Page 126 of Break Out

“It’s just a room.”

“Yeah, and where’s your room here?”

“You cashed my check last week, so last time, Jordan. What do you need?”

For a long moment everything was silent and I wondered if Steel forced Jordan into church. I needed to stop eavesdropping. It wasn’t cool, but as much as I knew that I couldn’t tear myself away.

Then Jordan asked, “You have Simone here, don’t you?”

“Jordan, I don't have time—”

“You say you love me, but stealing my ex-girlfriend sends a message.”

“You dumped her, so I didn’t steal her.”

“If you want a relationship with me, give up Simone.”

Steel’s voice rose. “She’s carrying my child. I can’t leave her to raise him or her alone.”

“You did that to mom.”

“At her fucking insistence.”

“Not at first.”

“Right. I left when there was a threat and when I came back, I saw Deb’s true colors. Should have insisted on a paternity test then, but you were mine – no DNA test will ever change that.”

“But you went out of your way to tell me last month?”

“Yeah, because I hate the idea of keeping it secret from you – unlike Deb. Hell, she’d find a way to blame me for that, too.”

Jordan’s voice rose, his tone angry. “Leave Mom out of this. Simone has to go, I can’t be around her.”

That stung. What the hell would make him say that about me? We lived together for almost three years.

“Okay,” Steel said and my mind whirled.

Irritation welled up within me. Okay.

I suspected Steel had more to say, but clearly Karma was trying to teach me a lesson and I moved to the other side of the bedroom. Jordan was a tool to try manipulating Steel.

There was a side exit from Steel’s room out to the backyard. He’d used it last weekend when we left. I slipped on my sneakers. Then I shoved my keys into my regular pocket, tucked my phone into a cargo pocket, and went outside.

Gusty winds whipped my hair around. A front was supposed to move through later this afternoon. Billowy clouds glided across the sky. I loved watching the clouds, so I walked down toward the fire pit.

I was a few feet from an anti-gravity chair when someone wrapped a thick arm around me from behind.

I screamed and threw an elbow backward. My attacker grunted. He tightened his grip. I yelled while stomping on his foot.

Then Josie wandered in front of me. “Stop fighting with Mug. You act like you know what you’re doing, but you don’t. You’re just pathetic.”

I arched a brow. “That’s rich considering your failed attempt at trapping Steel.”

Josie’s eyes widened.

Mug’s grip around my neck tightened some more. “What’s she talkin’ about, Josie?”

Quickly, Josie schooled her features and looked at him. “Nothin’. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” She nodded at him. “Now, baby.”

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