"Eat something," Luna urges, pushing a plate of eggs and toast toward me. "Everything looks worse on an empty stomach."
Chapter 7 - Steel
I stride down the hallway toward the meeting room, jaw clenched so tight my teeth might crack. It's been four hours since I woke to find Holly gone, whisked away by Luna before we could properly talk about last night.
Four hours of security checks, perimeter sweeps, and strategic planning with Tank while my mind was half elsewhere, wondering where she was, what she was thinking, if she regretted everything.
Four hours of hearing bits and pieces about James Mercer's morning tantrum, his threats to go to the cops, and worst of all, his public announcement that his sister had slept with me. The knowledge that he'd made Holly's private business club fodder makes my hands itch to finish what Beast started with the worthless piece of shit.
King's text came ten minutes ago: "Church. Now."
Our code for mandatory club meetings. Whatever's being decided about the Mercers, I need to be there to make sure Holly's interests are protected. Her brother can rot for all I care, but Holly deserves better than to be punished for his stupidity.
I push through the double doors of the meeting room to find King alone, sitting at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. No other members are present, which is unusual for church.
"Close the door," he says, not looking up from the papers in front of him.
I comply, my guard immediately up. One-on-one meetings with King usually mean either a special assignment or you're in deepshit. Given the events of the past twenty-four hours, I'm betting on the latter.
"Sit," he says, finally looking up.
I take my usual chair. "Where is everyone else?"
"This meeting is just for us," King replies, leaning back in his chair. "We need to talk about the Mercer situation."
I nod. "The brother's a liability."
"Yes, he is." King's piercing blue eyes study me. "But that's not the only complication, is it?"
Here it comes. I meet his gaze steadily, refusing to look away or appear ashamed. "If you're talking about Holly, yes. We slept together last night."
"Jesus Christ, Steel." King shakes his head, disappointment evident in his tone. "Of all the women you could have fucked, you chose the sister of a man who owes us money? A civilian with no connection to club life? A virgin?"
That last part makes me flinch. "How did you—"
“James Mercer was quite vocal about his sister's virtue being taken by, and I quote, 'that mechanic bastard.'"
Fury boils in my gut. That piece of shit actually told the whole club his sister had been a virgin? What kind of brother does that?
"It wasn't planned," I say, struggling to keep my voice level. "It just happened."
King barks out a laugh. "It just happened? What are you, sixteen? You're a patched member of this club. Nothing 'just happens.' You make choices, and those choices have consequences for all of us."
"I know that," I reply, frustration edging my tone. "But last night was different. She was different."
"Fuck. You actually care about this girl, don't you?"
I don't answer immediately. Do I care about Holly? The woman I've known for less than twenty-four hours? The woman whose body I know more intimately than her mind? The woman who trusted me completely, who came apart in my arms, who looked at me with such openness it physically hurt?
"Yes," I finally admit, accepting the truth. "I care about her."
King sighs heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. "That complicates things."
"How?" I challenge. "Her brother's the problem, not her."
"Because now your judgment is compromised," King points out. "And because the Iron Eagles will use her against you if they get the chance."
The thought of Holly in Vulture's hands makes my blood run cold. "They won't get that chance."
