Tough as Steele

by Elizabeth Knox

Ouch. That hurt. There were a lot of things about my last relationship that were super fucked up. Nothing about it was normal. I’d spent years with Bryce. We’d known each other since we were both kids. He’d gotten us both addicted to cocaine, only now, it was him that was still addicted, stuck in a downward spiral. Alfred sent me to rehab a year ago, and I’d been clean for six months. My sobriety is the most important thing in my life, and Bryce coming up to me at Mason’s last night…well, let’s just say that was a test to see how strong I could be. There would’ve been a time where I would have followed him like a lost puppy, snorted that coke and been in the best high of my life. Today? I’m not that Brooklyn anymore.

  “Fuck you,” I snapped out at him. I couldn’t even look at him right now. My brother was supposed to be my supporter. He was supposed to pick me up when I was feeling down. He had the same guidelines for me as being his sister as him being my brother. But he was just so good at bringing up my past mistakes.

  He flew through Atlanta until we were on 3rd, right in front of the Hamilton. The large building gave me a sense of de ja vu to where I had been earlier that morning. A valet came to my side of the car first, opening the door. I strode out into the building, but not before noticing the seal plastered all over the backdrop of the red carpet ‘The Ellis Harper Foundation’. What was going on? Why was my mom’s name everywhere? I walked into the hotel lobby, the entire place completely transformed with sheets of white, black, pink, and gold. It was elegant, beautiful. Again, I spotted Mom’s name everywhere, on shirts, tablecloths, bottles of water, everything.

  I glanced around the room, looking for Alfred. I scanned and scanned but didn’t see him. Instead, I saw a friendly face I knew all too well by now. He met my gaze and smirked. What was he doing here?

  I walked over to the booth he was at, sliding in next to him. “What’re you doing here?” I smirked. I hadn’t known the man for a full twenty-four hours, and he already had the ability to make me smile like an idiot.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” He took a sip of whiskey, grabbing the attention of the waiter nearest to us, and ordered me an extra dirty martini.

  “You’re observant,” I commented. He seemed to remember my drink order from the night before. Logan smirked, taking another sip of whiskey, locking eyes with me.

  “I pay attention to details.”

  “So, why are you here?”

  “Why are you here?” he countered back.

  “I asked first.” he chuckled at my response. “I was invited, and you?”

  “I was also invited.” Logan’s eyes met mine yet again. “Ellis Harper of any relation?”

  “She was my mother; she died two years ago.” The waiter approached us with my drink at just the right time, and I took a hefty sip. The alcohol slid down my throat, hitting my stomach in just the right spot.

  “I’m terribly sorry.” It was almost an automatic response. I’d expected it from everyone, but I got the impression that he was one of the only people that were actually genuine when they said it.

  “What type of foundation is it?” I looked at him puzzled, then realized he was asking me about the Ellis Harper Foundation.

  “I haven’t got a clue. Got a call to show up and saw this.” I waved my hand around “Your guess is really as good as mine.”

  Logan made a ‘hmmmpf’ sound. “Who made the foundation?”

  “Again, absolutely no clue. I’ll have to ask Alfred.”

  “Hamilton?”

  “That’s the one.” I took another sip, a little bigger than the last. I don’t know why I brought up his name. He probably was the one behind this, but it was just awkward, I never knew how to introduce him to anyone. It wasn’t like we had the normal father-daughter relationship. I mean, I called him Alfred for fucks sake.

  “How do you know him?” I knew the question was coming, but it didn’t make it any easier.

  “Um, well. Alfred is –”

  “Darling! You made it. I see you’ve been in good company. Logan, nice to see you again.” I rose out of the booth, giving Alfred a slightly awkward, albeit comforting, hug. It was probably the only normal thing about our relationship. Logan followed, shaking Alfred’s hand.

  “You as well.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t see you earlier, darling. I would’ve come to keep you company. Say, where’s your brother?” A part of me felt like that DNA test was wrong and I was not Alfred’s child; that it was Sebastian. They were literally glued to each other’s’ hips.

  “It’s okay, I had company.” I glanced to Logan, who had a small smirk on his face. “Not really sure about Seb. I got in here ahead of him once the valet came to collect the car.”

  “Come, we’ve got a bit to discuss.” Alfred grabbed my hand, and I looked back to Logan who motioned for me to go and then walked to the bar. Alfred sat us down at a table. “I’m sure you’ve seen the logo.”

  “I have. Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

  He placed his hands over mine, “It was a surprise. All of this is for you and Seb, your mother, and the countless women who are going through what she went through.”

  He’d missed most of my life, but he was doing everything he could to make up for that, I could see it now. My mother had a horrible experience with cancer. I remembered the day she found out. She’d gone for her yearly mammogram, and it was stage four already. In three months, she was gone. It all went by so quickly that I’d hardly been able to grasp the severity of it all.

  “Thank you,” I managed to choke out, tears welled up in my eyes and damn, I tried my hardest, but a few slipped past me.

  His hand brushed against my arm before he rose, hugging me, pulling me close. “Don’t cry, crumpet.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t you apologize, either, you’ve got nothing to apologize for.”

  I do, I did. I’d given him such a hard time, even when he had been the one to put me through rehab, basically abolishing every paper who’d caught wind of my addiction. He made it all go away. I didn’t appreciate him for that. I’d accepted his help, but not much more. Yes, there was the 22 years of not knowing him that cowered over my head every day. I hated that he wasn’t there, I hated him for not being there. But, Alfred was my father. He was here now. Wasn’t that what truly mattered?

  Maybe.

  Maybe not?

  “I do. I’ve made our situation a lot harder. I’m sorry for that, I. Jesus. When you showed up I was, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was the worst and best day of my life, mixed into one. I lost Mom, but gained you. I…hated you for not being there for me when I was a kid. I’ve been holding onto that.” Alfred stared at me, looking me up and down. His own sadness was written all over his face. I could see it in his bright blue eyes; the ones I had inherited from him.

  “I would’ve been there if I could. I hope you believe that.” I do, but I don’t. There’s a reason he wasn’t there for me, and I know that, but what was the big enough reason for him to stay away that he couldn’t be involved in my life? It wasn’t good enough, and I doubted it ever would be.

  I nodded, and he pulled me back into a hug. For the first time in the two years that I’d known him, I hugged back like I really meant it. I was finally giving him that part of me.

  “Am I interrupting something?” I pulled away from Alfred. Seb was standing next to us, wrapping his arms around us each. I grabbed Seb’s arm, pulling it off of my shoulder. I was still pissed at him for his remark from earlier.

  “Nope, I was just going to get a drink.” I strode off towards the bar, ordering another extra dirty martini. I needed a few shots of tequila, but I was sure there would be much to say about that one, especially at such a public and high-end event. I waited, leaning up against the bar, browsing around on my phone. A set of hands slid around my waist, probably Logan. I didn’t bother to turn around. The bartender was making my drink, the pressure around me getting tighter, more firm. An erection pressed against my ass, definite
ly Logan.

  I wanted more than what he gave me this morning. I craved it. Mind blowing couldn’t even describe the sex we had last night; it was phenomenal, life changing, even.

  “Miss.” The bartender slid my martini to me, I took a sip, then turned around to face Logan, my eyes beginning to cloud with lust.

  Only, it wasn’t Logan. It was Bryce. Why was he here? I know Alfred wouldn’t invite him. He knew about our past together. All the feelings of lust quickly diminished to disgust.

  “What the fuck?” I snapped, “Get off of me.”

  “You didn’t seem to mind it a second ago.”

  “I thought you were someone else, now get the fuck off of me, Bryce,” I growled, pushing at his chest.

  He smiled, a fully evil grin. “I’ve got a surprise for you.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a bag of coke. I slapped him, hard, swift, and fast, on his face.

  “Don’t ever come near me again.” I started to walk away when he pulled on my arms, squeezing them so tightly I thought a blood pressure cuff was on.

  “Bryce, stop. You’re hurting me.”

  “You ungrateful little bitch.” His grip on me tightened, causing me to drop my drink, a few people turned, observing what he was doing. Making a scene at such a public event would definitely get people interested, even if they didn’t bother to step in and help me. Assholes.

  “Let me go,” I hissed, wanting others around us to hear it. I took a good look at his face. The purple and blue around his nose was covered really well by makeup.

  “Looks like Logan got you good last night. I wish I could say I’m shocked by your stupidity, but that’s not true. I mean, seriously. Coming to my father’s event, grabbing me?”

  “You’re mine, B. I can take you whenever I want.” The audacity of this man makes my blood boil.

  “I haven’t been yours for over 9 months.” I glanced around, letting that last bit process through his small brain. I was looking, for Alfred, Logan, Seb, anyone. I spotted Seb, standing about two hundred feet away talking to Alfred. I prayed, prayed to God that he would turn and see me like this.

  The movement was so fast I didn’t even see it, I didn’t realize what happened until Bryce was on the floor, gasping for air. Logan had throat punched him, and then went at his face a few times. I saw him get close to Bryce, whispering something in his ear. Bryce rose and walked out of the hotel, much like he had done the night before, with his hands raised in surrender. Logan came to me, taking my arms in his.

  “Are you okay?” I sagged against him, feeling both mentally and physically exhausted.

  “I am now, thank you.” He was my knight in shining armor. I can’t believe I even just thought that. I’m not a girl who clings to men, or even falls for them – but something about the man before me calls to me like a beacon.

  “What is it with that guy?” he hissed, moving my arm, scanning for bruising.

  “He can’t take a hint.” Logan chuckled at my response, still focused on my arms.

  “You’ve saved me two nights in a row now.” Logan nodded, his hand turning my arm around, checking the top. I positioned my hand on his shoulder, my other sliding up his chest, feeling every inch of his perfectly sculpted greatness. I couldn’t help myself, I yanked down on his tie, pulling him closer to me, crushing my lips onto his and interlocking my arms around his neck.

  I really needed this. He nipped at my bottom lip, sucking it in his mouth, sliding his tongue into my mouth, dancing with mine.

  I heard a loud cough close to us and pulled away. Alfred was to my left, staring at both of us. “I caught wind that someone was giving you some trouble.”

  He stared up and down at Logan “Bryce was here, Logan uh, took care of the problem.”

  “Hmmm. Doesn’t look like that’s all he’s taking care of.” Alfred shot me a concerning look. “When did this,” he gestured between the both of us, “happen?”

  “Um, we’ve known each other for a bit.” I didn’t need to give him an amount of time, or to feel super judged by my father that I was kissing a man I haven’t known for a day.

  “You mean for an hour?” he whisper-snapped,

  “No, longer than that, Alfred.”

  I didn’t need him getting angry at me after the altercation I’d just had. “How is it any of your business?” Logan asked, straightening himself. Alfred almost turned red. He was the mix of pink and white.

  “You have your tongue shoved down my daughter’s throat; it is my business.”

  Logan diverted his attention back to me, smirking, shaking his head. “Daughter? You left something out, precious.”

  “It’s not any of your business. I can kiss, sleep with, and date whoever I want.” Alfred directed his gaze from Logan to me. I almost regretted saying it, but at the same time, I didn’t. He didn’t get to play the part of the overprotective father, not when he’d just let the events only a few minutes prior fade into the background.

  “I’m trying to have a solid relationship with you. Don’t give me a reason to stop trying. You don’t get to suddenly become overprotective of me. It doesn’t work that way.” I sucked in a deep breath after I said it. “Why was Bryce here anyway?”

  “I invited his parents; I assume he must have come with them.”

  “Why would you even think to invite them?”

  I really couldn’t even begin to fathom what must’ve been going through his mind when he sent the invitations. “It would be rude not to. I do business with Jackson all the time.”

  I rolled my eyes at his response. “Seriously? I can’t fucking believe you right now.”

  He knew all about what Bryce had pressured on me. Our relationship used to be perfect, or almost perfect, that is. We were young, in love, the annoying kind of love you see in the Nicholas Sparks movies. We were disgustingly in love, and then he was drafted for the Atlanta Falcons, and everything changed. He changed.

  We went to red carpet events, on luxurious vacations, and so much more. But with that type of instant fame comes inner struggle. Bryce coped with his struggles by using cocaine, but it wasn’t enough that he was on it alone. He brought me into it too. Alfred knew all of this. He was my father, and yet he invited Bryce’s family.

  We had an ugly breakup, I didn’t speak about it publicly to anyone. Bryce on the other hand, he told all media outlets that I’d slept around on him, to make sure what should’ve been blamed on him was completely put on my shoulders- to make sure that I looked like the villain. It was horrendous, and to me, my father should be on my side, not thinking about business and what’s best for his pocket.

  Chapter 7

  Logan

  I hadn’t seen her in over two weeks, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t interested. I was. That woman made me feel things that I hadn’t felt in years. She did that to me. When I was with her, I was not the prestigious ‘Logan Steele’, I was just Logan, just this normal man. We’d been texting and having phone calls, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to see her in person, to hold her again.

  I had to lie to her. Or maybe I didn’t have to, maybe I chose to, either way it was something that needed to be done. For the last week I’ve been flying around the country making sure that my clientele hasn’t been spooked by the recent run in with the DEA. Some were reluctant to continue our business relationship, but after slowly nurturing and coaxing them – I can honestly say that things are good. After I met with clients I made my way up to Tennessee to make sure that a shipment was hand delivered to a dear friend of mine, Ollie, otherwise known as Seamus, who is the enforcer of the Skulls Renegade MC. It was our first transport since the DEA intercepted our last one, everything went smoothly, and we were undetected.

  I was just happy to be home. I told Brook I wouldn’t be back in until this evening, but I just couldn’t stay away – I’d even told myself I’d stay back from the office and just relax for a bit but when you know the woman you want to see is going to be in your building, walking around, working; the woman you’
ve been starved from for the past two weeks – I’d be damned if I didn’t see her.

  The night of the charity event for the Ellis Harper Foundation was great. It was a surprise when I saw her there. Her blonde hair had been bouncing over her shoulders in soft waves, in that sexy pink dress…if that’s what you called it. I took the first opportunity to rip it off her once we got back to my place.

  That night was amazing. It wasn’t just the sex; it was the fact that I’d been doing it all with her. I hadn’t felt that way in years because a woman couldn’t do that to me. Not even my ex-wife had.

  The walk-through Steele Enterprises made me feel sick. It was my birthright, and I’d understood that. If I could have had the choice, I would have been on a beach in the Caribbean, or maybe Hawaii. I wouldn't have been dealing with all these people, having to fix their problems. I didn’t ask for all this responsibility, yet it was mine. When my father died, and his lawyer read out the will regarding his businesses, their stocks, and how he wanted them run, I was furious.

  He knew I didn’t want this. He could’ve split them up between my brothers and I, but he didn’t, he gifted all of the responsibility to me. I didn’t approve of most of his business ventures, but since I took over, I’d been trying to make most of it clean, minimizing the illegal activity.

  Six years of running Steele Enterprises and I was still not even a little bit close.

  My father had dabbled in everything. At a point in his life, he was one of the most notorious crime lords in North America. We had dealings in the sex and drug trade, and of course, in illegal arms. I’d abolished our involvement in the sex and drug trade completely, but there was a way to make the arms trade work for us. I knew who we sold to, that it wasn’t always for aid workers or countries trying to enhance their militia’s armories. I knew we sold to criminals, to the mobs, mafias, cartels, and gangs. But I found a way around it being completely illegal, I found a shortcut, and while I was increasing Steele Enterprises’ involvement in legitimate businesses like Brooklyn’s makeup line, I also had to keep the cash flow from our gunrunning coming in.