Dark Steel

by Fable Gray

  We said goodbye to Xander and then got in the Bentley behind his car.

  When I scooted across the seat, Declan followed, only stopping when his thigh was pressed against mine. His eyes glittered with amusement when he looked at me.

  “It's been a long time since I’ve gone out like that.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Thank you.”

  “Of course,” I said, “but I really should be thanking you. Xander had a great time tonight. He doesn’t get out a lot so I’m sure this was a blast for him.”

  Declan shrugged. “He’s important to you, so he’s important to me.”

  “That simple, huh?”

  He kissed my hand again. “That simple.”

  I reached up and rubbed my free hand on his cheek, loving the feel of short stubble on my palm. “Every single time I think I start to understand you, you do something that surprises me, and it makes me feel like I have to start all over again.”

  He closed his eyes briefly when I moved my thumb on his cheek. “That sounds like a bad thing.”

  “No, it’s a wonderful thing. And a learning experience for me.”

  “About that,” he began. “I want to know more. Tonight, what Xander told me, seems like the tip of the iceberg. You were a different person back then, in college. Now you’re more cautious. Especially with me.”

  I frowned slightly and repeated the same thing he had said before. “That sounds like a bad thing.”

  “It’s not. It’s a learning experience for me too. My relationships have been few and far between. And like I said before, you’re different. It means something this time.”

  Moved with tenderness toward him, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. His mouth parted with a breath of surprise before he moved to put his arms around me.

  Parker took us in the direction of the hospital, but I was so lost in Declan that I had no clue exactly where we were.

  “Royal,” Declan said, voice rough. “I want you.”

  My heartbeat sped up, simultaneously thrilled and afraid he'd actually go for it in the back of the car.

  I slid my hands down his chest and then moved to his impressive bulge, running my hands along his erection.

  “That's not helping,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “I’m sorry,” I murmured, prepared to move my hand.

  “Don't stop.”

  But I didn’t continue. Instead, I eased back so I could see his face. And with a quick glance around, I noticed we were getting close to the hospital. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

  He considered this and then smiled. “We’re going hiking on Wednesday. Tomorrow we’ll make sure your dad is settled, but on Wednesday, we’re getting out of the city and hiking.”

  “But we have work.”

  He grinned. “I’m sure your boss won’t mind. In fact, he insists on it.”

  He gave me one more kiss, this one chaste compared to the last one, and then settled for holding my hand in his lap.

  I blew out a breath, noting that he was still aroused but trying not to do anything about it. There was time, I reminded myself. And things were going exactly as planned.

  Chapter 23

  It had been weeks since I had been back to my dad’s house and coming back today brought on a wave of memories. Memories from when we lived here with Mom and all the time afterward when she was gone. The most important years of my life when I had grown closer with my dad and fallen in love with science just like him.

  “It's kind of small,” I told Declan as we stepped out of the car, suddenly embarrassed that it was probably a tenth the size of his cabin by the mountains.

  “It’s perfect,” he said simply, casting me a smile before opening the door for my father.

  I wanted to kiss him for what he’d said, but I had been careful about how much touching we did since we arrived at the hospital this morning. I had to tell my dad something at that point, so I’d explained to him that Declan and I had met at the hospital a while back.

  It was mostly true. That’s where Declan had found out about me.

  But I hadn’t said anything more. I knew Declan was waiting for it, waiting for me to tell my father the truth. But I hadn’t even told him about working at Dark Enterprises. And if I was worried that was going to surprise him, then I was downright terrified about telling him my new boss was also my new boyfriend.

  Declan didn’t understand. For him, it was black and white. For me, telling my dad these things took some finessing. We were closer than he knew and my dad was able to read me as well as Declan seemed able to.

  I walked with my father to the front door while Declan carried his bag and opened it with the key that I’d had since I was a kid.

  My dad angled back to speak to Declan. “That was nice of you to come with Royal to get me. Seems like you’ve become pretty good friends.”

  My stomach clenched. I gave Declan a purposeful look, hoping he didn’t say anything more before I had the chance to tell my father the truth.

  Declan’s gaze flicked to mine before it returned to my dad’s. His jaw clenched. “We have.”

  Relief traveled through me at his answer, and also when my dad seemed to accept it and stepped inside. But when he angled back, my shoulders tightened.

  “She said you met at the hospital. Interesting coincidence.”

  Coincidence? Maybe he had no clue how often Declan had come to visit him. Or how often I’d been there, talking to him at his bedside and hoping he’d wake up soon.

  I winced at the wrong time, and my dad caught the look. He narrowed his eyes at me, then turned his attention back to Declan.

  I pleaded with my eyes but Declan set his hands on his hips. I knew before he said anything that he wasn’t going to lie to my dad—meaning, he wasn’t going to keep my secret. “We didn’t meet at the hospital, we met at work.”

  Dammit. Why couldn’t he have just waited a little longer?

  My dad narrowed his eyes at me. “I’m confused.”

  Ever the scientist, he didn’t mince words.

  I pushed open the door and stepped inside the old familiar house. It smelled musty but looked cozy.

  “How about you rest for a few minutes while we get your things inside?” I asked.

  My dad frowned. “I am not an invalid, you know.”

  I sighed. “I know that. Trust me, I know. But I almost lost you, okay? I know you feel fine but I’d feel better if you sat for a few minutes.”

  I learned the only way to communicate with him was to be just as direct. Instead of hedging around my feelings, I told it to him straight. I was worried about him. It involved a lot more than him wearing himself out, but this was the only way I knew how to take care of him.

  Dad sat in his favorite recliner and let out a similar sigh. But not arguing was progress.

  “I’ll bring you some water too.”

  I walked into the kitchen and heard Declan follow behind me. He left my father’s bag in the hallway.

  Once I’d pulled down a glass from the cupboard, I walked to the refrigerator—one my father had finally replaced because his old one broke—and filled it full of ice water.

  I felt Declan before I saw him, that familiar blaze of heat against my skin that revved my passion. When I turned, he was right there, tall and steady.

  “I thought you were going to tell him about us at the hospital,” Declan said in a low voice.

  I bit my lip. I noticed Declan’s gaze drop from my eyes to my mouth and then flick back up. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know you’re afraid he’s not up for it, but I talked with the doctor and they said everything is fine. They also said the rest of his memory will keep coming back most likely. Eventually, he’s going to remember what happened before.”

  I lowered my chin and stared at the water. “I know. You’re right. “

  Declan put his fingers under my chin and lifted my face so he could meet my eyes. “I can do it right now.” One corner of his mouth quirked. “I’ll
just go out there and let him know that I’m madly in love with his daughter—”

  My breath caught, my stomach plunging with sweetness and surprise. “You can’t say that,” I hissed, my voice low.

  “Why not? It’s true.”

  “Because—because… How can you be so sure?”

  He took the question seriously. “In my line of work you learn to trust your gut. And after… growing up the way I grew up, I’ve learned to go for what I want. No questions, no hesitation, just straight ahead.”

  “What if what’s ahead doesn’t work out?”

  His eyes dropped to my mouth again. “What if it does?”

  He leaned in, and his breath touched my lips. A moment before our mouths connected, I heard my dad.

  “Royal!”

  “Dad?” I rushed to the living room, though not nearly as fast as Declan, and arrived in front of his chair. I scanned his face. “Are you okay?”

  He waved off the question. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I just remembered something.” He looked at Declan. “I was coming to meet you that day, the day of the accident. I was coming to tell you what I found.”

  Declan was riveted. He kept his eyes on my father. “What did you find?”

  “I found it. What you were looking for.” His gaze traveled to mine briefly.

  “It’s okay,” I told him with a reassuring nod. “I know about the experiment and the serum—that’s what Xander calls it.”

  “He knows too?” my dad asked.

  Declan’s lips parted. He glanced at me before turning his attention back to my father. “What did you find?”

  “I found out what was in it—or most of it. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. I have no idea what it does.”

  Declan folded his arms. “I do.”

  My dad looked from him to me, questions in his eyes. When I didn’t say anything, he released a breath and bowed his head.

  “Is this how you two know each other?” he asked.

  I swallowed and nodded. At least this part was true. We’d met because I needed the truth—and now I had most of it.

  My dad heaved himself up from the chair. Declan and I impulsively moved to his side but my dad only started pacing. Back and forth across the living room, like I remembered him doing so many times when I was a kid. He called them thinking walks. Maybe that was part of the reason I had so much trouble sitting still. I’d gotten it from him.

  “I’m assuming, from those guards that were in the hallway at the hospital, that this is larger than the both of you.”

  I bit my lip and glanced at Declan. His look was partly amused. The guards in the hallway were supposed to be discreet, but my dad wasn’t an idiot. And since he’d seen me and Declan together before, he probably tried to put together a whole bunch of answers to figure out why.

  “We wanted to make sure you were safe,” I said.

  “Safe?” He stopped pacing for a moment to look at both of us. “Because you think I’m in danger somehow.”

  Declan cleared his throat. “We didn't know what happened with your accident. Because of that, we had to assume there was a reason you didn’t make it to my house that day. Do you remember what happened?”

  My dad grumbled in frustration and started pacing again. “I remember being in the lab, remember looking at what that—” He glanced at me— “that serum was made of, and thinking how unbelievable it was. Something like that could cure so many illnesses, could make a man more than a man.” I glanced at Declan out of the corner of my eye, wondering how much he was comfortable telling my dad. He would be a great ally. But I also didn’t want him to be involved any more than he already was. My dad continued, “And I remember getting your email and asking to meet.” He looked up once more. “I think I even remember getting in the car. And that’s it.”

  Declan scratched his jaw and nodded. “It feels too coincidental to be an accident. And I feel terrible that something happened to you because you were helping me.”

  My dad waved off the comment like he’d done nothing more than offer his seat to an old woman on a bus. “You didn’t do anything.” He stopped again and then turned to face Declan, folding his arms. “Though I don’t remember you ever telling me why you wanted this information so badly.”

  Declan’s jaw clenched. I knew he kept information close to the chest because it was safer for him and he’d grown used to not speaking about his abilities or his past. But he’d told me, and my dad was just as trustworthy as I was.

  I touched Declan’s arm. “You can trust him. I promise.”

  Declan’s eyes held mine for a long moment. I didn't think he was questioning the truth of what I said, but more drawing strength from those words.

  He unfolded his arms and spoke to my dad. “I wanted to know what was in that serum because my father gave it to me.”

  My dad’s mouth dropped open. “He gave it to you? Like… when? And did he test it first? I’m going to need a sample of your blood, and I’m going to—”

  “Hold on,” Declan said.

  My dad lifted his hands. “But this is…amazing. And unheard of. And we don’t even know how this will affect you down the road. Or how it’s already affected you. Also…”

  “What?” I asked when he didn’t continue.

  His eyes locked on mine. “They made more of the serum. It wasn’t just what your father gave you. They made enough for…several doses. And who knows, there could have been more after that.”

  His words sunk in, and I could see the same surprise on Declan’s face. There could be other people out there walking around with the same abilities as him. Maybe even people he knew.

  Declan scrubbed his hands over his face. It was a lot, I knew. And with this kind of information, Declan was right. It was way too much of a coincidence that my dad got in an accident right before he was going to tell Declan what he’d found out.

  “I think you should come to stay with me,” I told my dad.

  He snorted. “Me, you, and Xander all living under the same roof? Not necessary.”

  “It's necessary if you're in danger—”

  “Does it look like I’m in danger?” My dad walked to the window and peered outside. It was a beautiful, sunny day. If danger lurked in the shadows, it wasn’t something we could see. “See? Safe and sound.”

  “You don’t know that. You didn’t think anything was going to happen to you that day you were going to see Declan, but it did.”

  Declan’s hand wrapped around my arm in an assuring gesture.

  My dad noted the motion but didn’t say anything. He only shook his head. “I’d rather be here. After everything that’s happened, this is where I should be.”

  I opened my mouth to argue again but Declan put his arm around me. “Would you be willing to have two men stationed outside? They’d see who was coming and going and make sure you're safe.”

  I glanced sharply at Declan.

  “They know what they’re doing,” he told me. When I frowned, he continued, “It’s better than nothing.”

  My dad shrugged. “That’s fine by me. Royal, you should probably stay here too then. You need somebody looking out for you as well.”

  My mouth popped open in protest, but Declan nodded immediately. “Don't worry, I’ve already figured that out.”

  With wide eyes, I looked at him. He had already figured that out? What was that supposed to mean? He hadn’t said anything to me.

  “Good,” my dad said before I could say anything. And suddenly, they had this understanding that neither had chosen to discuss with me. My dad met my eyes. “As long as you’re safe, I’ll feel better.”

  Declan walked across the living room and grabbed my father’s bag. “I’ll put this in your room for you and call who I need to call to make sure they’re all set up outside.”

  My dad nodded and pointed. “Last door on the right.”

  Declan gave me a meaningful look before he vanished down the hallway. I returned it with a glare. I didn’t need anyone mappin
g out my life for me. I’d been there before, and it hadn’t worked any better then.

  “Don’t be mad at him,” my dad said. “He’s just trying to take care of you.”

  I folded my arms. “It’s not his responsibility to take care of me.”

  My dad scratched his cheek. “I see how he looks at you. He looks at you like I used to look at your mom. I suppose that gives him the right to feel like he needs to take care of you.”

  My heart squeezed tight. My father had adored my mother, and from what I remember, they had a wonderful relationship. They used to cook together and dance together in the kitchen while I watched. They used to stay up late and talk on the front porch while I listened from my window.

  It was the kind of love I thought I might never have, and now my dad was indicating that it might be right in front of me.

  I swallowed hard and set that thought aside. I needed to deal with what was going on right now, and right now, I needed to talk to Declan. I was used to having my own space and used to making my own decisions. That couldn’t change just because he was in the picture.

  I hugged my dad. “I’m glad you’re home.”

  He squeezed me against his chest and nodded. When he spoke, his voice was gruff. “Me too.”

  When we pulled apart, his gaze narrowed on my face in scrutiny. “How did you two really meet?”

  “Promise you won’t get mad.”

  He laughed. “You know, when you say something like that to a parent, it’s a guarantee that they will get mad.”

  I gave him a winning smile. “Just remember that I’m a grown woman. And I take after my dad.” He rolled his eyes but listened. “I wanted to know more about Dark Enterprises and Declan. With Xander’s help, I found out that you two had communicated before your accident. So I figured the best way was to get some information on Dark Enterprises.”

  My dad’s eyebrows lifted. “What kind of information?”

  “It’s not important. But I ended up sort of getting a job there and I started working with Declan. I learned a lot about him that way and discovered that he wasn’t responsible for your accident. At least not directly.”