Epilogue
Sixteen months later
Steel plopped hislegs on top of the coffee table knowing his mother would lecture him when she came in. He glanced around her living room and his gaze landed on his and Breanna’s wedding picture. She looked beautiful in her simple, white wedding dress, her head swept up into a messy bun. He still couldn’t believe she was his forever, and whenever he saw her wearing his patch, it turned him on to no end. She was more than a wife, lover, and friend; she was his strength, his everything.
“Is Breanna with you?” his mom asked as she walked into the room. “And take your feet off the table. You’re going to scratch it. Does Breanna let you do that at your house?”
He placed his feet on the floor and crossed his leg over his thigh. “I treat her real good so sheletsme do whatever the hell I want.” He chuckled when his mother placed her hands on her hips and shook her head while frowning. She didn’t fool him for a minute because her eyes sparkled as she feigned displeasure.
Warmth spread through him as he looked at the curl of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Since the birth of his son, his mom usually wore a smile on her face and a twinkle in her dark eyes. It’d been a long time since he’d seen her so happy, and he loved it.
“When’s Breanna coming with my grandson?”
“She texted me that they’re on their way. You know, we really want you to live with us. She keeps asking me if you’ve changed your mind. I don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn.”
His mother came over and sat by him on the couch, her wrinkled hand gently stroking his cheek. “I love you so much. You’ve been my rock since you were a young boy. You always stood up for me when I was too weak to do it.”
“Shimá,you—”
She held up her hand. “I’m not finished. I don’t want you to think for one minute that I don’t love you because I’m not choosing to live with you. It’s not the right time for that. You and your wife need to be alone to build your life with your son.” She pulled at a loose thread in the couch. “Besides, I love being on the reservation. I’ve been here for most of my life. I’d miss my friends and my grandkids. They come over every day after school. It’s nice. And even though Chitsa can be a handful, I’d miss your sister. Are you mad at me?”
Steel brought his mother’s hand to his lips. “I’m not mad,Shimá.When the time is right, you’ll always have a home with me and Breanna.” The front door opened and he jumped up when he saw his wife and son come in. After kissing Breanna, he took Aiden from her arms and held him close. The four-month-old swung out his tiny arms and scrunched up his face. Steel laughed and kissed him on his soft, dark hair. He caught Breanna’s gaze and held out his arm to her. She came next to him and he tugged her to his side. The scent of gardenias, vanilla, and apricot curled around him and he knew that for the rest of his life, those would be his favorite smells. She tilted her head and looked up at him.She’s so gorgeous.He dipped his head down and kissed her, his tongue pushing into her mouth. It tasted of peppermint, and when she tucked her thumb in his waistband, his dick jerked.
“I can’t wait to get you alone,” he whispered against her ear.
She giggled. “Behave. Your mom’s sitting over there on the couch.”
He sucked her earlobe between his teeth. “I can’t help it if you make me want to do dirty things to you. You push all my fucking buttons, baby.”
“Later… I promise to make it worth the wait.” She uncurled herself from under Steel’s arm and walked over to the couch. “How are you,Shimá?” she asked.
He watched her as she sat on the couch, her hair tumbling down her back as her cute butt wiggled until she settled down on the cushion. As they spoke, he turned his eyes back to his son. He was amazed at how beautiful he was: hair as dark as midnight and skin the color of moonlight.Chenoa would’ve loved to have had a brother to boss around.He chuckled softly as he caressed Aiden’s cheek with his fingertip. He walked over to his mother and placed his son in her outstretched arms. As they talked, his phone buzzed and he went outside.
“What’s up, Paco?”
“Just touching base with you. Did you want Goldie to help Muerto run the pool hall? Goldie keeps saying you want him at Lust, but I thought you said you wanted him at Balls and Holes.”
“No. I want Crow to help Muerto at the pool hall. Goldie’s got his hands full at the bike repair shop. There’s no way I’m putting him in charge over at Lust. He’s fucking horny for Fiona.”
Paco laughed. “I thought he had a boner for someone at Lust. He kept denying it.”
“He would. He’d best keep away from her. I don’t wanna have to kick his ass.”
The club was adamant that the women employees were off limits to the brothers. Steel figured that the brothers had their pick of the club girls, the hang-arounds, and the citizens who liked the excitement of being in an outlaw’s bed; they didn’t need to sniff around the women who worked at the club’s businesses. Most of the time it worked out, but occasionally he’d have to set a brother straight. It seemed like he’d have to have a talk with Goldie.
“You coming by to shoot some pool and toss back some tequila?”
“Not tonight. We’re taking my mom out to dinner. I’ll see you at church tomorrow. I heard that another strip bar is opening up. I want to find out who owns it. If my information is correct, Jimmy Delarosa is gonna run it. I want to know who’s putting the money into it.”
“I’ll have Crow check it out. He’s the computer geek.”
“Sounds good. Anything else?”
“Is Breanna gonna take over the fundraiser we have at the fall rally for abused kids? Shannon was asking since she’s done it for the last six years.”
Steel quirked his lips. “Yeah, she is. Shannon’s gotta understand that Breanna is the head of everything now. She’s been Rooster’s old lady long enough to know what the pecking order is. I’m the goddamn president, so Breanna is the number one old lady. If she has a gripe, tell her to talk to me about it. I don’t want to hear that she’s giving my woman a hard time.”
“I’ll tell Rooster. That’ll do it. Later, brother,” Paco said.
