Page 8 of Born in Fire

Now, it feels like a costume I’ve outgrown.

A group of women walk past, one of them doing a double-take as she recognizes me. She smiles invitingly. Six months ago, I’d have been beside her in an instant, turning on the charm, playing the game. Tonight, I just nod politely and turn away.

I walk toward the waterfront, hands in my pockets, no destination in mind. The woman’s words echo in my head.

There’s more to you than your reputation.

Is there? I’ve spent so long being Caleb’s opposite that I’m not sure who I’d be without that definition.

I look back toward Obsidian, its neon sign glowing in the distance. The music, the drinks, the meaningless connections—it all seems so futile.

I need purpose. Not Caleb’s hand-me-down sense of duty, but something of my own.

I turn away from the club, heading to the valet parking. Whatever’s coming, whatever the Syndicate has planned, I’m done playing the carefree playboy. It’s time to be something else.

I just wish I knew what.

Chapter 3

Juno

I focus on the espresso machine’s pressure gauge, mentally reciting the steps from training.

Tamp the grounds evenly. Twenty-five pounds of pressure. Lock the portafilter firmly.

Two weeks on the job, and I’m still getting used to the professional-grade equipment at the Grind & Bean. Everything here is sleeker, more precise than the machines at my previous café job. I’d been happy there, but the pay here reflects its corporate clientele, and the tips are next level. Plus, it puts another layer between me and the life I left behind.

This position represents more than just a paycheck. New coffee shop. New building. New customers who don’t know anything about me or Tyler. A clean slate in the glossy lobby of Craven Towers, where executives hurry past with important meetings to attend and deals to close.

The early morning crowd is bustling when the front doors swing open, admitting a man who immediately commands attention. My hands falter on the steam wand as my pulse gives a little skip.

Tall, broad, with tousled dark hair and a smile that transforms his face as he nods a greeting to someone who walks past him. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing intricate tattoos banding his forearms.

I drop my gaze immediately, focusing on the milk I’m steaming.

Stop it, Juno. You know better.

Tyler was handsome too. Charming. Quick to smile.

Until he wasn’t.

I pour the steamed milk into a waiting latte, attempting a leaf design that comes out lopsided. Not my best work, but the customer doesn’t seem to notice as she takes it with a distracted “thanks.” I wipe down the steam wand with mechanical precision, keeping my eyes on my task as the man joins the queue and leans casually against the counter.

For the next few minutes, I manage to avoid looking in his direction, serving the businesswoman who wants her cappuccino extra dry, the IT guy who orders the same mocha every day, the courier who just needs a black coffee to go. I’m almost beginning to relax when I sense someone approaching.

“Good morning.”

I look up into amber eyes that catch the morning light streaming through the windows. He’s standing before me, one hand resting lightly on the counter. His silver ring glints, shaped like a dragon. He’s been joined by a second man, nearly identical, who moves with such authority that several customers instinctively move aside. His tailored suit and rigid posture scream power.

“Good morning,” I respond automatically. “What can I get for you?”

“Juno,” he says, reading my name from the tag on my chest. His smile widens. “That’s different. Named after the Roman goddess?”

The question surprises me. Most people don’t comment on my name, and those who do usually make jokes about teenage pregnancy or angry wives. I guess Juno is a name generally reserved for quirky movies. I feel a blush warming my cheeks.

“Actually, my parents were astronomers,” I explain, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “They met at an observatory studying Jupiter’s moons.”

“Fascinating.” He leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a warmer tone. “Tell me more about the stars.”

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