Melting Steel: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (14 page)

Keeley

Jax’s bitter laughter bleeds through the room, making my stomach heave.

“You.” Recognition and disdain cross my father’s face.

Jax chuckles sadistically, eyes raging with the thirst of revenge. “You remember me. Good. I was worried you’d forgotten.”

“This is who you’re working with?” My father’s eyes bulge and he looks at me accusingly.

“No.” My throat constricts to the point that I don’t know how I’m getting any air into my lungs.

“Keeley has nothing to do with this asshole,” Henry bites out.

“That’s not exactly true, is it princess?” Jax smiles, eyes so dark I swear I can see the fires of hell burning there.

“Screw you.”

“Oh I plan on it.”

The threat is clear and I feel Henry’s entire body tense.

I gulp around the fear and guilt in my throat. This is my fault. I’m the one that brought Henry into this.

And I’m the one who has to stop it.

“Fine. You want me.” I maneuver around Henry so quickly he doesn’t have time to react. Face to face with Jax, the barrel of his gun inches from my face, I glare up at him. “Then let’s go. No one has to get hurt.”

“Keeley.” Henry’s pained growl sends chills racing down my spine.

I ignore him, locking my gaze on Jax, who just smirks, then begins to circle me, trailing his gun over my shoulder, across my breasts. Unable to control the shiver that races down my spine, I grit my teeth.

“I’m yours. Just let them go.”

“You think that’s what this is about?” The cold edge of the gun snakes under my hair, along my neck, then he jerks me back against his chest, barrel digging deep into my temple. “You weren’t that good of a fuck, darling. This is about me and your Daddy. Isn’t it John?”

Drew lets out a pathetic snivel and starts rocking from one foot to the other. “He has to pay.”

“Make the call, John,” Jax says, pulling a phone from his pocket, and pressing a series of numbers. “Your men have the details. They just need your password.”

My father catches the device when Jax throws it to him. “And if I say no?”

“Then you all die.”

Sirens  blare in the distance.

“He has to pay,” Drew repeats in a monotonous tone. His mind is gone, eyes blank. “He has to pay.”

Drew’s weapon hangs limply in his hand, and I see Henry’s gaze trained on it, on him. Henry inches forward, intent in his eyes.

Jax must see it too, because he turns his gun on Henry.

“Let’s not be a hero, Caldwell.” One large arm tightens around me, and with the other hand Jax pulls back the hammer of the gun. “We all know where that got you last time. Taking the heat for another man’s mistake. Fucking pathetic.”

Henry’s eyes widen just slightly, and his nostrils flare. “How the fuck do you know about that?”

“Why don’t you tell him, John?” He snickers sadistically. The bastard is enjoying this.

I glance at my father and see the first signs of guilt etched across his face. He pushes out a weighted breath and rakes a hand over his eyes, then through his silvering hair.

“Come on, you can say it. I knocked up your little girl. Fucked her till she squealed like a pig. She was a beauty.” Jax sucks on his teeth, then chuckles. “Too bad she was bat-shit crazy.”

It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking about Abby.

I see horror in Henry’s eyes and it hits me hard, the secret he’s kept. That he’d allowed people to believe he’d been the one responsible. For Abby’s pregnancy. For her depression. Her death.
Why?

Sirens scream louder.

“You knew?” The grief and anger coming off Henry is almost tangible, but it’s directed at my father.

I can’t see Jax’s face, but I can hear the smirk in his voice. “Of course he knew. But he made sure no one else did. Isn’t that right, Sullivan? Couldn’t have people thinking that your sweet little angel was tramping around with scum like me.”

A small sound comes from the corner.
Sarah.
The poor woman looks like she’s about to pass out. Like me, she’s only a victim in the web of lies. Deceived by the man who was supposed to protect her.

Pain. Betrayal. Hatred. The remnants of sin swirls around the room, leaving no one untouched.

“Why are you doing this, Jax?” My insides twist painfully. “What do you want?”

“Money, darling.” His nose is in my hair, and he breathes in deeply. “And a little bit of revenge. See Daddy dearest over there fucked me over pretty good. He couldn’t put anything on me for just screwing his little princess, so he had shit planted on me. Spent a year in juvie, two in State. For what? Knocking up a crazy chick?”

“I’ll see you rot in prison for the rest of your life,” John scowls.

“You won’t see anything, unless you transfer those funds.” Jax nods at Drew. “You’ve got twenty seconds or your son puts a bullet in your wife’s head.”

Wild and crazed, Drew point his gun at Sarah.

“John.” Her eyes are wide, terrified.

“All right,” he grounds out through clenched teeth. Face red, nostrils flared, he makes the call. The entire transaction takes less than a minute. “It’s done.”

Drew pulls a phone from his pocket, then nods. “The funds have been transferred.”

“You got what you want, now let Keeley go.” Henry’s voice is deathly quiet.

Jax scoffs out a laugh, and starts to walk backwards, pulling me with him.

“I don’t think so. I’m going to need a little insurance.” He drags me towards a service door. “You know what to do kid. Here’s your chance for revenge.”  

“I can’t.” Drew lifts his gun, hand shaking uncontrollably. He glances over at me, and I see a glimpse of the boy he once was. Scared. Alone. Vulnerable.

“Drew, please. You can stop this.”

“Do it,” Jax hollers.

Drew twitches, his breathing ragged, moisture gathering in his eyes.

“Even if you kill us, you still have to walk through those doors.” Henry’s voice is low, calm, as if speaking to a wild animal. “Only you’ll be facing murder charges.”

“The only people who’ve seen me are in this room.” Jax’s breathing is hot and heavy in my ear. “Now take the shot, Drew.”

He’s planning on using Drew as a scapegoat.
That’s his only way out.
Shit
.

“Think about what you’re doing, Drew” I beg. “He’s not going to let any of us leave here alive.”

Drew looks at me, then at Jax.

“You’re going to listen to your whoring sister, or me. I’ve got your back, kid. Just take the shots.”

Drew lifts his gun and I know he’s going to do it. There’s murder in his eyes.

I bite down hard on Jax’s hand, tasting blood. Fighting him off, I rush towards Drew, just as he pulls back on the trigger.

We both tumble to the floor, and the shot goes wide.

“Fucking bitch,” Jax curses, raising his gun at me and I know I’m going to die.

Doors crash open and the room suddenly fills with police. 

“Put your weapon down,” someone orders.

Jax smirks one last time. “See you in hell, princess.”

Everything happens so quickly, I barely register Henry rushing towards me, or the shots fired. The next thing I know, I’m on my back, Henry’s heavy body covering mine.

Liquid Warmth spreads across my chest.

I can’t breathe.

I’m sure I’ve been shot.

But there’s no pain.

Henry groans, lifting up on one arm so that his weight releases me slightly. His hands are on me, checking for injury.

“You’re okay?” Henry cups my chin, and forces me to look at him. His body is still heavy on top of me, shielding me from the chaos that resumes around us.

People are screaming orders, and from the corner of my vision, I see police placing Drew in handcuffs. John sitting with his head in his hands. Sara crying uncontrollably beside him. Jax’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood, his unseeing eyes locked on me.

I shudder and look away.

“I’m all right,” I say breathlessly, placing my hand on Henry’s chest. When my hand comes back slick with blood, I freeze. “Oh my God, you’ve been shot.”

He winces and rolls onto his side.

I pull back the black suit and gasp at the amount of blood that covers his once white shirt.

Oh God. No.

“Help.” The word is an inaudible whisper, and I have to push the next ones past the large lump in my throat. “Someone help.”

Time doesn’t move the same way when your heart has been flayed open – there are moments that stand still, others that move so quickly you wonder if they really happened.

Police and paramedics swarm us. Someone tears open Henry’s shirt, and I see the bullet wound just below his right shoulder. Blood gushes from it like a geyser.

“Stay with me.” Henry reaches for my hand, his grip tight on mine.

“I won’t leave you.”

His lips twitch up in a small smile, then his face contorts in a spasm of pain.

“Right pocket,” he says through clenched teeth, as the paramedics slide a board under him.

I reach into his pocket and pull out a small velvet box. My stomach does a somersault as I realize what it is. I open the box and suck in a breath.

An engagement ring.

A tear slides down my cheek and I brush it away with the back of my hand.

“One, two, three.” The paramedics lift Henry onto the gurney.

“Miss, I need you to come with me.” A police officer stands in front of me, eyes full of concern.

The paramedics steers the gurney towards the exit.

I shake my head. “I have to go with him. I promised I wouldn’t leave.”

“We need your statement.”

I ignore the officer’s protest and rush to Henry’s side, taking his hand.

His grasp is weaker than before, his face pale, eyes heavy.

He’s going to be okay. He has to be.

“Marry…me,” he whispers harshly.

I press my lips against his and nod, but when I pull back his eyes are closed.

“Henry.” I squeeze his hand, but he doesn’t respond.

“Miss, we need to go.”

Releasing him, I stumble back.

The only thing I can think as I watch them wheel him away is,
I never told him I loved him
.

Keeley

I pace the small hospital waiting room, glancing up at the mechanical clock hanging on the wall, and let out a trembling breath.

“What’s taking so long? Someone should have come and told us something by now.”

“Sit down.” Becca pats the chair beside her, brows furrowed.

“I’m so sorry about all this.” I rub the back of my neck wearily and sit down.

“It isn’t your fault.”

I shrug, knowing she’s wrong. “Is Asher coming?”

“I told him not to.” A small frown tugs at her lips and she lets out a long sigh. “It’s over between us.”

I look at her, horrified. Only a few hours ago she was standing at the altar ready to commit her life to him.

More guilt consumes me.

“Don’t do that.” Becca takes my hand and squeezes it gently. “Don’t blame yourself. Asher wasn’t right for me. I just didn’t want to see it.” She sighs and swipes at a tear that falls over her cheek. “But Henry did. God, he can be so controlling. Bossy. Sometimes I forget he only wants to protect me. I should have listened to him.”

And because of me, she might lose him.

“You know, when the first bullet fired, Asher actually hid behind me. It was Henry that pulled me down. Made sure I was safe.”

“He took a bullet for me.” The words don’t seem real. “Who does that?”

“Henry.”

“Yeah.”
My Knight.

Becca tilts her head, a sad smile curving her lips. “When we were kids, he always had to be the hero, saving me and Abby from some imaginary bad guy. Always the protector.”

A memory of a dark-haired boy and his sword flashes in my mind.
My champion. The slayer of dragons
.

“You knew about Abby,” I say, already knowing the answer. “That he wasn’t the baby’s father?”

Becca nods, eyes clouding over in memory.

“When the rumors started, Abby begged him to go along with it. I never really understood why he did. To protect her I guess. But after she…when she took her life, everyone pointed their fingers at Henry. I think he started to believe the accusations. That her death was his fault. There was a long time when I thought I would lose him too…until you.”

And now we might both lose him.

My breath catches in my throat and I look away, unable to meet the acceptance in her gaze. I deserve her anger, not her support.

“He’s going to be all right.” Becca places her hand on my shoulder.

“You don’t know that.”

“I know my brother. He’s a fighter. And he has a lot to live for. He has you.”

My fist tightens on the ring box. “He was going to ask me to marry him.”

“I know.”

“I’ve never believed in happily ever after. Not until him. And now–” A small sob lodges in my throat.

“Don’t let your mind go there. Not until we know what’s going on.”

I nod, knowing she’s right.

“Miss Caldwell?” The muscular, tattooed male nurse that seems to have taken a personal interest in Becca, stands over us, holding two pairs of scrubs.

“Do you have news? Is Henry…is he okay?” My voice cracks on the last word.

“Sorry. I haven’t heard anything,” he says, blue eyes stoic. “I thought you two might be more comfortable in these.

I glance down at my blood-stained dress and cringe.

Henry’s blood.

In the restroom, I lean with my palms on the cold, white ceramic sink, and I glance at my reflection.

A nightmare.
That’s what this is. A cold, hellish nightmare that I can’t wake up from.

“He’s going to be all right,” I say to my reflection, but there’s no certainty in my voice, because nothing in my life is ever all right. Just a chaotic, broken mess.

He was my forever, and yet I was quick to run, to believe the worst in him. Now I may never get the chance to tell him I love him. That I want to be his. To have his child.

God
. I touch my stomach.
His baby
.

I didn’t realize until now how much I wanted it. To be his wife. Be a family. I was just too scared to admit it. Too afraid to give my heart to someone completely. Afraid that losing him would destroy me.

A humorless laugh escapes my lips.

I was right. The pain is unbearable. But the love he’s given me. The acceptance. It’s worth the jagged torment that cuts through my heart and soul, leaving me exposed and bare.

One more day.

One more kiss.

One chance to tell him I love him.

Please
. I say a silent prayer to whatever god is listening.
I won’t be a coward any longer. Just let him live.