Page 2 of Hard as Steel

Krystof couldn’t stop smiling. Today was a good day.

“I think I kind of deserve part of this father-son dance too.”

Krystof barely heard the words as Steel stole Diesel. That voice had weakened his knees.

Kuba tightened his hold. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

Krystof smiled, but his throat swelled. This was heaven. This was hell. No one could understand how letting Steel go had gutted him, his life, and his entire existence, really. Krystof had walked away from his heart the day he chose his best friend and adopted Kuba.

“You were worth it. Never believe otherwise for a second. A romantically broken heart has nothing on the love for a son. You’re my everything.”

Kuba looked beyond moved. “I love you, Dad. You’re free. I’m an adult and I’m married now. You did what you believed was right. Now it’s time to go where your heart takes you. Give him no mercy.”

A bark of laughter burst from Krystof. Kuba was the MMA light-heavyweight champion. He was as intense as a person could be. Seeing that rabid determination toward Krystof winning his man was exhilarating in a way. For a moment, he made Krystof believe. Maybe he would be happy again.

Alcohol flowed as the night grew darker and the dancing turned dirty. Couples paired up and vanished. Sometimes for only a few minutes before coming back, rearranging clothes. Other times, they weren’t seen again. Weddings fucked with people’s minds. Steel would know. He seemed to have been a guest at an inordinate number of nuptials lately. Steel had reached that age, he supposed. All his employees were like his children, and they were in the prime of their lives. Getting married and having children was pretty common in people’s late twenties and early thirties. Some of his guys waited until their forties, but not many. It was possible he needed to change some wording in their contracts to put an end to all of this hooking up with clients. He couldn’t do that, though. Not only did Steel know it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference, but also people and glass houses and all that.

As always, one thought had led to another, which led to him. Steel’s gaze found Krystof for the millionth time. Then, as always, rage rose to the surface. These days, that anger was more muted than it had once been. It had been nearly two decades, and Steel had never found love again. Worse than that, he hadn’t stopped loving Krystof. He had been the one. Steel had no doubt about that. Life had different plans for them back then. Unfortunately, Krystof had known that, and Steel hadn’t. Fuck, he was so elegant. He danced with Diesel’s mom. Krystof looked as if he floated. He supposed that was what billions looked like. Krystof had been given the best of literally everything. He had been raised and trained to do his family proud. Their reputation came before anything else. Everyone with any expectations from him was gone now. Krystof looked miserable… just as Steel had prayed for him to be.

Steel grabbed another glass of champagne. He should have stopped drinking at least three hours ago. There was nothing stopping Steel from leaving. He wasn’t like Krystof. Steel wasn’t truly family. No one would bat an eye if he called for a car and disappeared. He couldn’t stop watching Krystof. Steel carried his drink outdoors. It was peaceful outside the exclusive country club hotel where the couple had married. Wind ruffled his hair. Slight moans floated from nearby trees. Loneliness weighed on his every step, making him feel heavier by the second. He found the gardens and picked one of the many concrete benches scattered throughout. The huge array of various flowers would probably flare his allergies. By tomorrow, he would be lucky if he could breathe.

“I thought I saw you heading out here.”

Steel jumped slightly at Diesel’s voice. He usually wasn’t a person anyone got the drop on. His security business boomed for a reason. Steel was the best, and he hired the best. The alcohol had dampened his brain.

“Hey. Shouldn’t you be inside with your husband? This is supposed to be your night.”

Diesel sat next to him. Together they dwarfed the bench. “I’m frying. Between the champagne and the dancing, I needed air.”

Speaking of champagne, Steel nodded and took a drink. “The body heat and alcohol sweats. Quite the combo.”

Diesel chuckled at Steel’s observations.

Steel bumped shoulders with him. “I’m proud of you, by the way. I can’t remember if I’ve ever said that. But you’re a good person and you’re getting everything you deserve. I’m really happy for you.”

Diesel flashed him a smile. That smile had made Steel’s job hard as hell over the years. Diesel was too gorgeous for his own good. Clients wanted to buy him like a whore. Steel had fired a lot of clients over that. He would never tell Diesel that, of course.

“Thank you, but I’m not sure being a good person matters to life. Everyone talks about putting good into the world and how it’ll come back to you someday. Yet the worst people seem to always win. Meanwhile, some of the greatest people I know have happiness elude them for years. Take Kuba’s dad, for example. He’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. From what I gather, he married his best friend, Anastasia, and adopted Kuba after Kuba’s father vanished. She was mentally wrecked by the abandonment and had stopped caring for herself. He already loved Kuba as his own. I mean, of course he did. Anastasia and he had been inseparable best friends from like birth. He couldn’t sit by and do nothing while she killed herself and left Kuba to the wolves in Greece, but I’m rambling. Here’s this amazing guy who’s dedicated his entire life to…” Diesel looked thoughtful for a second. “You know what? I need to stop drinking. I shouldn’t be telling someone else’s business like this. You don’t know the guy, so hearing his life story probably doesn’t mean shit to you, but I love him. I shouldn’t use his private business as an example. But you get what I’m saying, I’m sure. Life seems more like luck of the draw. There isn’t a single fair thing about it. We’re all just doing our best. I won the lottery when I met Kuba. Not money-wise. Well, I suppose money-wise too, but I really need to stop talking. I’m just digging a hole deeper and deeper over here without making a single point.”

Despite the topic, Steel laughed. Diesel was such a pure-hearted person. “Nah. I get what you’re saying.” The conversation was also extremely eye-opening. There was no way Diesel knew about Steel’s past relationship with Krystof. He wanted to ask for more details about Krystof’s marriage to Anastasia. It took every bit of Steel’s willpower to stop himself from demanding the entire story.

“Oh.” Diesel’s loud exclamation let Steel know he was way drunker than Steel first thought. “I forgot. The day you told me my next job would be with Kuba, Krystof was in your office. He said you’d worked for him before. Now I feel terrible. I sounded like a gossipy bitch. You probably know more about that time of his life than I do.” He facepalmed, looking horrified. “Holy shit. I’m sorry. Please don’t say anything to him. You know me. I don’t tell other people’s business like this.”

Steel set his hand on Diesel’s arm. “Stop. It’s okay. I know you have a good heart, and I understand the point you were trying to make. Let’s go back inside and have one last dance before I leave.”

Diesel nodded, but he still looked defeated.

Steel couldn’t have that. “I guess I should dance with Nova too before I go.”

Diesel immediately transformed back into his usual happy self at the mention of his mom. She was Diesel’s whole world and the reason Diesel had tried so desperately to get a Seattle assignment. “Definitely. She’ll never forgive you if she’s shunned.”

Steel laughed. Nova was a tough lady. She was also every bit as amazing as her son. “I’m surprised you two didn’t have a double wedding.”

Diesel brightened even more. “We talked about it. I was super psyched about the idea. In the end, she didn’t want to take any attention away from us. Plus, Tory deserves her own wedding as well. Mom made the poor woman propose like ten times before she finally said yes. She’s more than owed the spotlight. Someone should give her a gold medal for her patience.”

Steel laughed and smiled at all the right times. He kept up his end of the conversation. But Kuba and Krystof were headed their way, and Steel didn’t have a single thought left in his head. His dumb ass couldn’t even break eye contact with Krystof. His chest hurt a little more with every step closer.

Kuba motioned them inside. “Come on. Let’s wind things down. We should have a couple more dances and then get to our room.” There was no missing the heat Kuba blasted toward Diesel. He possessed an extreme presence. Kuba owned every situation he was in. That right there told Steel everything he needed to know about how much Krystof loved his son. If he looked at Kuba and still saw his young son who needed protection, adopted or not, Kuba was his real son. The distinction only mattered because seeing them together had Steel suffering through a tremendous revelation. Krystof had chosen correctly. He had been right to walk away from Steel for Kuba. Unfortunately, the truth changed nothing. Krystof had still lied, kept secrets, hidden him, and broken his heart so intensely that Steel had never recovered. Nearly twenty years later, Steel still didn’t know how to deal with the blow Krystof had dealt him. He was the reason Steel would never mend.