Free Melting Steel: An Alpha Billionaire Romance by C.M. Seabrook

sigh and place it on the counter, then start opening drawers to find a corkscrew. There are so many cabinets and drawers in this damn kitchen, it’s almost impossible to find anything. The third drawer I open is filled with what looks like documents, I’m about to close it when my gaze falls on a manila envelope with the name Abby, handwritten in black ink.
    It’s none of my business what’s inside the envelope, but curiosity wins, and I pull the envelope from the drawer. With a heaviness in my chest that warns me I’m about to open Pandora’s box, I reach in and pull out the stack of old photos inside.
    My breath catches in my throat as I quickly finger through the pile.
    The first picture is of a beautiful blonde, blue eyes wide and innocent, her arms wrapped around a younger Henry. They’re no older than seventeen or eighteen, but it’s clear by the intimate way they hold each other that they’re extremely close.
    Picture after picture of the two of them together in different locations, on the beach, rock climbing, playing golf. It’s clear whoever this Abby is, that Henry was, or is in love with her.
    It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I can’t help the jealousy that slowly creeps into my chest, tightening my throat.
    The girl is beautiful. And the closer I look, the more familiar she seems. But I know I’ve never met her.
    My cell vibrates in my back pocket and I nearly drop the photos. I stuff them back in the envelope and shut the drawer. My fingers shake when I pull out my phone and read the text message on the screen.
                 
    I know where your brother is.
    My place. 2:30.
    Don’t even think about trying to fuck with me.
     
    There’s no display name, but I know the number. Jax .
    A chill runs down my spine. If he knows where Drew is then my brother is in real danger.
    I glance over my shoulder, down the hall toward the master bedroom. I can still hear the faint hum of the shower.
    What do I do?
    I know that if I tell Henry about the text, he’ll either try to stop me from going, try to go with me, or call the cops – which is not going to happen.
    God, I was selfish and stupid to think coming here was a good idea. I don’t even want to think about what would happen if Jax knew that I went home with Henry after last night.
    I tap my phone against my forehead and curse under my breath. This is my problem, and I have to deal with it myself.
    Jax is an asshole. But he’s the asshole who holds my brother’s life in his hands.
    That I’m even second guessing choosing a one-night-stand over my Drew makes me sick with guilt.
    I take a deep breath and type in a quick response.
     
    I’ll be there. 
     
    I don’t trust Jax. But one thing he isn’t is a liar. If he says he knows where Drew is, then he does.
    Without another thought, I pull out a pen and paper from one of the drawers and scribble a short note.
     
    Best for both of us that we end it here.
    It was fun. 
    Keeley
     
    I rush to the bedroom to gather my things, hesitating briefly when I hear the shower turn off.
    One-night-stand , I remind myself. That’s all he is. All he’ll ever be. It may have lasted more than one night, but it’s still all that it is. All that it was. I know I’m lying to myself even as I think it, but I can’t believe in anything else, not if I’m going to be able to walk away.
    Steeling my spine, I close my eyes and breathe through the realization that I’m alone and   always will be. 
    I sling my bag over my shoulder and feel something sharp dig into my side. Reaching in, I pull out my old wooden sword and frown. I’m not sure how it even got in there, I know I didn’t pack it. Henry seemed oddly fascinated with it, maybe he put it in my bag. Odd.
    I frown down at it, some faint memory pulling at the back of my mind.
    For years, I slept with the sword under my pillow, dreaming of the dark-haired boy who gave it to me. The memory of that day is all but faded, and I’m not sure how