Page 15 of Steel

The moment things settle, shit gets rattled around again.

Pushing off the wall, I stare at the door to my room, knowing nothing but problems are on the other side of it. But that’s the job. Being president means I walk headfirst into everything.

I open the door, and Tempe looks up at me from where she’s sitting on the edge of my bed. She jumps up when I step inside, and at least she’s stopped crying.

She’s a tiny little thing, even if she’s filled with fire. Her eyes burn as she watches me from across the room. Her wavy, brown hair falls just below her shoulders, and it’smessier now that she’s been running her fingers through it. She chews her lower lip, and I hate how she’s so naturally pretty. It’s disarming.

Unassuming.

Dangerous.

“Your brother’s fine.” I don’t know why I feel the need to reassure her when she broke into my club, but I do. “Soul’s checking on him.”

“Soul.” She repeats his name on a sweet little exhale that pisses me off.

“My VP.”

She wets her lips, her eyes glossy. “And the men…?”

“Gone. Same as your mom.”

Her eyes widen. “She’s alive?”

“Doubtful.”

Any momentary light in her eyes fades. At least she doesn’t ask me why they’d carry out her mom’s dead body because I don’t have any answers for her right now.

Tempe nods, tucking her hands in her pockets. “Are you going to let me go then? I told you everything I know. You just confirmed it.”

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“But Austin—”

“Is coming back here.” I cut her off.

“And how long are you keeping us? I have to work tomorrow.” Her fiery temper flares, arguing with me like it’s going to do her any good.

“You’re calling in sick.”

Her eyes narrow.

“Is there a problem, wildfire?”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” She rolls her shoulders back.

Stepping further into the room, I give in to the gravity that pulls me to her, watching every hint of her reaction at my approach. Her fingers clench. Her chest rises and falls with her shallow breaths. A faint red blush paints the apples of her cheeks.

“Because you’ve got that spark about you.” I stop in front of her. “Doesn’t seem like much at first. Just a little ember flicking around in the wind. But that’s all it takes sometimes.”

She tips her chin up. “To what?”

“To burn everything down.”

I step back before I’m caught in her orbit. Her pull is too strong. Her big hazel eyes shine with the tears she’s holding back, and if I’m not careful, she’ll find a way to use that against me.

Walking over to my dresser, I pull out a cigarette.

“You smoke?” Her face scrunches.

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