Chapter Twenty
Claire
"Just wait until Steele gets here. He's going to help out," Hack said told his drug-addled helper.
"Who is this Steele guy anyway? There's only one person I know with a name like that," the man said.
"What are you talking about?" Hack demanded. "We ride in the same club. That's where he got his name."
"Like a joke? What is he, dirt poor? That'd be funny, giving some broke ass loser a billionaire's name."
I heard Hack pace back and forth outside the door. "Billionaire? What billionaire?"
"Steele Channing. Come on, man, tell me you've heard of him. Everyone's heard of him," the man said.
Hack sniffed. He'd been lost in a spiral of drugs and scraping together money for drugs. "Gimme your phone. Who's this Steele Channing."
I kicked the door and rattled the handle. Anything to distract Hack from finding out about Steele's family fortune. He pounded back and yelled for me to shut up.
"Or I'll come in there and make you," Hack shouted.
"How about you let me in there? I'm the one she whacked in the head."
"Just shut up and give me your phone," Hack snarled.
I held my breath and listened. Hack and his helper scuffled and I heard Hack's reedy voice cry out in victory. Then everything went deathly silent.
"That's him, isn't it? That's your motorcycle buddy?" The man snickered.
Hack smacked him hard enough that I could hear him grunt with pain. "Don't you see what this means?"
"That you gotta lay off the coke?"
"No," Hack snarled. "It means all we have to do is grab him. His ransom will be millions."
"I don't know, man. Guys like that have a lot of backup."
We all froze as the sound of a motorcycle roared toward the factory. I strained to hear but it sounded like just one motorcycle.
Hack laughed. "See? No backup. The rich bastard thinks he's coming here to do me a favor."
I screamed Steele's name. There was no way I could warn him of what he was about to walk into, so I just screamed his name again.
Then I heard a door crash open and thundering footsteps. Outside my door, Hack swore. The other man took off running in the opposite direction.
"Claire! Where are you?" Steele called.
"Watch out! Hack knows. He's going to try to ransom you," I screamed.
There was a sudden burst of breaking glass and then a sharp, strangled cry. I pressed both hands to my mouth to stop myself from screaming. I strained to hear any sound.
I jumped back just as the door ripped open.
Steele stood there, Hack's neck wrapped tight under his arm. "You hurt?" Steele asked.
I shook my head and jumped again. More loud crashes and a dozen yelling voices erupted down the hall.
"The Claws. They're all here," Steele explained.
"Then they'll all find out what a liar you are," Hack crowed. "You lied to your brothers, and now you'll pay."
Steele gave the poor drug addict a shake. "You're not living in a television show, Hack. Wake up. You're the one in trouble here."
I stepped forward and put a hand on Steele's arm. "What are you going to do to him?"
Steele raked his eyes over me, making sure I was all right before a hard glint came over his expression. "I'm going to make sure he doesn't so much as think about hurting anyone again. Ever. And no more gambling."
He rattled Hack's head again until I tugged on his arm and made him stop. "How about you help him instead?"
"Yeah," Hack whimpered. "All I need is a little loan. Just something to get me on my feet. And you're loaded, man. I know it now."
I tipped my head and looked at Hack's twitching face. "He was a good guy once, wasn't he?"
Steele loosened his grip. "Yeah. Funny. Always up for anything. I liked riding with him."
"We all did." The bartender from the roadhouse appeared in the factory door along with a dozen of the other Claws.
"Then send him to rehab. I can recommend a great facility," I said.
Steele shoved Hack into Hen's waiting grip. Then he swept me into his arms for a long, tight hug. "Only you would be so good to someone who doesn't deserve it."
The words were like an electric current through my brain. "Reese!" I cried. "Is my brother okay?"
Hen chuckled. "Well, he was supposed to be handcuffed to the bar, but turns out he convinced the cook to take a ride. Been ten years since Cookie's been on a motorcycle."
I turned around and Reese appeared from behind the rotund cook. He looked hungover and sheepish but untouched.
Steele let his arms drop. "How can you do it, Claire? After everything he's put you through."
"He's right, Claire," Reese said before I could speak. "I don't deserve to have such a great sister."
I shook my head and went to hug my little brother. "We're family. I'd do it all over again. For you."
Reese pulled back from me. "I got you tangled up in this mess. I got you kidnapped, Claire."
I reached out for him. "I forgive you. Accept my forgiveness, Reese, there isn't anything else you can do."
My brother swiped at his eyes and then straightened his shoulder. "I'm going to rehab. I'll get sobered up and keep an eye on him."
Hack fought futilely against the Claws hold. "I'm not going to rehab! This is bullshit. You still owe me money!"
Steele slipped an arm around my shoulders. "I'll pay for separate facilities," he said.
I stiffened. "I don't want your money, Steele."
He caught me by both arms and turned me to face him. "I'm offering it, Claire. There's a difference. You've never once asked me for money, and I know you have your pride, but this is a gift. Please, Claire, let me do this for you."
Reese nudged me closer to Steele. "He's a good guy, Claire. And you deserve a good guy."
Relief hit me like a crashing wave. The whole ordeal was over.
Steele caught me and wrapped his arm tight around my waist to support me. While the Claws bundled but a resistant Hack, Steele walked me outside and sat me on the steps of the loading dock.
"Thank you," I said. I fought against the hitch in my voice. "If we don't see each other again, I want you to know that I really tried to keep your secret."
Steele laughed. "It was a ridiculous secret. Turns out the Claws knew all along. They just didn't care."
I smiled down at my hands. Steele had stepped in and helped me with my brother's mess. It was only a matter of time before he brushed me off and found a nice, normal woman. I squeezed my eyes shut against the vision of Steele with some perfect woman, some glamorous heiress that fit into his life seamlessly.
"Wait. What do you mean 'if we don't see each other again?'" Steele asked. He caught my chin and tipped my face up to meet his gaze. "What are you talking about, Claire?"
I blinked back tears and looked up into Steele's deep brown eyes. "I've caused you enough trouble. You deserve someone better."
Steele frowned. "All this talk of deserving. What did you tell your brother? It doesn't matter. All I want is you, Claire. Why else do you think I'm here?"
I dropped my eyes. "You came to help out someone from your motorcycle club. I know how important they are to you."
Steele stood up and pulled me to my feet. "I was there when Reese got the ransom call. I came for you, Claire."
My knees wobbled again.
Steele caught me and gave me a quick, heated kiss. "Now come on. We don't have much time before the helicopter arrives."
"Time for what?" I asked as he pulled me back into the factory.
Steele tugged me into the center of the Claws. They had been arguing over the best rehabilitation centers but fell silent when I appeared.
"Claws, I want you to meet Claire. Claire, this is the Road Claws Motorcycle Club," Steele said.
The men grinned and jostled each other for a chance to shake my hand. Except the bartender, Hen. He scooped me up in a big bear hug.
"Thanks for helping us see a whole new side of Steele," Hen said.
I shot Steele a worried look. "I thought you said you knew his secret?"
"His secret?" Hen laughed. "Nah, I'm talking about an even better side of him. Happy. I've never seen him so happy as he is with you."
My cheeks blazed with joy, and Steele added to the heat by swooping in for a kiss there in front of his entire motorcycle club. By the time he set me back on my feet, my head was spinning and my pulse sounded like a steady chop.
"Wait. Did you say something about a helicopter?" I asked Steele.
He grinned. "We're heading to the airport. You can get cleaned up on my private jet."
"Airport? Private jet?" I stammered. "What are you talking about?"
"I now know how important family is to you. It's one of the things that I love about you, Claire. So, I'm taking you to meet my parents," Steele said.
"You love me?" I squeezed.
The Claws cheered and Steele answered my question with another steamy kiss. When I looked up, I saw my brother smiling at us.
"You'll be okay?" I asked Reese.
He nodded. "Don't worry, sis. Rehab will take care of me while you're away."
I took Steele's hand, still a little dizzy. "Wait. We have to take a jet to meet your parents? Where are they?"
"Dubai," Steele said. "One of the richest countries in the world. Don't worry, you'll fit right in."
I laced my fingers through his and smiled. "As long as I'm with you."
Steele kissed my hand and led me out of the factory to where his helicopter waited.