Page 74 of Shattered Secrets

Truth. He deserves the truth.No matter how much she didn’t want to tell him.

“I don’t know who her dad is,” she whispered. “There are a few possibilities.”

Matt tensed, and she could practically feel his confusion.

“The highest probability and most likely person is Steele.”

“He was the club’s VP that you testified against?”

She nodded. “But like I said, he died in prison.”

“And the low probabilities?”

Bile crept up her throat. “There were the three guys who had a go.” Dash, Zip, and Jester. Newly patched club members who had thought they were hot shit but hadn’t fully understood the rules.

“‘Had a go’?” Matt’s icy voice chilled her blood.

“I wasn’t Steele’s old lady or anything, but still, he didn’t like to share. He had me on the side for a few months, and no onewas allowed to mess with me. But these guys... they either didn’t get it or didn’t care. They cornered me at a party and did their thing. Steele found me after.” She’d been a bruised and bloody mess, barely hanging on to consciousness. “And he made them pay.”

Matt’s arms tightened around her. Otherwise, he gave no response.

Scarlet closed her eyes in an attempt to block out the vile memories of that night. The rough hands and fists. The terror and burning pain as they’d forced themselves on her. But it didn’t work. Goosebumps claimed her skin, and she shivered. “So it doesn’t matter. All of them are gone now. Anyone who could have fathered Daisy isn’t a concern.”

“What do you mean they’re all gone?” Matt asked, rubbing her arms.

“Steele killed them.”

“For raping you.” It wasn’t a question.

She scoffed, and a bitter smile lifted her lips. “Yeah, right. Steele didn’t care about that. Those guys disrespected him. They were newly patched members who took what was his without permission. Steele’s exact words.”

Matt remained silent for a moment, as if contemplating what she’d said, but his hands continued warming her arms. “Steele killed those fuckers in front of you. That’s what he went to prison for. That’s what you testified against him for.”

“Yes,” she whispered, memories of that night playing in her mind. “After the three of them... took their turns... I was really messed up. Steele found me and made me rat them out. He waited a few hours for me to get my bearings and then took me to the club’s basement.”

Once she’d managed to stand without toppling over, he’d thrown a dirty towel at her, told her to clean the fuck up, anddragged her with him to the basement. A place she’d never been allowed to go.

She could still smell the musty, coppery scent that had grown heavier with every step down. Could still feel the fear that had skittered over every inch of her skin. No one had been allowed in the basement unless they’d been fully patched in. No old ladies, no prospects, no hangers-on. Just club members.

Steele had led her into a windowless cement room with bare walls and a lone drain in the center of the floor. Kneeling in a line behind the drain, Dash, Zip, and Jester had waited. Their hands tied behind their backs and their faces pummeled in.

“Three counts of first-degree murder,” she said. “Steele got three consecutive life sentences and was fine with it. Proud of it, even. He’d been a prominent member of the club, but after that, he reached god-like status. Because he proved to everyone that disrespect wouldn’t go unpunished.”

“That’s so fucked up.” Matt’s arms once again tightened around her. “But you know what, Scar? Regardless of why he killed those fuckers. I’m glad he did. They deserved it for hurting you.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she held tight to his forearms. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“I have one more question. If you don’t mind, that is.”

“Ask it,” she said, even as dread swirled in her stomach.

His arms remained locked around her. She prayed that meant something.

“Did your handlers ever tell you how Steele died in prison?”

Scarlet closed her eyes in relief. It was a question she could handle. “He was just over three years into his sentence when he apparently mouthed off to the wrong guy. He got jumped in the cafeteria.” She shrugged. “I didn’t believe it—Steele always seemed so invincible—but Bates showed me the autopsy photo. Within days of Steele dying, Bates said the club broke up.Apparently, there was some sort of sting. A lot of the guys were busted for selling guns to undercover cops. Shortly after that, they released me from witness protection.”

“Do you really think they disbanded?”

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