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

multiple spices mixed with a scent of marijuana and body odor – this is the world I’m used to.
    Poverty. Alcohol. Drugs. A spiraling pit of doom that once you’re sucked into, is nearly impossible to get out of. But somehow I’ll get Drew out of it, no matter the sacrifice.
    I knock once.
    “What?” Comes the dark rasp on the other side.
    “It’s me,” I say, weakly, then straighten my shoulders and clench my jaw, hoping to gain some semblance of strength.
    A series of locks and chains click on the other side, then the door opens and Jax stares down at me with cold, dark eyes.
    I want to blame him for everything, but in the back of my mind I know he’s as much a product of the system as Drew and I. Ten years jumping between foster homes messes with your head in ways regular people can never understand. That’s not even taking into account what put you in the system to begin with. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you come out just slightly broken. For the rest of us, we fight our demons on a daily basis – and sometimes, like for Drew and Jax, the demons win.
    “You alone?” Jax’s nostrils flare as he looks over my shoulder and down the hall.
    I nod.
    “Smart girl.” His lips twist in a smirk, and he opens the door wider. “Come in.”
    His left eye is swollen and his upper lip is cut from where Henry hit him. The thought of Henry makes me question the sanity of me being here. Maybe I should have told him. But then what?
    If I called the cops, Jax would just have one of his goons collect payment, which would most likely be mine or Drew’s head. Maybe both. If Henry came down here slugging, which I have no doubt he’d do, I’d never get the information I need.
    No. This is my only option.
    “Where is he?” I try to keep my voice steady, but even I can hear the quiver in it.
    Jax’s eyes narrow and he motions towards an old, brown leather La-Z-Boy. “Take a seat.”
    “I’ll stand.”
    “It wasn’t a request,” he growls.
    I cross my arms and lean against the wall knowing if I show even the slightest bit of fear, he’ll be all over me.
    “I didn’t come here for a social visit. I want to know where my brother is.”
    The old couch creaks when he sits on it, leaning back with one arm slung over the top.
    “You’re forgetting the little prick stole from me. I want what I’m owed.”
    “I don’t have that kind of money. You already took everything I have when you raided my apartment.”
    “I never touched your place.” His expression never wavers.
    “Then who did?” I know the answer even before the words are out of my mouth, but I don’t want to believe it.
    “Looks like your brother fucked us both over.”
    I shake my head, my stomach sinking. “He wouldn’t.”
    Jax laughs darkly. “You have no idea what he’s capable of.”
    I shake my head, my breathing quickening. He doesn’t know Drew. Not like I do. He’s good. He’d never hurt me. Not intentionally.
    “Tell me where he is and I’ll get your money back. Just promise me you won’t hurt him.”
    He gives a hard mocking laugh, then leans over the glass table and snorts a line of white powder.
    “I’m the least of his problems. Or yours.” He rubs his nose and makes an awful sound in the back of his throat. “The kid’s been racking up debt for the past year.”
    He sits back, watching me with an antagonizing smirk.
    “You leant him money?”
    “I’m not that stupid, princess.” He laughs arrogantly. 
    “Then who?” A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
    “Now that’s a good question.” He leans over the table again, snorting another line. His eyes are glazed when he glances back at me. “Let’s just say your brother has been playing a dangerous game of chance between two very influential drug cartels.”
    “How mu-much does he owe?” I stumble over the words.
    “Word is he managed to rack up almost a hundred grand before someone realized he was manipulating the numbers. I give the