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

much of it is true versus a child’s imagination.
    Knights and vows.
    Dragons and princesses.
    The belief that bad guys could be defeated, and happily-ever-after did exist.
    Not in my world.
    A sad laugh bubbles up from my chest as I move quickly down the hall.
    I don’t know why I do it, but I place the sword beside my note.
    Despite the ache in my chest that wants to believe otherwise, girls like me don’t get the fairytale endings. There’s no Prince Charming. No dragons. And no white knight to save me. No one is coming to my rescue – If I want to survive, I need to be my own hero.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 13
     
    Henry
     
    I know something is wrong the second I walk out of the bathroom. The apartment is eerily silent, and the warmth I felt a few minutes before is gone.
    “Keeley?” I call out, wrapping a towel around my waist.
    No answer.
    She’s gone. I know it even before I find the sword and the scribbled note she left on the kitchen counter. White-hot anger whips up my spine when I read it.
    It was fun.
    What the fuck?
    I start to pace, balling the note in my fist and whipping it across the room.
    Something is wrong. It doesn’t make sense that she’d run. I know she felt something between us.
    But I also have no doubt that she’s running to someone and I have a bad feeling I know who. 
    I find my cell and dial Michael.
    “I’ve got men trailing her,” he says gruffly before I can speak.
    “Good.” Thank fucking God I put watchers on the place.
    “You want me to bring her back?”
    I rub the back of my neck and breathe out heavily. She isn’t my fucking prisoner, and I know she’d be pissed if she knew I had someone tagging her, but I can’t just let her walk away. Not when her life could be in danger, and not when I still haven’t figured out the insane rollercoaster of emotions that I feel for her.
    “Just follow her. I want to know who she’s running to.”
    I hang up and curl my hands into fists, tempted to punch a hole in the wall.
    Her words echo in my head… Best for both of us that we end it here.
    “No chance in hell, sweetheart.”
    Because whatever this is between us has only just begun. And I have no intentions of it ending anytime soon.
     
     
     
     

Chapter 14
     
    Keeley
     
    A heaviness settles over me as I race across the intersection towards the west end. I don’t have enough for bus fare, so I have to walk the thirty-six blocks it takes me to get to Gray Street. I know how many blocks there are because I count each one. Anything to take my mind off of what I’m about to do.
    What am I about to do? I don’t have a plan. Nothing. I know it’s not smart, but I’m willing to pay the price if it means keeping Drew safe.
    A shiver runs down my spine as a burst of cold air wraps around me, and under the thin material of my shirt. I rub my arms and tuck my chin, pushing my way through the crowded streets.
    Maybe when this is all over, I’ll finally convince Drew to get the help he needs. I don’t know how I’ll come up with the money to get him into a good rehab, but somehow I’ll figure it out. All I know is I won’t give up on him. Ever. Everyone else may have turned their backs on him, on me, but I made a promise that I never would.
    I’ll get my brother back, and everything will be fine. At least as fine as things can be.
    The backfire of an engine a few feet away makes me jump, and I nearly knock over an elderly man walking in the opposite direction.
    “I’m so sorry.” I help right him, then increase my pace. I need to get this over with before I change my mind and back down.
    I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being followed, but every time I turn around there’s nobody there.
    In front of Jax’s apartment, I stop and inhale a long, slow breath.
    I can do this. I have to do this.
    My feet feel like they’re filled with cement as I trudge up the two flights of stairs.
    Brown stains on the dingy old carpet, water marks on the walls, the smell of