28. Oatmeal
Chapter 28
Oatmeal
Simone
Once we arrived at Steel’s house, everything became a whirlwind of activity. Mom wrapped me in a fierce hug, then held me at arm’s length to make sure I was all right. Aunt Abby – who’d apparently driven up separate from Uncle Blood – introduced me to a local doctor and they took me to Steel’s room. There wasn’t much they could do without hospital equipment, but the doctor asked me how much Ketamine I’d been given. To my surprise Steel had produced the vial that was used.
The doctor advised getting in to see my doctor on Monday, but the amount was small and our baby would likely survive.
“Thank fuck,” Steel said, and wrapped his arms around me.
“That’s a huge relief,” I whispered.
“You need to get some rest,” the doctor said.
“I’d rather shower first,” I muttered.
The doctor nodded. “Understandable.”
Once the doctor and Abby cleared out of the room, Steel led me to the bathroom.
“We’re showering together, Jade. Need to have you at my side for a little longer. I love you so damn much, and the thought of losing you…”
I touched my finger to his lips. “You aren’t losing me, tough guy.”
Half-an-hour later, I sat at Steel’s massive dining table with him sitting next to me. I had on one of Steel’s black t-shirts and my favorite pair of sleep shorts – a prospect had swung by with my suitcase. I was so grateful; whoever the prospect was, they deserved their patch now rather than later.
Mom and Shelly served up a smorgasbord of food. I had inhaled a stuffed manicotti and garlic bread. Mom insisted I eat some salad, and I complied because I was so famished.
Steel’s cell vibrated. Reluctantly, he peeked at the screen and shook his head. “I gotta take this, Jade.”
I nodded and whispered. “It’s all good, honey.”
With his lips pressed together, he nodded, then wandered to his bedroom to take the call.
“That was a fuckin’ rush, but damn am I glad we went legit,” Blood said.
“I wish they’d go legit,” Shelly muttered from the kitchen sink where she was washing dishes.
I felt bad not helping, but nobody would let me lift a finger.
“Volt suggested this could be the time for Steel to do that,” Blood said.
“That would be nice,” Shelly said.
Since Steel wasn’t in the room, this was my chance. I twisted my head to the kitchen where Mom was drying dishes. “Mom, what am I having?”
She stilled with a damp pot and a towel in hand. Her expression softened. “Now, sweetie, don’t let that asshole take this joyous surprise from you.”
“I could have died not knowing, Mom.”
Uncle Cal set his beer bottle down with a harsh thud. “You didn’t and that shit is never happening again.”
I focused on Mom. “Tell me, please. I know you peeked.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t.”
My head reared back. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” she said, drying the pot.
“Get the envelope. I’m sure it’s in your purse.”
She shook her head again. “Left it at home.”
“She’s right,” Shelly said. “Don’t let Corrupt Chrome take anything more from you. It’s the best kind of surprise to get.”
I sighed. “Guess I should thank Josie the next time I see her. It’s only because of her that I’m pregnant.”
“You aren’t ever seeing her again,” Uncle Blood said.
I turned to him. “Why not?”
Shelly came to the table. She laughed while she grabbed the empty salad bowl. “Josie’s a loose end. I don’t know about these brothers, but Steel is incredibly ruthless. He does not leave loose ends behind. Somebody comes looking for Knuckles, you think she’s gonna keep her trap shut? Nope. Loose end. She’s gone.”
My brows furrowed. “But she helped me… a little.”
Mom tilted her head. “She’s also the reason you got taken. Serves her right.”
“Wow,” I breathed.
With a self-satisfied smile, Mom arched her brow. “Are you sure you were made to be a president’s old lady?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then get something straight, Simone. Steel is the reason you’re pregnant. Not anybody else.”
I nodded. “I wish I knew what happened to Knuckles.”
“Are you gonna thank him, too?” Blood asked.
I scoffed. “No, but I’d have liked to have punched him.”
“He got his, sweetheart. Don’t you worry,” Cal said.
I stared at the sliding glass doors. It was dark and the entire room was reflected in the glass. I looked over to the living room. “Where did Dad and Rafferty go?”
“Not your business,” Blood said.
“That’s getting annoying,” I muttered.
“Too bad,” Blood said.
I leveled a pointed look at him. “I don’t think anybody would have found me without him and Alexandra.”
Nelson stood and tossed a beer bottle in the recycle bin. “We had a source who confirmed about the property where you were. We’d have found you.”
“ Had a source?” I hinted at my question.
Nelson gave me a regretful grin. “Also not your business. At least not unless Steel says so.”
Mom settled in the chair next to me. “Eat some more food, Simone. Then you need to rest.”
There was a hard, authoritative knock at the door.
Blood looked at Nelson. “Would Steel mind if I answer it?”
Nelson shrugged.
Blood grinned. As he stalked to the front door, it struck me how unusual it was that he had his hair in a man-bun.
His voice carried back into the room. “Good evening, officers. Is there a problem?”
“That crazy motherfucker,” Cal muttered.
I laughed.
“He’s here, Officer Perkins. Me and my buddy rode up today. We got here around five o’clock. Steel’s woman is pregnant and we had a big dinner to celebrate. He’s been here all day.”
Nelson hurried back toward Steel’s room, but he strode around the corner before Nelson got very far.
I heard the door catch, but I didn’t hear it snick shut. Even though the voices were muffled, the conversation could still be heard inside.
“Where were you tonight at ten o’clock?”
“Here with Damon, Cal, and my woman’s family.”
There was a pause, then another voice said, “You need to come downtown for questioning.”
“I’m not going anywhere without my lawyer present.”
“Why do you think you need a lawyer?”
“I don’t take any chances.”
Nothing but silence after Steel delivered that.
Then Steel said, “I have a house full of guests. Are we finished here?”
“You need to come downtown for questioning in the morning.”
“My lawyer and I will be there,” Steel said.
I heard a different voice say, “It’s just questioning, but it’s your call.”
The door clicked shut and Steel took his seat next to me.
Nelson leaned against the breakfast bar adjacent to the dining table. “‘Just questioning,’ my ass. Why do they bother with that? We all know the score.”
Uncle Cal shot Nelson a wry look. “Believe it or not, lots of people don’t know the score. That’s why they bother with that.”
Nelson tipped his head to the side. “Fair.” He looked at Steel. “Do we even have a club lawyer any more?”
Steel slung his arm around my shoulders. “We do. They’re new, and it looks like I’ll get to see what they’re made of first hand.”
Uncle Cal caught Steel’s gaze. “Are you sure you’re cool with us staying here? I don’t have a problem hitting the road if I get my hands on some Café Bustello before I go.”
Steel grinned. “It’s no problem, Callous. The better question is if you have a problem bunking with Rafferty.”
“I’m not bunking with him. He’s sleeping on the floor.”
“Or I’ll just sleep on the sectional,” Rafferty said, coming in through the sliding glass door.
“You plan to prospect with any club, I think sleeping on the floor is exactly where you belong,” Dad said, following him inside.
Rafferty shook his head and stopped next to me. “Did you call Alexandra?”
I dipped my chin. “In his truck. It was brief. I’m gonna call her in the morning.”
“Good.”
Before he moved away, I grabbed his hand. “Thanks, Raff. I mean it. Not everyone would think to listen to Alexandra or Jasmine. I don’t care what Dad and the others say, that’s really admirable.”
He gave my hand a squeeze. “Glad you’re okay, Simone. We all love you.”
Everyone had gone to bed. Blood and Abby were in a guest bedroom on the same side of the house as Steel’s bedroom, while Dad and Mom were in a bedroom on the other side of the house. Cal had taken over the room Rafferty had been using… and I had no idea if Raff had opted to sleep on the floor, the sectional in the living room, or take his chances at the Devil Lancer clubhouse.
I’d never been so exhausted. Yet, as excited as I was to go to bed, part of me feared that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I wanted it so desperately.
Steel climbed under the covers, twisted toward his lamp and turned out the light. “Hit your light, babe. I’m wiped out.”
I ignored his request and twisted so I could snuggle up to him. “Are you really going in for questioning tomorrow morning?”
He wrapped his arms around me. “Sweetheart, the less you know—”
“Nope. I’m not putting up with that. I was there for some of this shit. I know that you took care of it, which means I’m not going to rat you out or anything. Give it to me straight. Is there any chance they have something on you? I’m sure you concocted an elaborate plan against Knuckles, but for all we know some informant sold you out.”
He rubbed his hand up and down my back. “Jade, slow down. Yeah, you were there… for some of it. The news reported that Knuckles and his drug supplier had an altercation after Knuckles learned Sledge and Mug had been killed.”
“After?” I asked, since I knew Mug and Sledge had likely been killed at the same time as Knuckles.
He dipped his chin, his lips quirking upward. “That’s what the news reports.”
“So, what about the supplier?”
“He was found dead at the meeting site, so were the few men who were with him. The cartel isn’t claiming Manuel or the others, because he’d gone rogue, but that won’t be in the news.”
I nodded and stifled a yawn. “Bottom line, am I gonna have to visit you and wish you weren’t wearing the drab prison uniform? Everyone thinks it’s orange all the time, but really, it’s the color of oatmeal.”
His body shook with laughter. “You got a problem with oatmeal, Jade? I heard toddlers like it.”
I stared at him in the dim lamp light. “You heard wrong. No, I don’t have a problem with oatmeal, just when it becomes a color. That’s wrong.”
“I’m taking a lawyer with me, sweetheart. It should be fine.”
“Why aren’t you more certain?”
He blew out a sigh. “All of our chapters were facing similar issues, but not with as much intensity as us. I don’t know that this ‘questioning’ isn’t to figure out if I gave the order to do anything to other Corrupt Chrome chapters.”
“Okay, fine. But your new lawyer better pull their weight.”
He gave me a quick kiss. “They will.”