Melting Steel: An Alpha Billionaire Romance

by Seabrook,C. M.

  Knights and vows.

  Dragons and princesses.

  The belief that bad guys could be defeated, and happily-ever-after did exist.

  Not in my world.

  A sad laugh bubbles up from my chest as I move quickly down the hall.

  I don’t know why I do it, but I place the sword beside my note.

  Despite the ache in my chest that wants to believe otherwise, girls like me don’t get the fairytale endings. There’s no Prince Charming. No dragons. And no white knight to save me. No one is coming to my rescue – If I want to survive, I need to be my own hero.

  Chapter 13

  Henry

  I know something is wrong the second I walk out of the bathroom. The apartment is eerily silent, and the warmth I felt a few minutes before is gone.

  “Keeley?” I call out, wrapping a towel around my waist.

  No answer.

  She’s gone. I know it even before I find the sword and the scribbled note she left on the kitchen counter. White-hot anger whips up my spine when I read it.

  It was fun.

  What the fuck?

  I start to pace, balling the note in my fist and whipping it across the room.

  Something is wrong. It doesn’t make sense that she’d run. I know she felt something between us.

  But I also have no doubt that she’s running to someone and I have a bad feeling I know who.

  I find my cell and dial Michael.

  “I’ve got men trailing her,” he says gruffly before I can speak.

  “Good.” Thank fucking God I put watchers on the place.

  “You want me to bring her back?”

  I rub the back of my neck and breathe out heavily. She isn’t my fucking prisoner, and I know she’d be pissed if she knew I had someone tagging her, but I can’t just let her walk away. Not when her life could be in danger, and not when I still haven’t figured out the insane rollercoaster of emotions that I feel for her.

  “Just follow her. I want to know who she’s running to.”

  I hang up and curl my hands into fists, tempted to punch a hole in the wall.

  Her words echo in my head…Best for both of us that we end it here.

  “No chance in hell, sweetheart.”

  Because whatever this is between us has only just begun. And I have no intentions of it ending anytime soon.

  Chapter 14

  Keeley

  A heaviness settles over me as I race across the intersection towards the west end. I don’t have enough for bus fare, so I have to walk the thirty-six blocks it takes me to get to Gray Street. I know how many blocks there are because I count each one. Anything to take my mind off of what I’m about to do.

  What am I about to do? I don’t have a plan. Nothing. I know it’s not smart, but I’m willing to pay the price if it means keeping Drew safe.

  A shiver runs down my spine as a burst of cold air wraps around me, and under the thin material of my shirt. I rub my arms and tuck my chin, pushing my way through the crowded streets.

  Maybe when this is all over, I’ll finally convince Drew to get the help he needs. I don’t know how I’ll come up with the money to get him into a good rehab, but somehow I’ll figure it out. All I know is I won’t give up on him. Ever. Everyone else may have turned their backs on him, on me, but I made a promise that I never would.

  I’ll get my brother back, and everything will be fine. At least as fine as things can be.

  The backfire of an engine a few feet away makes me jump, and I nearly knock over an elderly man walking in the opposite direction.

  “I’m so sorry.” I help right him, then increase my pace. I need to get this over with before I change my mind and back down.

  I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being followed, but every time I turn around there’s nobody there.

  In front of Jax’s apartment, I stop and inhale a long, slow breath.

  I can do this. I have to do this.

  My feet feel like they’re filled with cement as I trudge up the two flights of stairs.

  Brown stains on the dingy old carpet, water marks on the walls, the smell of multiple spices mixed with a scent of marijuana and body odor – this is the world I’m used to.

  Poverty. Alcohol. Drugs. A spiraling pit of doom that once you’re sucked into, is nearly impossible to get out of. But somehow I’ll get Drew out of it, no matter the sacrifice.

  I knock once.

  “What?” Comes the dark rasp on the other side.

  “It’s me,” I say, weakly, then straighten my shoulders and clench my jaw, hoping to gain some semblance of strength.

  A series of locks and chains click on the other side, then the door opens and Jax stares down at me with cold, dark eyes.

  I want to blame him for everything, but in the back of my mind I know he’s as much a product of the system as Drew and I. Ten years jumping between foster homes messes with your head in ways regular people can never understand. That’s not even taking into account what put you in the system to begin with. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you come out just slightly broken. For the rest of us, we fight our demons on a daily basis – and sometimes, like for Drew and Jax, the demons win.

  “You alone?” Jax’s nostrils flare as he looks over my shoulder and down the hall.

  I nod.

  “Smart girl.” His lips twist in a smirk, and he opens the door wider. “Come in.”

  His left eye is swollen and his upper lip is cut from where Henry hit him. The thought of Henry makes me question the sanity of me being here. Maybe I should have told him. But then what?

  If I called the cops, Jax would just have one of his goons collect payment, which would most likely be mine or Drew’s head. Maybe both. If Henry came down here slugging, which I have no doubt he’d do, I’d never get the information I need.

  No. This is my only option.

  “Where is he?” I try to keep my voice steady, but even I can hear the quiver in it.

  Jax’s eyes narrow and he motions towards an old, brown leather La-Z-Boy. “Take a seat.”

  “I’ll stand.”

  “It wasn’t a request,” he growls.

  I cross my arms and lean against the wall knowing if I show even the slightest bit of fear, he’ll be all over me.

  “I didn’t come here for a social visit. I want to know where my brother is.”

  The old couch creaks when he sits on it, leaning back with one arm slung over the top.

  “You’re forgetting the little prick stole from me. I want what I’m owed.”

  “I don’t have that kind of money. You already took everything I have when you raided my apartment.”

  “I never touched your place.” His expression never wavers.

  “Then who did?” I know the answer even before the words are out of my mouth, but I don’t want to believe it.

  “Looks like your brother fucked us both over.”

  I shake my head, my stomach sinking. “He wouldn’t.”

  Jax laughs darkly. “You have no idea what he’s capable of.”

  I shake my head, my breathing quickening. He doesn’t know Drew. Not like I do. He’s good. He’d never hurt me. Not intentionally.

  “Tell me where he is and I’ll get your money back. Just promise me you won’t hurt him.”

  He gives a hard mocking laugh, then leans over the glass table and snorts a line of white powder.

  “I’m the least of his problems. Or yours.” He rubs his nose and makes an awful sound in the back of his throat. “The kid’s been racking up debt for the past year.”

  He sits back, watching me with an antagonizing smirk.

  “You leant him money?”

  “I’m not that stupid, princess.” He laughs arrogantly.

  “Then who?” A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.

  “Now that’s a good question.” He leans over the table again, snorting another line. His eyes are glazed when he glances back at me. “Let’s just say your brother h
as been playing a dangerous game of chance between two very influential drug cartels.”

  “How mu-much does he owe?” I stumble over the words.

  “Word is he managed to rack up almost a hundred grand before someone realized he was manipulating the numbers. I give the little shit some credit though, he’s got balls. But once those guys realize he’s skipped town, who do you think they’ll be coming after?”

  My brain can’t even process that kind of money. It’d take me a lifetime to pay that much back. But why would Jax lie?

  A shiver runs down my spine. “Why are you telling me this?”

  He stands and slowly makes his way towards me. Every muscle in my body tenses. I know the look in his eyes. What he’s really after. Me.

  “I don’t want to see you hurt.” He reaches out and runs a calloused hand over my face. “I can protect you.”

  “I didn’t do anything. They’re after Drew, not me.”

  “They want their money, and they’ll get it any way they can. Even if it means digging into Daddy’s deep pockets.”

  I feel the blood drain from my face and my hands go clammy.

  “My father’s dead.”

  He chuckles. “Don’t play games with me, princess. We both know that’s not true. How do you think the little shit gained the cartel’s trust? He was using Daddy’s name as leverage.”

  Damn it, Drew. I want to deny the accusation, but it makes sense.

  Two years ago, Drew went searching for records of who our father was. Somehow he managed to track down old financial deposits that led back to John Sullivan. When he questioned me about it, I broke down and told him the truth.

  It was right after that he started to spiral out of control.

  My mother never put John’s name on our birth certificates, but I unlike Drew, I was old enough to remember him.

  I don’t know what Drew thought. That maybe the man would actually want us, that he’d finally claim us as his own. But I knew better, and I tried to warn Drew that contacting him would only end badly.

  It had.

  I don’t know exactly what happened, Drew never told me, but Drew was never the same after. Another reason why I hate John Sullivan with every fiber of my being.

  “The man’s a sperm donor, nothing more,” I hiss.

  “Maybe.” Jax’s fingers snakes behind my neck and tighten in the hair at the nape of my neck.

  “He’s done everything in his power to make sure no one knows about us. You’re insane if you think he’ll pay a penny.”

  “For your sake you better hope that’s not true.” He leans into me, inhaling a deep breath, then releases me suddenly. “I’ve done some digging of my own.”

  I shudder involuntarily when he turns away and moves to the table that’s pushed against the far corner of the room. He flips through some papers on the table, pulling out what looks like a cut out of an old obituary.

  “I don’t know why I didn’t put the pieces together before now. The family resemblance is uncanny.”

  He hands me the clipping and I recognize the photo immediately. I was staring at the exact same picture less than an hour ago in Henry’s kitchen. Abby.

  My breath catches in my throat when I read her name and realize the significance of what Jax is showing me.

  Abigail Sullivan.

  Daughter of John and Sarah Sullivan.

  “A bottle of bleach and the two of you could almost pass as twins.” Jax laughs, and runs a hand roughly over my hair.

  The more I look at the picture, I know he’s right. There’s no doubt she’s my sister. It’s the reason she looked so familiar. She looks like me. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. Maybe because I was too wrapped up in jealousy over her relationship with Henry.

  My mind is a clusterfuck of thoughts and emotions.

  “Why are you showing me this?”

  “Think about it, darling. He might be able to deny Drew’s claim that he’s the sperm donor, but one look at you and nobody will question your paternity. He’ll have no choice but to pay whatever amount I ask.”

  I jerk my head up, finally realizing what he intends. “You plan on ransoming me?”

  My heart feels like it’s trying to leap out of my throat. This can’t be happening.

  “We work together and I’ll give you your share.” He places a hand on the wall beside my head and leans in. “Isn’t that what you want, money? To protect little Drew. Or is it revenge?”

  “I don’t want either.”

  “Bullshit. And trust me princess, if you don’t now, you will.”

  “I need to go.” Panic claws at my throat. My brain is in information overload and I need to get away.

  “And run back to Caldwell? I don’t think so, princess.”

  I swallow hard. “You had me followed?”

  “I need to keep an eye on my investments.” His knuckles brush down my arm making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  “I’ll be honest. I was a bit shocked by your choice. But then it hit me. Caldwell. Abby. It all makes sense.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I didn’t recognize him at first.”

  “Henry doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “Oh, but he does.” Jax laughs. “You think that Henry Caldwell would be with someone like you if it wasn’t for some gain? Sure, you’re a good fuck, but there’s never been much in that pretty little head of yours.”

  “Screw you,” I bite out, regretting the words as soon as they pass my lips.

  “I have every intention, princess.” His eyes glitter with the threat.

  I jerk my arm away, but he captures my wrist and sneers.

  “The man fucked your sister.”

  I freeze, the lingering fear in the back of my mind, finally verbalized.

  Jax smiles as if reading my thoughts.

  “He got her pregnant.” He leans in, his voice low as if he’s telling me some great secret. I want to close my ears and un-hear it all. “Worse. She killed herself because he wouldn’t step up and be the Daddy.”

  “No.”

  He smirks. “Don’t believe me? Ask him.”

  I’ve heard people say time stood still, but I’ve never experienced it until this moment.

  A lump forms in my throat and I can barely swallow past it.

  “You’re lying.”

  “Shit. Sometimes I forget how fucking naive you really are.”

  I glance towards the door. It’s my first mistake.

  He growls low in his throat and grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back, his other hand goes to my throat, fingers clamping in tight enough to make it difficult to breathe.

  “You think you can walk away from this? From me?” His body pushes against me and I can feel his erection against my leg. He lets go of my arm and starts to unbuckle his belt. “I own you now.”

  “No,” I gasp, clawing at his fingers and trying to push him off – my second mistake. He enjoys the fight, and I know it’ll only make my punishment worse.

  The pressure around my throat increases. I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.

  “You’ll thank me for this later.” His hot, damp breath burns my eyes and I blink back tears.

  “You’re…insane,” I gasp. White pin-pricks of light dance in my vision.

  “You can fight me all you want, princess.” His fingers tangle in my hair, yanking my head back, his other hand still tight around my throat. “But you’ll pay back every dime your brother owes me, plus interest.”

  He won’t kill me. But I know whatever he has planned will be much worse than death.

  With every ounce of strength I have left, I bring my knee up hard between his legs. He lets out a howl of pain, and his grip loosens just enough that I’m able to stumble towards the door.

  “Ungrateful bitch.”

  I’m thrown against the wall, his thick hands once again wrapped around my throat, this time in a death grip.

  Then the worl
d seems to explode. The door crashes open and two men with guns burst into the room.

  Jax’s grip unlocks from my throat, but my legs have gone numb, and without him holding me up, I collapse to the floor.

  Angry voices scream in my ear, and I’m only faintly aware of the fighting going on around me. Jax doesn’t back down, even when the older of the two men shove the barrel of the gun against his forehead.

  “Stay down, asshole.”

  “Fuck you.” Jax spits on the man’s shoes, but this time he doesn’t fight back.

  A man is beside me. Pale blue eyes that seem somewhat concerned stare down at me. He’s talking, but I can’t register his words. All I can hear is the pounding of my own heart in my ears.

  When he tries to pick me up, I fight him with what little energy I have left.

  “Hey.” The man grabs my shoulders and forces me to look at him. “We’re here to help you.”

  I don’t know what to believe, but I know I don’t have the strength to keep fighting. My vision goes in and out of darkness, the sounds of angry voices the only anchor to consciousness.

  “Get her out of here,” someone orders.

  Weightless, I know I’m being carried. I try to fight the darkness, but in the end, I let it consume me.

  Chapter 15

  Keeley

  I wake up suddenly, my heart jackhammering in my chest.

  A shadowed figure looms over me, and I immediately panic.

  “You’re safe.” Henry’s thick, rich voice croons, as his hand reaches out and brushes against my cheek.

  “Henry?” His name comes out as a croak, and my hands immediately go to my throat, which feels raw and bruised.

  “Here.” He helps me sit, and passes me a glass of water.

  I sip slowly, trying to put the pieces of what happened together. My entire body feels like I’ve been in a train wreck.

  Jax – he did this to me. But the other men? Where had they come from? And how did I get back to Henry’s apartment?

  I feel like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, and ended up on the wrong side of the looking glass. Nothing makes sense.