Page 87 of Twisted Steel

“Good.”

“I won’t make the choice for her.”

“Better.”

“I won’t let him touch her.”

Raven’s face hardens.“None of us will.”

There it is.Not club politics.Not Savage’s woman.Just Raven.Harper has made a friend even though she didn’t mean to.And Raven doesn’t simply let go of those she decides to care for.

That helps.A little.

Raven turns toward the door, then pauses.“And Steel?”

“What?”

“If you come back tonight, and she’s waiting for you, don’t waste it by trying to deserve her first.”I frown, and Raven’s expression softens in a way that looks almost painful.“Dangerous men waste a lot of time deciding they aren’t worthy.Women get tired of waiting for them to catch up.”

Then she leaves.

I stand there long after she’s gone.Because fuck her.And because she’s right.

When I step back into the hall, Harper is waiting near my room.Not hers, mine.Wearing my shirt again beneath her jacket, arms folded, chin lifted, fear tucked behind fury like always.

Raven stands at the end of the hall, pretending not to watch with Mama M beside her doing an even worse job.

Harper looks at me.“You’re leaving.”

“Yes.”

“Rail yard?”

“Yes.”

“Do I get details, or are we back to tower-adjacent?”

“You’re staying here with Raven and Mama M.”

Her eyes narrow.“That sounds like being watched by women who could dispose of a body before breakfast.”

“It is.”

“Good point.”

I stop in front of her.Too close for proper but not nearly close enough.Her gaze flicks to my mouth, and mine drops to hers.

The hallway gets too hot.

“Harper,” I say.

“Don’t say my name like you don’t know if you’re coming back.”

“I’m coming back.”

“Then prove it.”

My hand slides to her waist before I can stop myself.She doesn’t move away.