Page 42 of Ace of Spades

Theo tilts his head to the side, eyes still studying me like I’m some kind of specimen he’s trying to understand.

"My deal?"

“Yeah, most people are trying to run the other way, but here you are making Breaker’s your personal mission ground."

I shrug.

"New beginnings, I guess. It wasn't working out where I’m from. I needed a fresh start."

"Boy trouble?"

He waggles his brows and I get a hint of his uncle's charisma. The charisma that Levi is certainly lacking.

"Something like that," I say, just as two older gentlemen take seats at the table next to us.

Theo sits back, stretching his arm over the back of the cushioned seat.

"Bet I could help take your mind off of it," he offers.

I watch the younger Steele intently. His eyes are the color of honey, and the look behind them is one I recognize.

"Are you trying to flirt with me, Theo Steele?"

“Is it working?” He smirks.

I shake my head, grinning. “Not really.”

One of the men next to us leans over, clearly having been eavesdropping. "You really wanna impress a pretty girl, you gotta prove your guts with the keeper, son.”

Theo and I both look over at the man.

"The keeper?" I say.

Theo shakes his head still smiling.

"Sienna. These guys are Big Mike,” he motions to the man who just spoke. He has dark skin and sports a Thunderhawks jersey.

Then Theo motions to the other man who is totally bald but has the thickest red beard I’ve ever seen. He’s smoking a cigar out of the corner of his mouth. “and Rooster. Local bar legends. And perveyor's of island lore."

"Pleasure to meet you both," I say.

"Pleasure's all ours," Big Mike says with a warm smile.

"You know the old lighthouse on the cliff at the far side of the island?” Rooster interjects.

“I do now.”

“Well, you prove yourself with the keeper, you can earn any woman's respect around here. Hell, even the men's."

“Interesting… please explain,” I say, leaning in and resting my chin on my intertwined fingers.

"Well, pretty lady. There was a storm, long time ago," Big Mike begins.

“Ships couldn't see five fingers in front of them if they tried.” He does a show of wriggling his fingers in front of his face. "Ships kept wrecking. One after another. Lives lost, treasures lost. And the lighthouse keeper, well, he felt responsible since he couldn't keep the fire burning due to them winds blowing out the windows. It was long before electricity came to be a thing."

"People say he jumped down the lighthouse stairs to his demise. Couldn't handle the guilt of so many lives on his hands, so he took his own," Theo adds.

"Some say it was an accident. That the winds were so high that night that they blew ole keeper down the stairs and wasn't even his doing," Rooster says.

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