowing his wife is trying to date and failing because he keeps sabotaging them.

I know she does love him, but like me with Colt, she doesn’t trust Anchor.

Shaking my head at Ginger's look of anger, I walk over to the bar. Western gives me a grin and, without asking, slides a Coke my way.

“Thank you,” I mumble, and he sends me a wink as the party starts behind me. I try to ignore the urge to run after Piston and grab my daughter as I sip my drink.

“It’s a party, and yet you look miserable…” a voice says from beside me, and I gasp and turn.

“Tanner,” I squeal and throw myself into his arms, not caring about Colt seeing, and the immature side of me is hoping he’s getting pissed.

Tanner hugs me tight before I pull back and ask, “What are you doing here?”

He grins. “I met a man, and it turns out he’s a brother in the club…Shotgun?”

I look around him and make eye contact with Shotgun, who tilts his head at me. I point at him and warn, “You hurt him, then it’ll be you I shoot next.”

He grins as a few brothers who heard me chuckle, and I look back at Tanner.

“How are you doing, sweetheart?” he asks, and I shrug. “You know, so and so." He doesn’t smile, and I sigh. “I’m okay. I'm still processing, though. On the bright side, Mom’s left New York.”

Again, he doesn’t smile, instead, he pulls me into his arms, and I go willingly, but just as I wrap my arms around his waist, I hear a loud growl and a bang, but I don’t move, instead I mumble, “Please tell me that was Colt leaving in a huff?”

He chest rumbles with a chuckle as he confirms, “It was…. You going to forgive him yet?”

I pull back and look at him as Shotgun comes and stands beside him.

“A part of me wants to,” he nods, and I continue, “but the other part is screaming at me to pull back and put myself first….”

“But isn’t you being with him putting yourself first?” Shotgun intervenes, and I look at him. He gives me a kind smile, his pierced cheekbone moving as he speaks, and says, “You being with him won’t be for him but for you. Set boundaries, give him a timeline to prove himself, but don’t make yourself believe being without him is doing something for yourself when you love him.”

I swallow hard, hearing his words, and I know they’re true.

I’m scared….

I take a deep breath, kiss Tanner’s cheek, and then Shotgun’s, before mumbling, “Thank you.”

When I look his way, Canine nods to the hallway. I smile as he says, “Make sure he works for it, Cassy.”

I walk through the rows of people getting it on, trying to avoid looking at Savior getting a blowjob from Candy, and quickly rush into the hallway.

When I get to Colt’s door, my palms sweat, my heart pounding.

I’m still confused, but I also know I can’t have a life without him. If I could, I would have moved on years ago, right?

Taking a deep breath, I walk into the room, shutting the door behind me before I spy Colt’s form, sitting on the bed, a picture frame in his hands.

“I get it, I fucked up. I put my club first, making you, not even second best, but last in my priorities. I held a gun to your head. I hurt you, but I honestly thought we could sort things out.” He looks at me. “I get you moved on with your life. I know you had to seethat bitchfor years, hearing her rub our past relationship in your face, day in and day out, but I just…fuck, Cass, you inviting the guy I lost you to into my home, around my family….”

Absolute pain radiates from him and, worst of all, defeat…. I wanted to hurt him, but not like this.

“I didn’t invite Tanner,” I admit.

He shrugs. “He’s still here, though, isn’t he, for you?”

I smirk. “No, he’s here for Shotgun.” Colt furrows his brows. I grin. “How did it feel, Colt, to believe the woman you loved may have been having sex with someone else?” His eyes darken but widen when I state, “Tanner is gay, and I have relished how much it has pissed you off, thinking I moved on when, in reality, you have been the only person I have ever been with.”

Slowly, Colt places the frame back on the bedside table, and then stands, before stalking toward me, but I don’t move, and I don’t even flinch as he grips my hips. Instead, I jump up, wrap my legs around his waist, and welcome his lips against mine as he slams my back against the door, my hands going into his hair.