Chapter 1
1
Steal – Twenty-Five Years Old
"Yo, Steal, what time are you picking up Cass and going to Halliwell's?" Anchor asks as he walks out of the clubhouse. I grunt, trying to tighten the bolt on my bike, ignoring the grease on my hands.
I side-eye him and reply, "In about twenty minutes," before tightening the next bolt because I don't fancy the fucking wheel falling off with my girl on the back.
"Alright, I'll make sure everything is ready here before you get back," he adds, and I grunt out a thanks, tightening the last bolt.
Cass and I have been seeing each other for nearly two years. After our first date, I had her hooked; I ensured it, and considering how I was entranced by her, there was no chance I'd allow her to call it a one-and-done. She brought things out of me I never thought I'd feel for someone, and I knew she was mine and that I had to have her any way I could.
She's also the first and only girl to ride bitch on my bike.
Don't get me wrong, I know I haven't been the most attentive boyfriend over the past two years. My club is still my main focus, especially while learning the ropes from my dad, getting ready to take over, and she hasn’t been my main priority like she deserves. But I try to ensure she knows what she means to me.
She's my fucking life, and I'm just grateful she understands and isn’t clingy, especially with her working her ass off, wanting to get into medical school.
She's the perfect fucking girl, and she owns my heart.
"Are you bringing her back to the club for Ollie's initiation?" Anchor asks as I sit up, grab a rag to wipe my hands.
I confirm, "Yeah. I think she'll be happy to see him accepted by the club."
He nods. "How did they even meet, anyway?"
I snort. "Her dad, obviously. He took Ollie into the gym and taught him how to fight, and he became best friends with Perrie." I stretch my back as I look over my bike, ensuring I haven’t missed anything before I notice Anchor lingering, and I sigh. "Spit it out, brother."
Anchor scratches the large scar on his cheek before asking, "Have you heard?"
I raise a brow. "You'll have to be a little more specific; we live in a clubhouse full of fucking gossips. The brothers are worse than the women."
He snorts. "Ain't that the fucking truth." He sighs. "According to some of the clubwhores, Faith has been running her mouth and the older generation, not so shockingly, are listening…."
Ah, Faith, the bane of my existence and the biggest regret of my life.
Since I've been with Cass, Faith's been salty and is only still in my life because of the club. For nearly two years, she's been trying to get into Cassidy's head, goading her and being a petty fucking mean girl, and at the start of the relationship, it fucking worked too, fuck, it was the whole reason why Cass waited so long—six months—to fucking sleep with me. She knew I fucked Faith, the same fucking Faith who continued to lie and say we were fucking for months, ensuring Cass would be wary of me.
And it turns out, not so surprisingly, Faith had a negative reputation in college, and Cass mentioned she could hear every time Faith fucked someone, including me. My girl didn't feel comfortable giving me her body, her virgin body, and I didn’t blame her one bit, instead I took it at her pace.
Must admit, though, it was a surprise, on our sixth-month anniversary, when I thrust inside her—a good surprise, though. I love that I'm the only cock she's had, I just wish she'd given me a warning first, so I didn't tear into her.
Sighing, I tilt my head and ask, "Running her mouth how?"
He winces and admits, “That Cass apparently cornered Faith at the grocery store when she was doing the grocery shopping for the club. Cass apparently told her to stay the fuck away from you, or she'll slit her throat."
I chuckle, I can't help it, and even Anchor grins, knowing Cassidy Mathews wouldn't hurt a fly. She wants to heal people, not kill them….
I shake my head and ask, "And when did this apparently go down?"
"Yesterday, about midday, while Cass was working. Your dad told me to come tell you what was being said," he replies.
I huff. "Cass was with me all day until eight last night, refusing to stay over but not telling me why, just saying we couldn't hang out. It's why I have to pick her up today. Fuck, she finally allowed me to spar with her, and this shit will set us back yet a-fucking-gain."
He nods. "Yeah, thought so. I just thought I'd fill you in, and I’ll uh let your dad and the brothers know that she was with you."
I grumble, fed up with the petty bullshit, and ask, "And they said it came from Faith?"
He shrugs. "That's what they said. I know you feel like you need to look out for her, but brother, she's coming between you and Cass…."
I snort. "She's not coming in between me and my girl. I wouldn't allow it, and don’t forget she apparently tried to commit suicide, and the brothers decided to put her responsibility on me."
He huffs. "No, she didn’t, and we all know it. Even the doctor stated she cut the wrong way on her wrists and that it was all for attention. Faith is a whore but loved having you under her thumb for four years, which was a big mistake on your part. She expected your patch and tried to think of a way to guilt trip you to remain in your life. She wanted the older generation to force you to watch out for her, and because you’re due to take over from your father, you’re doing as you’re fucking told." I wince knowing he's right, and he shakes his head. "Everyone believes you have to take care of her all because you fucked her, not giving a shit that she fucked several other brothers, and you give in every single fucking time, and Cass, she's always second best to the point the club and Faith are always first. There's only so much she'll take, brother."
Anchor turns and heads back inside, and I sigh because I know the fucker is right.
Faith played the club because Bull and Brute were close to her father so she knew she could get her own way, and I know it, but I have to be there for her if she calls. She's not some clubwhore, and not just a bitch I fucked regularly; she's part of the club, and I've been brought up that club comes first, that club is family, and yeah, sometimes I've had to cancel on Cass in favor of Faith, but that's just how life has got to be until I become prez.
Faith’s dad's dead, and her mom is away most of the time with her new beau, and the brothers have made it clear that she's my responsibility because I fucked her and then chose another woman….
I grab my phone, check the time, and silently curse seeing I'm already five minutes late picking Cass up. I quickly clean up my tools when my phone goes off.
I wince, thinking it's my girl, but frown when I see it's not.
Faith: Can you come pick me up between 4th and 5th Ave? My car broke down, and I don't feel safe xx
Fuck's sake….
I go to message back that I'll send a prospect when my phone goes off again.
Faith: Can you please come? I don't trust the prospects after what happened last week. xx
I heave out a sigh.
Faith claimed to have been sexually assaulted last week and is struggling. I was the person she called when it happened, and I took Anchor with me to pick her up and yeah, she looked a fucking mess. The club’s been looking into it, but we haven't found any camera footage yet, and Faith doesn't remember what they looked like. Anchor and I both believe she set shit up, especially by the scowl she had on her face when she noticed I didn’t come alone.
I text her back and let her know I'll be twenty minutes knowing she’ll bitch and moan to the club, before bringing up Cassidy's number, swallowing hard.
Fuck me, she's going to be mad….
"Let me guess, somethings come up with Faith," she answers, and I wince.
"She's broken down. I can't leave her stranded now, can I?" I reply as I grab my cut and walk over to the truck.
Cass snorts. "And she doesn't want a prospect to pick her up?"
"Cass," I start, but she cuts me off, “You know what? Don't worry about it. I need to go."
Fuck's sake.
"Come on, Cass, don't be like that; she's family and the brothers count on me to look after our family." I try, but all she does is chuckle, and it's not a funny one either.
"More like she's the girl you screwed for years before you decided you had to have me, pissing off your brothers." I narrow my eyes at her words. "For nearly two years, you've put her above me, and quite honestly, I've kind of had enough of being last."
I sigh. "Cass, I'm not going to get into the same argument with you, especially over the phone. Look, it shouldn't take me long to pick her up. I'll pick you up at your dad's gym on my way through to dropping her off…"
"Yeah, no, don't bother!" she snaps, and I grit my teeth, already getting pissed with her attitude and pissed with the whole situation, feeling like I’m being torn in fucking two.
"So what? Are you going to let Ollie down because you can't get a grip on your jealousy?" I snap back but instantly regret my words because that's exactly what I've just done—I've let her down and we both know she’s not jealous, she’s fed up.
"No, I won't. Perrie and I will be there after he arrives. Just do me a favor, don't fucking talk to me when I'm there!"
She hangs up, and I lean against the truck with a sigh, dropping my hand.
I feel like I’m fucking failing right now.
I don’t go, the club will be pissed; I do go, my girl won’t talk to me for a week, then withhold sex for a month….
Shaking my head, I climb into the truck and throw it into reverse, before spinning out of the parking lot, fucking angry at the whole situation.
"Thank you for picking me up," Faith sniffles as she climbs in, but I don't reply, instead I watch as women wave to her, all dressed up and I know, yet again, she fucking lied about her car.
Taking a deep breath, I put my truck into gear and drive the forty minutes back to Brooklyn, not saying a word to her, before turning down Clarks Street to the house her dad left her and her mom.
Only the counsel brothers can build on club ground and because I’m due to take over from my dad, my house has already been built—something some of the older generation were not happy about, believing I hadn’t proven myself when I have—tenfold—but they kept quiet when my father threatened to boot them out of the club, especially when the property and everything on it is in my father’s name.
"You weren't busy, were you?" she tries again all innocently knowing full well it wouldn’t matter due to the brothers, but I still don't reply before she says, "Oh, you've chosen me over Cass again, huh? You know she needs to understand that I've been in your life a hell of a lot longer, and I'll always come first."
I squeeze the steering wheel and snap, "Just leave it, Faith.”
I don't want to talk about my woman, and I hate that her words hit a mark. Faith huffs but stays quiet for the rest of the ride before I pull up outside the three-bedroom bungalow ten minutes later and put the truck in park, waiting for her to climb out.
"I'm sorry, Steal," she whispers, and I sigh knowing I can’t keep giving her the silent treatment and look at her.
It’s my own fault for fucking her to begin with.
"Head inside, Faith. I'll see you at the club party tomorrow, alright?" I answer, and she nods before looking between my eyes, then shocks the shit outta me as she leans forward, trying to kiss me, and instantly, I move backward before any part of her can touch me.
"What the fuck!" I snap, shoving her away, and hurt shines back at me, the same tactic she's fucking used for years, but I'm not falling for it. I growl, "You know full well I'm in a fucking relationship, Faith!"
Anger etches off her features, showing her true colors as she sneers at me, "And yet here you are again, choosing me over that patch chaser!" I growl in warning, fed up with the same old shit from her, but she continues digging her grave, "Every time I've called, you've been there, whether you’re with her or not. Hell, you even left her in the rain, forgetting to pick her up. Clearly, you don't love her, she's just a bit of fun, so why do you keep pushing me back?"
My nostrils flare at her truths, and I lean over her, open the door, and snap, "Get the fuck out now!"
She flinches. "Steal?—"
I cut her off, "I said, get the fuck out, but hear my fucking words, Faith. I'm making Cass my old lady as soon as she's finished with her degree; you'll show her some fucking respect. You’re family, Faith, and the brothers expect me to take care of you because of our history and that is the only reason I dropped everything to come get you. Now get the fuck out!"
Faith huffs and climbs out of the truck before slamming the door, and I breathe heavily as I grip the steering wheel, regretting picking her up, especially knowing Cass will not forgive me anytime soon for putting her second yet again.
Fuck!
I act upbeat and jovial as we induct Ollie, now known as Acid, into the club as a prospect, already having a road name due to the fact the idiot tried to throw an acid bomb into our bar when he got turned down for a job, only for it to nearly hit my dad. Since then, he's become a good friend, loyal, making him a great prospect for the club, and instead of being here with him and the brothers to celebrate, all I can think of is Cass. The room is full of brothers laughing and joking around, happy to introduce another prospect, yet my mind is on my girl, who isn't here yet.
I should have just got a prospect to pick Faith up instead, knowing she's most likely trying to get in between me and Cass again.
Swallowing hard, I watch as Canine, a club brother, talks to Acid. He's his blood uncle, but because Acid's dad’s a fucker they'd never met before Acid came to the club.
Turns out Aiden Mathews, Acid’s dad, spent years beating the shit outta his sons and the club can't do fuck all because of the people he has in his pocket.
"Can't we just kill the fucker?" Art suggests suddenly and I blink, looking toward him as Dad shakes his head.
"No, Art, he's got friends high up so we can't make him vanish just yet, but we can make sure he barely touches Elijah now that Oliver is out of that house."
Ollie looks at Dad sharply and snaps, "I'm not out of that house. I declined college just so I don't leave Eli alone."
Fuck, I knew he'd struggle with that.
Dad nods. "I know, but Canine and I have managed to get you onto a business course so you can take over at the Huntsmen Grub." He holds his hand out, and a prospect hands him a cut as he says, "We brothers all had a vote, and several of us actually argued who got to sponsor you, and of course, Steal won, but we want you part of the club."
His mouth parts in shock, and I grin to hide my concern over my girl and say, "You have to do a year of grunt work, but you will be paid, and once the officers think you're ready, and believe you've gained the club's full trust, you'll become a brother. I have every faith in you, Oliver, and as soon as you've done a few years of being a brother and getting your degree, I’ll be making you my road captain because you're good with roads, and you know you are."
He eyes the cut and rasps, "But I tried to burn you, Hammer."
The brothers chuckle, and Dad grins. "Showing just how far you'd go for your brother is the kind of loyalty we look for."
Ollie, now officially Acid, takes the cut carefully and smiles as I look toward the door for the hundredth time.
Anchor speaks, making me look at him. "Put the cut on, prospect." Acid grins. "It'll be good to get payback for all the times you kicked the shit out of me in the ring."
Acid snorts, then looks at Dad and promises, "I won't let you down."
I announce, "Well, this has to be a cause for a celebration."
Acid grins and then reminds me, "Okay, first, it's only a prospect cut, I need to prove myself, and secondly, don't you have a certain redhead to go see?"
I grin to hide my concern over my girl and return, "Every brother here knows you'll pass the next year with flying colors because of your honor, and you accepting it was something we believe you'd fight us on, and Cass said she'll meet me here."
Well, she better fucking meet me here, or I'm going to find her and throw her over my shoulder. I won't allow Faith to tear us apart.
Acid opens his mouth to speak, but his phone goes off, and I groan, "Ah, come on, we're supposed to be celebrating."
This causes him to snort and state, "It could be my brother."
I sigh but nod, my eyes going to the door again until Acid murmurs, "It's Cass."
I look at him sharply and demand, "Why in the fuck is she calling you?" not able to hide the jealousy in my voice. I get it, I fucked up because she knows Faith is still fucking family, and until my girl is wearing my cut, I need to put family fucking first, but if she has a problem, she should be calling me.
Acid shakes his head and answers his phone, but before he can say anything, sobs can be heard from the receiver, and I tense.
Acid quickly puts his phone on speaker and demands, "Cass, what's wrong? What's happened?"
She cries harder, and Dad quickly grips my shoulder as I take a step forward, fear overriding me.
"Cass, take a deep breath, talk to me…. Is it Perrie? Is she okay?" he asks calmly, proving what a good brother he'll make, all while I eye the phone, wanting to snatch it out of his palm.
I hear her try to take deep breaths before she croaks, "She's gone, Perrie’s gone, and I-I…oh God."
Her sobs echo in the room, and I fist my hands, needing to jump into that phone, to hold her close.
"What do you mean she's gone, Cass?" Acid demands.
"D-ad h-he," she cries, "he's dead." I suck in a breath in shock. "He-he had a-a heart attack at the gym, P-Perrie was there and tried to-to do CPR, but they-they lost him in the ambulance."
Oh fuck, fuck, fuck no! I was supposed to take her to the gym….
"I-I, when the doctors confirmed the death, she ran, Ollie, and-and I-I, Mom collapsed, and the doctors need forms filled out, but Perrie's gone, and I don't?—"
Acid cuts into her ramblings and rasps, "I'll go find her, Cass." He makes eye contact with me as Cassidy's sobs harden, full of despair, and he offers, "I'll go find Perrie. I have an idea where she is. Steal will come to you. Which hospital are you at?"
"Mem-Memorial," she sobs, and I nod.
"He'll be there in ten," he confirms as I shake off Dad's grip, run over to the bar, and grab my keys, before following Acid out. He goes to the truck, and I run to my bike before starting her up and spinning out of the club with my heart in my throat.
It doesn't take me long to get to the hospital, and I run into the waiting area where the nurse directed me, and see Trudy sitting on chair, staring numbly at the wall while Cass is standing opposite her, her eyes vacant, tears trailing her cheeks.
"Trouble…" I whisper, and our eyes connect and the absolute pain staring back at me nearly sends me to my fucking knees.
"He's gone," she croaks before her legs give out. I run toward her, catching her just before she hits the floor. She screams in agony for her loss, all while I feel helpless, holding her tightly, letting guilt eat me alive, knowing I should have been with her, but instead, I picked up Faith to make the brothers happy.
My heart breaks at the pain she's in, and in this moment, I really wish I could have seen the future, to know the pain I cause.