Page 63 of Steele

“Fuck, bruh, I’m trusting Stormy on this one. My phone goes off with a notification, and I’m ready to nut.” He cracked his neck. “My dumb ass talked to Rogue about it, he told Jazzy, and she programmed Rogue’s number in my phone with the same fucking sound so now his text messages have me half hard. I can’t change it because she turned on parental controls, and she won’t tell me the passcode.”

“Keeping Stormy happy is all part of the job.” I discarded two cards, and Kodiak dealt me two more.

“At least, he has a job.” Vega snickered.

“Fuck you.” I smiled. “I have a job.”

“But you suck at it.” Kodiak dangled his empty beer bottle from his fingers.

“Fuck you, too.” I stood, grabbed the empties, and went behind the bar. I popped open another bottle for each of us and returned to the table. “But I need to get another job. I stopped over at the temp agency, but it’s short-term shit work. I wouldn’t mind getting on with a bigger construction company. Something that could get me close to what I was making with Cory.”

“Fuck temp work. You need to apply online,” Vega said. “Get on the job boards.”

“Natalie kept the computer. I haven’t replaced it yet with one of my own.”

Bullet sipped his beer. “Come by Good Girls. Lacey knows all that shit. She might have a laptop lying around you can use. Any word from the attorney?”

I’d told them about the restraining order and the meeting with the family law attorney. “She’s optimistic, but it all depends on the judge. I’ve got a couple charges on my record, but no domestic violence incidents. The lawyer asked me what kind of evidence she might have. I’ve sent Natalie some fucked up texts in the last year, but I also have texts where she’s thanked me for taking care of shit around the house after I moved out—before she moved her boyfriend in.”

“You’re not thinking right on this,” Bullet said. “It’s not about the evidence she might have. It’s about the evidence she can manufacture.” His jaw tightened. “Listen, a couple years ago, Lacey wanted to learn to ride. After an hour on the bike, her legs were black and blue. I’ve got the photos, Steele. Bruises easily explained, but she could’ve gotten the same injuries from one of her johns.”

Bullet leaned into the table. “You need to look for texts taken out of context. Did you ever have a fight in front of witnesses? Does she have friends who will lie for her? What about her lay? Is he going to corroborate her accusations?”

How the fuck did I fight her when I didn’t know what I was fighting against? This wasn’t just about a single incident. She really wanted me out of Lili’s life. “I’m fucked.”

“Temporarily at worst.” Vega pointed at me with his beer bottle. “Courts want reconciliation. You might have to do some anger management classes, prove you aren’t a threat, and jump through a bunch of shit with the court, but they aren’t going to take your kid away from you. You might even be able to get supervised visitations with a court appointed mediator.”

“But all this talk is only if she proves she’s a total bitch and lies in court.” Kodiak continued to deal cards.

“Fuck, she’s already done that,” Vega said. “She lied to get the temporary restraining order.”

I pushed my chair back. “I need to step outside.” I needed a fucking cigarette.

“I’ll go with you.” Kodiak tossed the cards on the table.

Once we were outside, he offered me a cigarette.

“I’m still quitting,” I said as I pulled one from the pack.

For a moment, we stood by the oil drum. A ribbon of smoke snaked into the night air as I inhaled long and deep. I tried to exhale the insecurity simmering in my gut.

“You have other options,” Kodiak quietly said. “You don’t have to wait for the court to decide.”

Two streams of smoke escaped through my nose. “I don’t have any choice. I either fight her for Lili or I lose my kid.”

Kodiak’s gaze narrowed as he stared into the distance. “You have another option.” His gaze shifted to me. “You don’t even have to be involved.”

I stared hard at Kodiak. “Jesus Christ.” I shook my head. “What the fuck are you talking about?” I flicked the cigarette into the oil drum. “You don’t get it. Kodiak, I’m done with that shit.”

“I’m not talking about hurting her, just a persuasive conversation. She’s going to fuck you over. You think she cares that you’ve gone all respectable? To her, you’re the same fucking guy, just wearing a different patch. She doesn’t know these guys are squeaky fucking clean.”

Only Kodiak would see the Hellers as squeaky clean.

I draped an arm around him. “I love you, brother. But let me do this my way. Don’t go near Natalie.” I sighed. “Don’t go looking for trouble.”

“You know me. I don’t have to look for trouble. I like making my own.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Considering I was with my three best friends, there were only a couple other people who would text. Natalie wouldn’t let Lili call. Jaymi made it pretty clear she was done, so this was either spam or maybe something to do with the restraining order.