Page 62 of Break Out

“One day at a time! That’s easy for him to say. At least he didn’t insist you move closer to the Devil Lancer compound, then—”

“She’d be on the same side of the river as your house,” Steel said, walking inside.

I made a mental note to ask him how he unlocked the door so quiet and stealthy.

He came right to me. His hand cupping my belly while his other curled around my neck. He kissed me quick. “Hey, Jade.”

He nodded at Mom, “Jackie.”

Then he did the same with Aunt Abby.

Mom nodded back at him. “How do you know where we live?”

Steel grinned. “I don’t. Simone said you live across the river. I do my research, but I haven’t looked into you or Volt.”

“Oh,” Mom whispered.

At the same time Aunt Abby muttered, “Yet.”

Steel chuckled. “Listen, we don’t have issues with the Riot. The shit in the past is past. Seeing as the Riot isn’t in the same… trade as us, I don’t anticipate problems.”

Mom choked on laughter. “Trade? You call what you do—”

“Mom,” I said.

“No, Simone. You should know about their trades.”

“She does,” Steel said.

Mom’s eyes danced between us. “She doesn’t.”

“I do.”

“And it doesn’t bother you?” Mom asked.

I took a deep breath. “I’m not entirely down, but the Riot runs Platinum’s right down the street.”

“Yeah, that’s the one area of overlap,” Steel murmured.

“Are you hearing this?” Mom demanded.

I nodded. “Yeah. That’s a problem for Uncle Yak and Turk.”

“That’s our girl,” Aunt Abby said.

Mom ignored her. “Simone, you can’t be that dense. More goes—”

Steel’s voice became stern. “She isn’t dense and we discussed it.”

With her plastic cup to her lips, Mom stared at Steel. She sipped her wine, then put the cup down. “Are you certain you can keep her safe?”

Steel’s lips twisted a touch. “Are you certain you’re always safe? There are risks being a president’s old lady.”

Mom’s eyes lit with triumph. “She isn’t your old lady, so the risks to her are increased seeing as she wouldn’t have your protection.”

His dark eyebrows lowered and he stared at Mom. “Whether or not you mean to, you’re twisting this around. Not being my old lady doesn’t mean she isn’t protected.”

Aunt Abby tossed her empty cup in the trash. “I don’t think Jackie’s trying to twist your words.”

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