Laced Steel: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Steel Crew Book 3) Read online

  “Wish I had an older brother or cousin that actually liked me,” Alexa mumbles.

  James stands up quickly and walks to the cooler, grabbing a bottle of water then cracking it open.

  “You good, man?” Baker asks.

  “Anyone need a drink?” he deflects.

  “Truth does,” Brisa answers for me.

  “No, but Truth does need a bathroom.” I stand up and look around.

  “To your left,” Abhi says.

  Inside the bathroom, I look around. “Sterile, just like the rest of this place,” I mumble as I shimmy my yoga pants and panties down. “Clean-looking or not, Alexa called this place the pounding palace.” I hover over the toilet and sigh as I pee. “Virgin with an STI? No, thank you. Big Daddy Cyrus would never buy that, truth or not.”

  After the longest and most satisfying pee in the history of pees, I wipe, flush, and walk to the sink. I turn the handle, and water starts shooting out of the faucet like a freaking fire hose, splashing all over.

  “Holy water pressure, batman!” I shriek as I try to turn it off as quickly as possible and succeed, but not before a massive mess is made. Looking in the mirror, water dripping down it, I see that everything within a three-foot radius, including me, is soaked.

  Chapter Three

  Idiom

  Don’t cry over spilt milk.

  Truth

  Cry. Milk spoils and smells nasty.

  Towel over my head, I run a hand back and forth in an attempt to stop it from drying too curly as I use my other hand to fling open the door. “I need more towels before the head horseman keeps the security deposit, stat!”

  “Truth,” Brisa says in a hushed, quivering voice, which is very unlike her.

  I pull the towel off my head to see we are no longer alone, immediately noticing them standing in some sort of formation.

  “Shit,” I whisper. But then, I can’t help the bubble of laughter from popping out of my mouth.

  I notice the corner of Harrison’s mouth curve up, but only momentarily. However, his light brown eyes are still dancing with amusement.

  Consciously not wanting to stare at the boy who I once thought would be my perfect match at Seashore, I look at Kai Hatt, who looks completely unamused. His dark hair and eyes match the disdain that’s directed at me. Then I look at Miles Jameson, also dark, but not as dark as Kai. Finally, my eyes land on Tobias Easton.

  Even though I’ve seen his IG and pass him daily at Suckshore Academy, I never really noticed the color of his eyes. They are blue, brilliantly blue, almost like a blue-eyed Persian cat. And like a cat who’s decided his belly has been rubbed enough, his ears seemingly lay back, and he looks as if he is ready to stretch out his claws and take a swat at me. Which is why I have always been a dog person.

  “So, about those towels.” I smile.

  “Get the fuck out,” he grumbles in a deep voice.

  I watch Abhi, Baker, Alexa, James and even Brisa nearly jump out of their skins.

  “Oh, hell no,” pops out of my mouth, as I look at Brisa. “We don’t jump when someone says jump.”

  I then look at Baker. “I thought you said we had an hour left.”

  He looks at his watch. “Time’s up.” He looks at Tobias Easton. “Sorry about this. It won’t happen again.”

  “You’re damn right it won’t,” Tobias sneers at him hatefully.

  Even a bit buzzed, I seem to be quick on the draw. “How is he to blame for my mess caused by your faucet and exorbitant amount of water … pressure?” Baker and Abhi were really excited about being allowed to rent this place. And even though I think it’s lame as hell, I like them and do not like these assholes.

  “She just used a fifty dollar SAT word?” Miles asks, quirking an eyebrow at Harrison.

  “Get her the hell out of here,” Tobias sneers through his teeth.

  “I’ll pay for the place to be cleaned,” Abhi says.

  “You’re damn right you will.” Tobias steps toward him.

  I step between them. “Wait a minute now. It’s my mess, and it’s just water, not piss, for God’s sake.”

  “Truth,” Brisa whispers, and I look at her.

  “Nope, no way. Fuck them.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “This is wrong, and we all know it.”

  I not only turn around and glare at Tobias fucking Easton, I step to him and poke him in the chest. He growls, but I don’t give a damn. “Pfft, you don’t scare me one bit. My Grandmother is more intimidating than you. Now get me some damn towels, and then we’ll be out of your way.”

  His Persian blue eyes are now wild and, for some reason, it just riles me up more.

  I hear Brisa behind me, now sounding a bit panicked. “She’s drunk. She hardly ever drinks, and—”

  A loud clapping distracts me, and I look to where the sound is coming from.

  Harrison Reeves is smirking, slowly clapping. “Bravo.”

  “Reeves,” Tobias sneers.

  “She’s a little actress, Easton. It’s in my blood to applaud when I see a worthy performance.”

  “This isn’t a performance, Reeves,” I snap.

  “Oh, Miss Steel, you’re remind me of a little chihuahua with a pit bull attitude—feisty. I really like feisty.”

  “Thanks,” I huff. “Now, how about you get me some damn towels and let us be on our merry way?”

  I hear the door shut and look around. They left us here … with them.

  “Truth,” Brisa whispers as she steps to my side.

  “Easton, get the girl some towels”—Harrison smiles menacingly then looks away from me—“before she pisses herself or starts crying.”

  “As if,” I huff.

  I hear a door slam and have to stop myself from jumping.

  Harrison looks back at me, smiling a little playfully now. A little too playfully.

  “What is your aversion to being nice?”

  He leans in, and I stay standing tall. Well, as tall as I can. Then he whispers, “You weren’t on the guest list. And neither was your cousin. Easton doesn’t appreciate rule breakers. Me, on the other hand, find it fascinating.”

  “My bad, we didn’t RSVP. We weren’t even going to come. It was a last-minute decision. It’s not Baker or Abhi’s fault.”

  “I’m very glad you”—he pauses—“came.”

  Tobias walks past me and hands Harrison the towels. “Get them the fuck out of my house.” Then he turns and walks back the way he came from, and a door slams loudly. Again, I almost jump.

  I take a towel and hand it to Brisa, not because I expect her to help, but because I’m not letting her be more than two feet away from me.

  Once far enough away from them, I hear them begin chatting amongst themselves.

  I smile at her reassuringly. “We’re fine.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have been more badass. God, I suck.”

  “No, you don’t,” I assure her.

  “You were so freaking bada—”

  “Not really. I didn’t want them to get in trouble thinking we’d made new friends, and then they bailed on us, and then that deplorable ass Tobias … well, he pissed me off.”

  “In their defense, Alexa turned green, and I’m pretty sure she was about to throw up. They had to get her out of here.”

  “Fine. Forgiven.”

  We make quick work of wiping off the mirror and the countertop.

  “Do we need window cleaner?”

  “Fuck that,” I snip as I get down on my hands and knees and begin wiping up the floor.

  “You missed a spot,” comes from behind me.

  “We aren’t done, Reeves,” I say flippantly.

  “Streaks on the glass are gonna piss him off,” Miles taunts.

  I shrug. “Seems he’s pissed off most of the time anyway, so it won’t matter much.”

  When I hear them chuckling, I look back. Miles and Kai are scowling, and Harrison’s eyes are smiling, but he’s not.

  “I’d offer to help, but my staff isn’t h
ere,” he says.

  Arrogant asshole.

  “Great, then piss off.”

  “But this view …” He glances down at my ass.

  I turn away and swipe the floor one more time. “It’s an ass. What are you? Twelve?”

  “It’s a spectacular ass.”

  I glare back at him.

  He places his hand on his chest and mock gasps. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would offend someone who’s clearly worked so hard to condition her body. You’re strong. It shows on stage and while you’re”—he pauses and smirks—“on your knees.”

  “Ball busting isn’t his kink,” Miles says without any expression whatsoever as he continues to look down at his phone.

  “The quicker you three leave us alone, the quicker this will be done.” I turn around.

  “Missed a spot,” Kai says.

  I stand up. “Yeah, sure I did.”

  I toss my towel in the hamper with the two hand towels I used then take Brisa’s and do the same. I nod to her. “Let’s go.”

  We step toward the door, but they don’t move.

  I glare up at them. “If you think my ass looks strong, might want to think about what carries it around and how hard I could kick you in the—”

  “Oh, Miss Steel, don’t threaten me with a good time. But if you ever come at me with the intent of kicking me in the balls, please do it in pointe shoes,” Harrison says playfully.

  My heart begins beating and not in a this-was-the-guy-who-a-few-months-back-I-was-sure-would-be-perfect-for-me-and-likes-my-ass kind of way.

  “I inquired about you after winter auditions,” he continues.

  I cross my arms over my chest and roll my eyes. “Is that so?”

  “You could have more than handled the lead.”

  “She’s amazing,” Brisa says with nervous pride.

  Harrison nods, still looking at me. “Heard you lost confidence when you … developed.”

  I narrow my eyes at him, and he steps back, not because he’s intimidated, but to give us space to leave.

  “You need to find it again, Miss Steel, and trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”

  “I’m aware of who you are,” I say as I take Brisa’s hand and hurry past him and the others. At the door, I look back, smirk tightly, and give him some Truth. “Planned on making something out of us.”

  He grins big and chuckles as he reaches his arms out wide. “I’m right here, Miss Steel; do your best.”

  “The minute you hit on my cousin, trying to piss off your girlfriend, was the minute I knew I couldn’t make you something you already are.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend, and please, before we bid adieu, enlighten me.” He smiles.

  After opening the door and pushing Brisa out, I answer, “A little bitch.”

  “Is that so?” he asks, his words more clipped now.

  “Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” I shut the door behind me and look at Brisa, who’s almost laughing. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  Standing beside my vehicle, Brisa starts to panic as she pats herself down. “I think I lost the keys. Oh my God, and your phone is still in his room.”

  “Shit …” I sigh.

  When I see headlights, I turn to see a vehicle rolling up behind us. Brisa is none the wiser.

  When three, long-haired men get out of the still running car, with the driver still inside, Brisa turns around and gasps slightly. “Oh, God, this is how it ends.”

  When I see one familiar face, albeit an intimidating one, I feel a tiny bit relieved. “Like hell it is.”

  I step toward the men. “Hey, Frank.”

  He leans in and looks closer at me, then looks down. “Laces, is that you?”

  I toss a laugh, the kind you’d use with an old friend. Side note: he’s not my friend, but he is kind of sexy scary … in an old man kind of way.

  “What the hell are you doing out here? Let me guess, looking for trouble?” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a pack of smokes.

  As he lights one up, I answer, “Just leaving a party down by the beach. Left my phone and keys there.”

  He takes a drag off his cigarette and nods. Exhaling, he says, “That’s a problem.”

  “Not as bad as it’s going to be getting them back.” I laugh, even though it’s not really funny at all. I have to keep it light.

  “That so?”

  I nod. “Kind of pissed off a couple people on the way out.”

  “Pissed-off people are my favorite kind.” One of the other two men chuckles. “How about we back you ladies up?”

  I look at him. He’s younger than Frank, but not as young as us. And he’s wearing what I think is called a cut with patches on it.

  “You a good biker or a bad biker?” I ask, sounding more like Dorothy Gale than intended.

  “Jesus, Truth,” Brisa whispers so only I can hear.

  He laughs, and so do the others.

  “Depends on what you consider bad. I’ve been known to help little old ladies cross the street and don’t even steal their purses. But I’ve also been known to crack a few skulls, you know.”

  I nod, even though I really don’t know.

  He continues, “How many are we up against at this party?”

  “Four,” Brisa answers, finally stepping to my side and out from the shadows.

  “Bitches or boys?” He smiles at her.

  “Boys who Truth called bitches.”

  He laughs. He’s got a good laugh, too. “Is that so?”

  “Technically, I told him I’d planned to make him my bitch but decided he already was one.”

  “Laces …” Frank chuckles. “You amused the hell out of me from day one, but you gotta remember to put your shit in check when you’re out-sized and outmanned.”

  “We have a crew,” Brisa tells the guy with the man bun.

  “Well, where the hell are they?” He laughs.

  “Sometimes we gotta have girl time, you know?” She crinkles her nose at him … blatantly flirting. Then she looks between me and Frank. “Wait—How do you know Truth?” Brisa asks as we start walking down the middle of the street.

  “He owns the shop where Kiki bought Brand’s rings,” I answer for him.

  “She’s a tough negotiator, this one.” He picks fun at me.

  “Glad you were there. I wouldn’t have wanted to deal with Shades.”

  Frank flicks his smoke into a nearby puddle, making me want to go pick it up and find the nearest trash can. Littering? Gross. Old man crush? Extinguished.

  He clearly doesn’t care and tells me, “Kid’s got a piss-poor attitude, but he’s gotta hustle to get by.”

  “Sure, but he could do it with some manners.”

  Manbun laughs. “Says the girl who wanted to make a boy her bitch.”

  “You’ll understand why when you meet his entitled ass.”

  Frank chuckles. “Says the rich girl with a wad of hundies at my store.”

  “I work in the summer,” I defend myself.

  “I bet you do, Laces, I bet you do.” Frank smirks.

  I look behind me and see the other long hairs. Both skinny and older, and unlike Manbun, they look like they’ve missed more than one meal, while my ex-old-man-crush is somewhere in the middle.

  “You sure you wanna do this?” I ask Frank.

  “We’re heading in the same direction, Laces. And the boy already offered our services, free of charge.”

  “Wait—you are like paid security, too?”

  “Only for assholes,” Manbun calls from over his shoulder. “Little old ladies and wannabe badass chicks who get themselves into shit bigger than they are, we do quid pro quo.”

  I’m hoping he means pro bono but, whatever.

  “Thanks. Just two houses up.”

  Frank chuckles. “Yeah?”

  “Don’t let the place fool you. They’re silver spoon fed assholes. The biggest one being the owner.”

  In the background, I hear a bunch of engines blatt
ing like Billy goats, just like Dad’s Harley that sits literally on a pedestal in the garage, and look over my shoulder then up at Frank. “You expecting company?”

  He nods lazily. “We’ll get you girls squared away; no worries.”

  “Thought it was your dad, too?” Brisa giggles.

  “He wouldn’t drive his in the rain, or the cold.”

  “Smart man,” Hotty McManbun tells me.

  “This is the place.” I step in front of them. “Just hang back. I don’t wanna start a fight if I don’t have to.”

  “A girl who doesn’t like fights obviously hasn’t seen enough of them,” Manbun jokes.

  I knock on the door, hard, too. I want them to know I’m not fucking around. When they don’t answer, I bang on it some more. “Those assholes.”

  “You try the door handle?”

  “That would be rude.”

  He smirks in response, and I nod.

  “Gotcha.”

  I open the unlocked door and look around. They’re all gone, but “Remember The Name” by Fort Minor is playing in the background and is pretty loud.

  I turn around and whisper, “Brisa, you find the keys. I’ll go grab my phone off the charger. You guys, just wait here.”

  “You’re a bossy little shit.” Frank crosses his arms and leans against the doorjamb.

  “But I’m cute,” I tell him then hurry toward the bedroom door.

  I hold up my hand to knock, but Brisa stops me. “Really? Now you’re going to worry about knocking? Just get in there before they come back.”

  “Oh my God, fine. Get the keys,” I whisper, turning the knob and walking in.

  The music is louder in the pitch black room, and I can’t see a damn thing, except light coming out from under a door.

  “Fuck yes, right there, Tobias. Harder, dammit.”

  “You like me wrecking your pussy, don’t you, Dee?”

  Oh my freaking God! I cringe inwardly.

  “Yes, yes! Oh, God, yes!”

  Oh, God, no, I think as I feel around for my phone.

  The music stops, the door opens, and I drop to the floor like a freaking rag doll.