Archer go check the circuits with Scott?" I suggested, trying to keep the whole situation from blowing up into a fight. "Cass should be back any minute now too. He said his guys would go check it out, but I guess they're slow."
Scott scowled at me, probably hurt that I hadn't jumped to his defense, but Kody smiled and clapped his hand down on Scott's shoulder.
"It'd be our pleasure, babe. Maybe Scottie-boy can help us check for any signs of foul play down there." Kody's fingers tightened on Scott's shoulder, making my misguided friend flinch as he was shoved out of my apartment door.
Archer remained behind a moment longer, his ice-cold gaze sweeping over me once from head to toe. Whatever he'd been trying to talk to me about couldn't have been that important, though, because he gave a short nod to Steele, then followed Kody and Scott.
Alone, I turned around again in Steele's embrace. I reached up and cupped his face in my palms, just like he'd done to me before.
"Max Steele," I murmured, my tone stern as I held his eyes. My heart was racing and my stomach a mess of nerves, but I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. "You told me you loved me."
A slow smile creased his face, and he pulled me closer, his hands gripping my ass. "I did." His lips brushed over mine, teasingly soft. "I do."
Ugh. Max freaking Steele was going to melt me into a sticky puddle of goo if he kept this up.
This time when his lips brushed mine, I took charge and kissed him with all the potent, scary fucking emotions he'd stirred up in me. I might still be too damaged to voice it aloud, but I knew it in my mind and in my heart. I loved him, too.
27
My plans to strip Steele naked and ride his dick like my own personal pony were thwarted by another knock on my door, and this time it set me into a nasty fucking mood.
"What the fuck now?" I snapped, throwing the door open.
Cass just raised one scarred eyebrow, then shot his gaze to Steele behind me. "I see you've got things handled then?"
"Sorry," I apologized, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. Who knew I could be such a bitch when denied some good dick? "Um, yes."
"Cass," Steele greeted my unofficial watcher. "Arch and Kody are in the basement checking the circuits with Scott."
Cass grunted a sound. "Scott. There's something off with that kid."
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Not you too. Sorry for calling you away from your meeting. I just freaked out a bit." I wasn’t dismissing their concerns as much as I was making out. Scott was being a bit strange but I firmly believed he was just a bit messed up, not a stalker. So the last thing I needed was for all the scary ass motherfuckers in my life to decide Scott was a problem that needed taking care of.
"Good. Fear will keep you alive, kid." He smoothed a hand over his short beard and gave Steele a serious look. "I had Bones and Gregory watching the building. You see them on your way in?"
Steele placed a hand on my hip, possessive bastard. "The new kids? No, we didn't see anyone at all."
Cass nodded, expressionless as ever. "Can't get through to them. Something's going on."
As if on cue, Steele's phone chimed with a new message, and he pulled it from his pocket. "Fuck." He sighed. "Arch found your boys, Cass. Basement."
My brows shot up and my mouth went dry. Somehow, I didn't think he’d found them sleeping on the job or playing poker.
"Wait here, kid," Cass ordered me, then turned to stride toward the stairs.
I snorted a sound of disgust. "Fat fucking chance," I muttered, following as Steele moved out into the hallway to join Cass. Emergency lighting illuminated the common spaces, but it was dim at best.
Steele just shot me a knowing smirk, then pulled a gun from the back of his jeans and handed it to me. "Shoot first, ask questions later, gorgeous."
Cass gave my weapon a curious look as we caught up to him, but he didn't try and send me back into my corner. Instead, he gave an approving nod.
"'Bout fucking time you guys taught her to shoot," he grumbled to Steele as the three of us jogged down the nine flights of stairs—lit by minimal emergency lights—to the basement. "I was wondering if I'd have to do that, as well."