Page 105 of Twisted Steel

When I pull back, her fingers stay tangled in my shirt.“Steel?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t disappear.”

“Never.”

Raven’s voice comes from the doorway.“I would make a joke, but this is disturbingly sweet, and I’m very fucking uncomfortable.”

Harper closes her eyes.“I liked you better when you were silent.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“No,” Harper agrees with an exaggerated sigh.“I didn’t.”

Raven steps in, gaze flicking over Harper’s bandages.“Are you okay?”

“Define okay.”

“Alive enough to make bad decisions.”

Harper looks at me, then back at Raven.“Yes.”

Raven nods.“Good.That’s always a good sign.”I look between them, and something settles in my chest I don’t know how to name.Harper has Raven now, and Mama M.She has Milo, and the club, whether she wants to admit it yet or not.

She isn’t alone in my world.Maybe that means I don’t have to be the whole wall.Maybe I can just be the man who stands closest when she asks.

The nurse says Harper can leave once paperwork is done, Savage arranges transport, and Mama M arrives with clothes.Milo calls and threatens to murder everyone, which Raven finds adorable, and Harper keeps hold of my hand through all of it.

When we finally walk out of County, dawn is bleeding pale over Vegas.My bike waits near the curb, as does Savage’s SUV.

I look at Harper.“SUV?”

She glances at the bike, then at me.“Obviously.I’m injured, not trying to become a cautionary pamphlet.”

“Good.”

“But one day,” she says quietly, “I want to ride with you.”

My chest tightens.“One day,” I agree.

She leans into my side, and I wrap an arm around her because she lets me.Because she chooses it.Because she knows what I am and still has not let go.

Raven walks past us toward Savage, shaking her head and muttering, “Men and their bikes.”

Harper laughs softly against my chest.The sound is tired, and I hold her closer, careful of every bruise.Neither of us are healed, forgiven, or clean, but we’re together.

For now, that’s more than enough.