Steel Crew : Books 1-3 (Steel World Box Set Book 7)

by Mj Fields

  I can’t help laughing. “If it makes you feel any better, I missed it, too.”

  “Oh, please.”

  I shake my head. “I fought it because I thought he was”—I pause before I say he was into Bella—“or would, never give me the time of day. And you know me; I would never put myself out there like that.”

  “Maybe now you will.”

  “Kind of feel like I am, Truth.” I hit the blinker.

  “I’m talking about your writing.”

  “Pfft,” I say as I pull up in front of the shop that I found.

  “You’re amazing. Keep telling you to show Uncle X.”

  I turn off the car and open the door. “Not interested. Now, let’s go.”

  Stepping out of the car, Truth looks up. “Why are we at a …? What is this? A metal shop?”

  Smiling, I nod to the door. “Come on; I’ll show you.”

  When we walk inside the shop, I see the guy in his 30s, who was plastered on the website. Tall, lean, long hair, and tattooed up. He’s good looking, I suppose, but after looking at Brand for the past … fifteen years, his good looks are lost on me. But when I look at Truth, I see they’re not lost on her.

  “Harrison Reeves,” I whisper.

  “Huh?” she asks.

  “Harrison, the ballet dancer or whatever.”

  “So?” She shrugs.

  “You the chick who called about the ring?” he asks me before I’m even halfway to the makeshift counter.

  “I am,” I answer.

  “You’re buying B—”

  “Got cash?” a younger guy with a knit cap and sunglasses on … inside asks, walking out from the back room, holding a cloth of some sort.

  “Yeah,” I answer.

  “Twelve hundred?”

  I shake my head. “The site said eight.”

  “The fuck, Frank?” He sneers at the man who I assume is the owner.

  “No sense in sitting on pieces.” He—Frank—looks back at me. “Eight’s good.” He holds his hand out and the shades begrudgingly hands it to him.

  “Oh, wow, look at this one,” Truth says, looking through the glass at the stainless-steel, handmade rings. “Rugged.”

  Frank hands me the ring I saw on the site. The steel is worn and looks to have two wings on it.

  “It’s perfect.” I reach in my pocket, pull out eight one-hundred-dollar bills, and hand them to Frank.

  “This one, too.” Truth crouches down. “Kiki, look, it has a music note.”

  I look down and sigh. “How much for this one?”

  “Cash or card?” Frank asks.

  I reach in my other pocket, and Truth grabs my hand stopping me. “How much?”

  “Cash or card?” Frank asks again.

  “Do I look like I was born yesterday?” she huffs.

  He gives her a look that’s meant to intimidate. Basically useless on any of us.

  “My brother gives me more threatening looks than that, and he’s younger than me.” She rolls her eyes at him.

  He looks at her like he’s amused. “Four cash, five card.”

  She puts her hands on her hips. “Then cash.”

  “Seriously, Frank?” Shades huffs.

  I pull out the wad of cash in my pocket and count out three hundred. “I have three.”

  “Fuck no,” Shades spats, stepping out from the back.

  Truth slaps a hundred on the counter. “There.”

  Frank smirks at her as he reaches under the counter and grabs the ring. He hands it to me while looking at her. “Nice doing business with you”—he looks her up and down—“Laces.”

  She scrunches up her face. “Excuse me?”

  He points down at her shoes. “You wanna act like a badass, you should probably learn how to tie your shoes.”

  She looks at me. “Are we done here?”

  I nod.

  “Good, let’s go. I need a drink.” With her nose in the air, she turns and walks out the door.

  I hit my key fob and unlock the door, and Truth opens the door and gets in.

  I look over my shoulder at Frank and Shades. Frank looks amused. Shades just looks … like a douchebag.

  As soon as I start the engine, Truth looks at me. “How hot was he?”

  “Um, he’s like old.” I throw the car in reverse and start to back out.

  “So what? Brand is older than you.”

  “Not that old. Eww. What happened to Harrison what’s-his-name?” I ask as I put the car in drive.

  “That’s so next week.” She laughs at herself.

  “You mean tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she sighs as she leans down and ties her … laces.

  “I’m gonna stop by the bank and grab you some cash.”

  “It can wait, but chocolate is necessary right now.” She sits back and sighs.

  “There’s a bank next to the little grocers up here.”

  “It’s Sunday.” Truth laughs. “Seriously, just wait. No big deal.”

  I pull into a parking spot. “No big deal. There’s an ATM right here. Go get your premenstrual fix.”

  “Fine.” She gets out then leans back in. “Any cravings yet, besides Brand Falcon’s impressive package?”

  “Go away.” I laugh as I open my door to grab some cash.

  A few minutes later, I watch as Truth walks out of the store behind some girl who looks back at her and says something. Truth looks shook, so I kill the engine and open. The girl takes off running, and Truth looks at me, holding both palms in the air.

  I step out. “Is everything okay?”

  She walks to the car, pissed off as she opens the door. “No.” She slides in and shuts the door, and I do the same.

  “What happened?” I ask, starting the car.

  “She was about to get busted for lifting a loaf of bread and some peanut butter. I told the old man at the register that she was carrying it for me and must have forgotten. She walked her ass over and dropped it on the counter. I paid for it, and then she told me to rot in hell as soon as we stepped outside.”

  I cover my mouth. “Rot in hell?”

  Truth laughs. “Must be code for thank you for saving my ass.”

  Laughing, I throw the car in reverse and Truth turns on the radio. I recognize the instrumental beginning of Brand’s newest hit, the one he played on stage … the one he wrote about me.

  “Just Enough.”

  Truth asks, “Are you gonna make me turn him off like always?”

  I throw the car in drive. “He’s way more fun turned on.”

  “I am so freaking happy for you!”

  When he begins singing, so do Truth and I.

  Never found the way to say

  What exactly’s on my mind,

  But now it’s getting late,

  And I’ve had just enough to drink tonight.

  Nothing tends to come out like I want it to,

  How I feel about what we’ve been through.

  It’s just enough to break me down.

  Just enough breaking and making up,

  Just enough begging for your love,

  Just enough to let you know what’s up.

  I’ve had just enough.

  Just enough whiskey tonight,

  Just enough drawn-out goodbyes.

  I’ve had just enough.

  If I found a way to say,

  What exactly’s on my mind,

  But now it’s way too late,

  And I have had just enough tonight.

  Nothing changes like you want it to.

  I’m done with the hell that you’ve put me through.

  It’s time to break this down.

  Just enough breaking and making up,

  Just enough begging for your love,

  Just enough to let you know what’s up.

  I’ve had just enough.

  Just enough whiskey tonight,

  Just enough drawn-out goodbyes.

  I’ve had just enough.

  Truth begins to play
a badass air guitar, and I hit the gas a little harder, wanting to get back to my man, who will always be more than enough, even when he’s an ocean away.

  While I lay here with this bottle in my hand,

  I’d say there’s just enough to fill that cup again.

  Please don’t ask another time

  What I’m doing with my life,

  because I’ve had just enough to fire me up tonight.

  Just enough breaking and making up,

  Just enough begging for your love,

  Just enough to let you know what’s up.

  I’ve had just enough.

  Just enough whiskey tonight,

  Just enough drawn-out goodbyes.

  I’ve had just enough.

  I’ve had just enough.

  I’ve had just enough.

  Inked

  Brandon

  “What do you think?” Jase asks as I hold a mirror up and look at the tattoo on my shoulder that took him less than thirty minutes to do.

  “Love it.” I smile at seeing the guitar in black ink that has Katy’s name on it and a few specific notes that he let Justice and Max permanently put on my body.

  Both were nervous as fuck, which made me a bit nervous, too, especially when they acted as if they’d never even touched a tattoo gun. Jase flipped them off, which I found pretty odd until Justice couldn’t hide a smile, and they spilled that they all got Forever Steel tattooed inside their middle finger when they turned sixteen. All of them, including Katy. I couldn’t help wanting to know what other parts of her body that I have not memorized yet.

  I smile at Jase. “I’ll have her with me in a way, right behind my heart, too.”

  “Did you think it hurt?” He smirks, wanting me to say yes.

  “Irritated a bit, but no. I’ll definitely get more.”

  “Just make sure whatever you get inked on you means something. Having them removed hurts like a motherfucker.”

  “Can assure you that this one will be there forever.”

  He wants to be irritated, but then he finally nods. “Good.”

  “Thank you for this. Means a lot.”

  “Glad it does.”

  Carly leans into the bathroom. “Let me see.”

  I turn and see her smile as I watch her in the mirror, taking it in. Then she looks at Jase, and he winks at her.

  “You do good work, Jase Steel.”

  “Haven’t lost it, have I?”

  “No, not one bit.”

  “Gonna head over to the house to get some packing done. Thanks again, Jase.”

  “No problem,” he says, hugging his wife.

  “Jase will cook lunch,” Carly calls after me, and I hear Jase laugh as I walk toward the door.

  Had to get out of there because I’m starting to wig.

  Instead of going inside and packing, I decide to walk the beach to clear my head on my way. She’s been gone all of thirty minutes, and I feel like I’ll crawl out of my skin just to get to her.

  I trust her; just not understanding why she didn’t ask me to go shopping with her. Never really worked hard to get my man card, so if that thought revokes it, then oh well. Don’t want a man card; want the girl, got the girl, knocked her up, too. It’s kind of a blessing in disguise. And honestly, had I thought of that on my own accord, I may have done it on purpose, but fate took the wheel.

  I keep telling myself it’s because I know I’m leaving in the morning, but reality is that I’m scared to death that I’m gonna feel like this the whole time I’m gone.

  Ten shows, I remind myself. Done by April. No tours until the summer. I’ll be home for Christmas. Then back at it on New Year’s Eve. Bet I could bring her to Canada. Definitely gonna ask.

  Halfway down the boardwalk, my phone rings. It’s Xavier, and he’s pissed at me.

  My thumb hovers over accept or deny. I know I have to answer, but I just don’t want the guilt trip. Can’t say fuck off, because he’s not just my producer; he’s Katy’s uncle and has done me a solid by not telling her about tonight.

  I hit accept. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “How’s the honeymoon going?” he huffs.

  “You really want to know?”

  “Fuck no!” he snaps.

  “Then why ask?”

  “I’m gonna ask one more time. When we land, I can have the jet fueled and take you to—”

  “Already declined performing due to the tour,” I interrupt him. “No sense in putting on a suit and walking the red carpet. Not like I’m gonna win a second year in a row. This isn’t the CMTs; it’s the American Music Awards. I was lucky last year.”

  “Yeah, well, if you did win, that would be two in a row, which would make a fuck of a lot of sense since I got a call ten minutes ago that one of my singer/songwriters just got a Grammy nomination for Song of the fucking Year.”

  “Damn, that’s cool. Congratulations, man. Is it STD?”

  “Jesus, why are you so damn chill about these …?” He stops asking the question that I’m damn sure he doesn’t want the answer to. But reality is that I wasn’t chill, not at all, but I do laugh.

  “Not funny, man. Back on task. Did they write and perform “Just Enough”?”

  I’m pretty sure I heard him wrong. It is fucking windy.

  “Brand, did you hear me?” Xavier laughs.

  I see Katy coming down the stairs from, well, her parents’ house, heading toward mine. “Not sure. Can I call you back?”

  “You fucking kidding me? “Just Enough” was nominated for the fucking Song of the Year, Brand.” He laughs. “A fucking Grammy, man! You could end up with three in a row. A triple crown, fucking thoroughbred, man.”

  “Pretty damn cool.”

  He sounds pissed when he asks, “You hearing me, Brand?”

  “Hey.” Taelyn obviously took the phone from X. “Let me put this in perspective. You’ll be home for Christmas, and then back in the States between your shows in Portugal and France. Pretty sure my niece wouldn’t mind getting all dressed up, going on a date, and watching her boyfriend perform on stage.”

  I see Katy shield her eyes and look down the boardwalk at me. Then she waves.

  My heartbeat accelerates as I start toward her.

  “Well, in that case”—I smile at Katy—“it’s pretty cool.”

  “Sound preoccupied. We’ll see you in a couple hours. Celebrate over dinner.”

  “Any chance we can keep this on the DL? Kind of want to just chill with Katy.”

  The call ends, and I’m not sure if we disconnected or I got hung up on.

  I can’t hide the smile she causes. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that, after all these years, I no longer have to.

  She’s in leggings and a hoodie and looks just as hot to me as she does in a bikini.

  “Hey,” she says, pushing her hair behind her ear, squinting as she looks up at me.

  “The hell took you so long?” I ask, taking the side of her face, gripping the back of her head with my hand, and pulling her into a kiss. And, when her mouth falls open immediately, I know damn well she’s just as desperate for my kiss as I am for hers. Deep, hot, wet, tasting, caressing … connecting.

  “God, I missed you.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her tighter against me.

  “Missed you, too.” She looks up into my eyes then at my lips.

  “You want more?” I ask.

  She smirks. “Don’t get a big head, Brand Falcon.”

  “You kidding me?” I chuckle. “Have you seen my girl? No way around it. She makes both my heads big every time I look at her.”

  “You’re so—”

  “In love with you.” I take her face in my hands. “So fucking in love.”

  She pushes up on her toes to kiss me when we’re interrupted by a loud whistle. Then she makes a growl sound that is oddly sexy and looks over her shoulder.

  “You two wanna come up here for a minute?” Jase yells.

  She nods yet quietly says, “Hell no.”

>   I can’t help laughing.

  “Better get—”

  “Hold up,” she says nervously, chewing on her lower lip while peering at me through a curtain of black waves. She takes in a deep breath as she reaches in her hoodie pocket. Then she squares her shoulders and looks at me. “I bought you something.”

  “Yeah?”

  She nods, holds her hand up, and then opens it. It’s a ring. “I was trying to find something that you could take with you, maybe wear on stage that was from me, so you knew I was kind of with you, even if you don’t really need me to be there, but—”

  “I love it,” I interrupt.

  “Yeah?”

  “It’s pretty amazing.” I pick it up and look at it.

  “Saw it when I was looking for local shops. Kind of looks like wings, like a Falcon, all pointing up. Thought it was edgy, like you are as an artist, kind of bridging country and rock. And—”

  I put my lips to hers. “I love it.”

  “I’m glad.” She steps back and reaches in her pocket again, pulling another out. “This one has a music note.”

  “Love that, too.”

  We hear another whistle then Jase yells, “Brand, you forget to tell us something?”

  “Uh-oh, did you piss Dad off?”

  “Nah,” I say, looking at the rings in my hand. Then I look up at her. “You wanna put these on me, Katy Steel?”

  “What? Pfft, no.” She rolls her eyes then shakes her head and looks up at me, crossing her arms. “I just wanted you to have something. I was just getting the one, and then Truth saw the music notes one and—”

  “I love them. Hell, I’d wear you if I could.”

  Her face is pink, and she fights a smile. I don’t fight it, not one bit.

  “You’re crazy about me, Katy Steel. Over the top crazy. Possessive and trying to claim me with not just one ring but two?”

  “Oh my God, just give them back, then.”

  I shrug off my flannel, turn around, and start to lift my tee-shirt.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Gotta make sure my girl doesn’t think she’s boarded the crazy train alone.” I pull my shirt over my head and look over my shoulder at her as she looks at my piece. “What do you think?”