Page 65 of Pirate

Pirate shook his head, because, while he had some idea, it seemed very out of character for Steel.

With his back to them, Steel called over his shoulder, “Sophia, as happy as I am that you will be joining our family,the conversation that I would like to have with both of you does require the use of pants.”

Pirate and Sophia looked down. The hem of his shirt barely touched her upper thighs, a fact that he’d loved discovering only that morning.

“Pants are overrated,” Sophia responded, not one to get embarrassed. “But since you asked so nicely, I’ll go get some. You two sit. Steel, he’s not supposed to be on his leg.”

Though he didn’t turn to look at her, Steel dipped his chin once in acknowledgment.

Sophia hurried off back towards Pirate’s bedroom.

Pirate hobbled his way into the living room. Steel moved to the side to let him pass. Pirate made his way to the couch, placing his gun down on the coffee table. It obviously was not needed. Once seated, he gestured for Steel to sit.

“A bit surprised to see you here. You don’t usually make house calls.”

Steel took one of the chairs from the kitchen table, turned it, and sat down facing Pirate. He kicked one leg up to rest his ankle on his knee. “Extenuating circumstances. How are you feeling?”

Pirate guessed that was Steel’s way of saying he didn’t want to force Pirate to come down to the clubhouse without his prosthetic on. But, again, it wasn’t like Steel not to just come out and say that.

He shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “I’m doing better.”

Sophia came into the room then. She was wearing her jeans from the day before now but was still in his shirt. Rather than sitting down next to Pirate like a normal person, she climbed up onto the couch, put her butt on the back, flung one leg over Pirate’s head, and then started to squeeze herself between Pirate’s back and the couch cushion. He shifted forward a little so he wasn’t crushing her. Sophia sat with him between her legs, hers thrown over his hips, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

If Steel thought her choice of seat odd, he didn’t show it. Rather, he looked between the two of them to ensure he had their attention and then said, “I owe both of you an apology.”

Sophia didn’t knowSteel very well. He was this immense presence at the clubhouse and the club functions. She thought him a bit standoffish and closed off, but wouldn’t classify him as an alpha-hole, or an alpha asshole. Yet, there was something almost indestructible about him. Like nothing fazed him. She knew from Jasmine that there was nothing more important to Steel than family. He was protective and demanding. The club members looked up to him as a patriarch, even the ones who were still in contact with their birth families.

She suspected Pirate was as shocked as she was that Steel was here at Pirate and Jumper’s apartment to offer an apology.

Steel continued without pause. “I never had any intention of letting Fletcher Montague prospect for us. From his background check alone, I knew he was not a good fit for theVia Daemonia. You may not know this, Pirate, but Lucky, Bulldog, and I don’t turn away people asking to prospect based on their backgrounds, though we generally know from them if the interview will be a success. We take those interviews because it’s amusing for us to make them squirm.

“Unlike others before him, Montague’s background screamed ‘spoiled brat’ as well as ‘asshole’. We did not expect Harper to go into labor, obviously.” Steel shrugged, “No one could have predicted that and I sent him back to Papaw just to fuck with him because he pissed me off by showing up at the hospital thinking he was God’s gift to our problems.”

Steel’s eyes narrowed on Pirate. “Youpissed me off by throwing punches in the hospital.”

Pirate nodded, his posture repentant. “I know. I am sorry for that.” He placed a hand over Sophia’s knee. “Iamclaiming her,” he told Steel as if Steel had asked him a question.

Steel nodded once. “Good, but it doesn’t change the fact that you fucked up.”

“It doesn’t,” Pirate agreed.

“When I learned Pumpkin and Grumpy had taken apart Montague’s Tomahawk, I thought I could solve two birds with one stone. Drag out Montague’s torment while giving you your punishment. Despite what some say, Idohave a heart,” Steel added pointedly. “I know what it is like to be in love with a girl you can’t have. In your case, though, it was being in love with a girl you didn’t know you were in love with. I needed to punish you to make a point but I had no intention of making it public or humiliating.”

“Iamsorry I hit Carlos,” Pirate said again, “but in a way, I’m not. He helped me realize the truth and why I was acting strangely.”

“Um,” Sophia lifted a finger. “Can we get back to the part where you guys took apart Fletcher’s bike?”

Steel looked at her. “They thought it would be hilarious to dismantle Montague’s bike while Papaw was making him scrub the clubhouse with a toothbrush.”

Sophia chuckled. “I bet he shit a brick when he found out.”

“Nearly,” Steel confirmed.

Realizing something from the conversation she’d had in the kitchen earlier with Pirate, Sophia said, “Wait!” She tapped Pirate on the back of the head. “That’s what you were doing Monday night. You said you were with Fletcher when the Boot Mover was in my house. That was your punishment.” She lookedback at Steel. “You made Pirate help Fletcher put his bike back together.”

“I did,” Steel answered her evenly. “However, I failed to take into consideration your leg, Pirate.” He met Pirate’s eyes. “After being on your leg all day at work, then at the hospital, I had no right to demand you remain on it all night. I apologize for my part in your current pain.”

“I deserved it after my behavior at the hospital, Steel. I don’t fault you for that.”

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