Page 17 of Steel

“Put Sonny at the door. I’ll crash in Chaos’s room for the night. We’ll figure the rest out in the morning. I can’t fucking think anymore.”

“How long are they staying?”

“Until I figure out who sent her here.”

“You think that’s a good idea?”

“No.” I brush my hair back. “But if you want ’em gone sooner, then get me some fucking answers.”

Havoc nods, looking from me to Tempe.

She has her forehead pressed to Austin’s, and she’s talking to him about something. For the strong show she put on earlier, her defenses are down for him. A maternal soft side that’s completely foreign to me, when my mom wasn’t a great example of how a parent should love their kid.

A breeze kicks up, and it rattles my nerves.

Change is in the air. And if I’m not careful, it’s going to wreck what’s left of the club I’m barely holding on to.

5

Tempe

A loud knock onthe front door makes me jump, causing me to squeeze toothpaste all over the sink.

It’s ten o’clock at night, and I just got home from my shift at the bar. The last thing I’m in the mood for right now is a late-night visit from Mom’s boyfriend.

She’s been in town for three days and has already disrupted my entire life. But at least if she’s here, I can keep an eye on my four-year-old brother. He needs some stability after she spent the last year dragging him around the country, moving to a new state every other month.

Another loud knock rattles the door.

“Coming,” I mumble to myself, making my way into the hallway.

“Sorry.” Mom darts out of her room, pulling her chestnut hair into a ponytail.

“I thought we agreed; no guys at the house.”

Mom rolls her eyes, annoyed, but I don’t care. She’s twice my age and still acts like a teenager. Chasing every crush on a whim. Falling for every man who shows her an ounce of attention.

Grandma used to call Mom a love addict. She said Mom was born without a single defense around her heart, and it made her easily susceptible to sweet talk and a nice smile. But I think that’s just an excuse. A substitute for the love she never got from her own father.

Not that I was willing to argue with Grandma about it.

“I’m serious.” I frown. “No men.”

“I know, Tempe.” Mom pulls her robe closed over her chest before pinching her cheeks to draw some color to them. “I thought he was in bed. But don’t worry, Austin and I will only be here a few more days. Josh said the apartment is almost ready.”

Josh—Mom’s boyfriend of the month.

Her excuse for moving to California next.

I’m not a fan.

I don’t like how he stared at me when he stopped by yesterday, I don’t like how he disregards Austin, and I don’t like how he’s showing up in the middle of the night.

“I’ll make it quick,” Mom says, hurrying down the hall when another knock comes at the door.

I make my way to the guest room where Austin is sleeping and peek inside. His eyes blink open as he sits up.

“Go back to sleep.” I blow him a kiss. “Everything’s okay.”

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