Page 103 of Destiny

Ava may be her own woman, but she is still a Steel. That’s how everyone standing in my living room sees it.

Ava spent the night at her parents’ house, and we talked after her conversation with her grandmother. She’s holding her own, even though it’s very difficult. She has to maintain her act, or her grandmother will see right through her.

People are mingling, talking, drinking coffee, and eating cinnamon buns.

Until my dad clangs a spoon on his coffee mug.

“Hey, everyone,” Dad says. “I wish we had more seating, but feel free to take a seat on the floor if you need to take a load off.”

“Let’s get to it, Sean,” Cyrus, the tattoo artist, says.

“Good enough, Cy,” Dad says. “We’re here because we all got letters saying we had to pay off liens on our respective properties held by the Steel Trust.”

“Mr. Murphy,” Carmelita Mayer says, “I can’t afford to pay off this lien. I’m still holding a mortgage on my property, and you know I’m widowed.”

I take a look at Mrs. Mayer. She’s a lovely older woman with graying black hair. She makes delicious empanadas, and…Pat Lamone rents a room from her.

Pat Lamone isn’t present, of course. He doesn’t own property in this town.

“I know, Mrs. Mayer,” Dad says. “To varying degrees, we’re all in the same boat as you, and I’m sure sorry.”

“What if we start a pool?” someone says. “Maybe we can help those with the most to lose pay off the liens.”

“That’s a nice idea,” Dad says, “but it won’t work long-term, and we all know it.”

“I’ve got family in Denver who can help me,” someone else says, “but I’m one of the lucky ones.”

“Now wait a minute.” I walk to the front and stand next to Dad. “Donny Steel, who as you all know is our city attorney, doesn’t know what the Steel Trustis. Neither do his father and uncles. They are not the Steels that we have beef with. We have the issue with whoever is behind the Steel Trust.”

“Who the hell else would be behind something called the Steel Trust?” Hardy Solomon, the sheriff, asks.

“Steel could refer to anything,” I say. “It may even refer to the Steel family that we know. That doesn’t mean the Steels created the trust or even know about it, which they don’t.”

“I’m not paying,” Hardy says.

“I agree.” I nod. “I don’t think any of us should pay a damned cent until we find outwhoit is we’re paying.”

“That’s the ticket,” someone yells. “We don’t pay them a damned thing. Let’s send those Steel fuckers into the poorhouse!”

I can’t help an eye roll. I’m not sure who made that comment, but if they think not paying off these liens can send the Steels anywhere near the poorhouse, they’re delusional.

“That’s not my point,” I say. “Right now, we don’t know who we’re sending money to.”

“So you think the Steel family has nothing to do with something called the Steel Trust,” Rudy Kline, our mechanic, says.

I meet his gaze. “I know it, Rudy. I’ve talked to Donny Steel.”

“He’s probably lying to you.”

“No, he’s not. Most of you know that I’m dating Ava Steel.”

“None of us blame Ava for this,” Rita from the café says. “She’s not like the rest of the Steels.”

“No, she’s not,” I agree, “but that’s not my point, Rita. Most of you know the Steels. Most of you know they’re good people.”

Murmurs ofyesflow through the room, though there are a few who aren’t buying it.

“I agree with Benji,” someone says from the back. “Let’s take the Steels down.”

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