Page 79 of Steel

Still, I wish she wasn’t.

Grabbing a clean glass from the sink, I start drying it, hating that my thoughts are back on Jameson. It’s impossible when Marley makes me face everything I’d rather not think about. Setting the glass down, I grab another as a body slides onto the barstool across from where I’m standing.

“What can I get you?”

“Whiskey neat.” The familiar voice sends a shiver down my spine.

I look up into eyes that have haunted me since this man first forced his way into my house and killed my mother. Eyes that showed her no mercy as her body crumpled to the ground. Eyes that became a black hole while time froze.

His dark hair is slicked back, but it’s long enough for him to tuck it behind his ears. His beard is trimmed but messy, and his eyes are pure evil.

“Hello, Tempe.”

I take a step back, glancing behind him at Sonny and Reyes, who are drinking water and laughing about something.

“I wouldn’t do that,” he says when I open my mouth to yell for them. “You need to be a good girl if you want to protect your brother.”

“Austin’s already safe.” My voice shakes as I glance back at the man.

He’s with Jameson, and no matter what tension exists between Jameson and me right now, I don’t think he’d let anyone hurt him.

The man grins. “Safefor now. But you’ll wear your welcome out with the Twisted Kings soon enough. After all, Steel isn’t known for keeping women very long.”

My stomach sours, and it takes everything in me not to let it show.

“Who are you?”

“Someone who can help you if you cooperate.” He skims me up and down. “You can call me Dimitri.”

At least I’ve put a name to the monster, even if I don’t believe a word he says.

“What makes you think you can help me? You’re the one who set me up.”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

“No thanks to you.”

Dimitri leans forward, glaring at me. “Did you think I sent you in there to die? Steel’s too much of a cunt to hurt a woman. Everyone knows that.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

He shrugs, shooting me a vile smile that tells me he isn’t beyond putting his hands on a woman if he deems it necessary.

“What do you want?” I ask, setting the rag down on the bar. “They already found what you were looking for. I can’t get you whatever you were hiding.”

“It’s interesting you still think that’s what we were after. Either the Twisted Kings are as stupid as they look, or Steel isn’t telling you everything.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dimitri tilts his head. “You’ll figure it out soon enough. You already did what we needed.”

“If you already got what you want, why are you here?”

“Can’t a man just want a drink?”

“This isn’t the only bar in town.” I sneer at him.

Dimitri leans closer, pausing when his gaze dips to my cleavage before looking back up at me again. “Maybe I like the view at this one.”

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