Chapter 10

I was nervous when Steel told me he was leaving me with the women. I was worried they were going to hate me, but when Emma pulled me into the room right past Steel, I didn't feel out of place at all. She was warm and welcoming. They all were. Emma had me sit next to her as she introduced me to Valentina and Sky, who were sitting across from us. It was obvious from the start who was the outgoing of the trio. Emma didn't stop talking, and even Sky seemed to open up more over time when Emma would ask her questions. It was nice just having a normal conversation and watching the three of them talk about anything and everything.

"So, Illeana, can we ask you some questions? I promise not to pry too much, but I'm curious," Emma drawls as she angles her body toward me.

"Sure, I'll answer as best as I can," I shrug, curious as to what she wants to know. So much of my life has been public knowledge. If it's something easy, I can answer the same way I have a million times before. She said she wouldn't pry too much and I'm hoping that's true.

"We know who your dad is, and well, I know how much it sucks to live your life in the public eye, so I'm not going to bring that up. However, I am curious about your sister. I know you have one, but we don't see much of her. I won't ask personal questions, but is she as cute in person as she is in the few pictures we've seen posted?" Emma asks as she rubs her hand over her protruding stomach. It was obvious when I met her that she is far along in her pregnancy. I didn't realize that her due date was in just a few weeks! Valentina asked her when she was going to pop when I first walked in.

Answering questions about my sister is something I can do. Smiling, I turn so I can look at her better but still see the others as well. "My sister is absolutely adorable. She is bubbly and outgoing, the complete opposite of me. I've tried hard to make sure she has a childhood every kid deserves and to not grow up in the spotlight the same way I have. I want her to have a normal life, and I think so far, I've done that. Grace loves everything Disney, and she has no issues speaking her mind. I can't tell you how many times I'm left blown away or in tears by the questions she asks me. I miss her while I'm at school, but I know every time I come home she is there to cheer me up after a hard test or a long day."

"Aww, that is so cute," Emma gushes. "She sounds like the cutest kid. How old is she?"

"Grace is eleven, but it feels like she is going on sixteen most days. I miss the little girl she was, but she is also so much fun," I answer with a large smile on my face. My sister is everything to me. After our mother died, she became my responsibility.

"I feel that; my daughter Alexis is ten, and she has a mind of her own, so determined and ready to face the world instead of just focusing on being a kid. She used to be a momma's girl through and through, but since her father, Trevor, came back into our lives, she has come out of her shell and is finally living life the way I've always wanted her to." Emma reaches across and grasps my hand, squeezing it as she smiles. "Your sister is lucky to have you looking out for her."

"Thanks," I blush, not used to getting a compliment for raising my sister.

"How is school going? You're a double major, right?" Sky asks, pulling my attention to her.

"I am," I nod, turning to face her. "I’m studying Business and English Literature. English is my true love, and I want to be an author one day, but my father insisted I needed a degree I could actually use in his opinion, so I agreed on a business degree because everything else was super boring to me." The business classes have been boring and tedious, taking more of my study time than all the others. I know my father doesn't believe that being an author is a good enough career or one that I can earn a living wage, so I'm determined to prove him wrong. I'll never tell my father this, but some of the things I've learned in my business classes, I can see how they could apply to being an author. I have every intention of applying those methods when I'm finally ready to release my first book.

"You want to be an author?" Valentina speaks up, her green eyes widening as she looks at me. "That is very cool. Look, Sky, you won't be the only person who is in the limelight." She bumps her shoulder against Sky's as she laughs.

"She doesn't have to be in the limelight if she doesn't want to," Sky defends me. "There are authors all over the world who write under pen names and don't show their face to the public. She already has lived enough of her life in the public eye. I wouldn't blame her if she doesn't want to this time."

"Thanks, Sky," I smile warmly, thankful for her taking my side. "That's something I haven't even thought about yet. I'll think about it when I'm getting close to being ready to publish. I need to finish the story first," I chuckle lightly. This is the first time I've spoken out loud about the book I've spent a lot of time working on. Not even Morgan knows that I've written almost all of it. I was afraid she would judge me for it or even try to read it and I'm not quite there yet.

"I won't push because I know what the creative process is like, thanks to being a part of Damned Embers, but just know if you ever want someone to read over what you've written, I'd love to help you," Sky offers, before reaching for her drink sitting on the black coffee table between us.

"Thank you for that. When I'm ready, I'll remember that." It was really nice of her to offer. Seeing all three of them supporting me instead of judging me makes me feel a little more comfortable talking about the story I've written. That's the support I've always needed, not the disgrace my father always makes me feel.

"I hate to bring this up, but I'm curious. How have things with Steel been going? I know he really didn't want to be watching you at college, but his texts this past week have made it seem like it's not the end of the world now." Emma's voice is soft, softer than this past half hour. It's clear she cares about him and is worried.

"Honestly," I sigh, thinking back to when I first met him. "When we first met, he seemed overwhelming. It was his way or the highway mentality, but he did make a couple of jokes as we walked to class. The past two weeks, though, he has been straight business, always watching and following me everywhere. He's done what I asked and stayed out of my life for the most part. I know he's always there, but that's it. Last night was the most I think we've spoken since that first day, outside of a few text messages here and there." I feel bad that I haven't tried to get to know him more. That's my fault. I was too pissed off at my father pushing this on me that I didn't treat Steel like a person.

"Huh, that doesn't sound like him at all. Steel is always laughing and cracking jokes. He loves to make all of us smile. Sure, he can go all business when needed, but he's a major flirt and enjoys pushing buttons. What did you do to break him?" Emma accuses sternly.

"Emma, don't blame Illeana. She couldn't have known that's how he is. She asked him to keep it straight business, and that's what he did," Valentina defends me quickly, shutting down anything else Emma could have said. I'm thankful she did because now I'm feeling bad about how I acted. It was just a lot thrust on me without my own permission. I was trying to maintain some semblance of control. If given more time, I'm sure Steel and I would have settled into some sort of routine.

"I didn't mean to offend him, if that’s what happened. A lot was going on, and I was pushed into a situation that I wasn't comfortable with. Maybe one day I will get a chance to know the real Steel. I'm sorry that I haven't already," I reply, trying to help keep the peace. I can see how protective they are of him, and I find that endearing. Things may be complicated between Steel and me, but knowing he has a great group of people behind him is good. I'm slightly jealous. I really only have Morgan on my side; my little sister doesn't count at all, and we all know my father doesn’t support me in most things.

"I know. I'm sorry I jumped down your throat and assumed that you did something to him. It's just Steel doesn't have a lot of people to protect him outside of us. You seem like a really nice person, Illeana," Emma backtracks and explains. I can tell she means it and is sorry for assuming the worst of me.

"It's okay. That's good he has all of you to protect him. Does he know how protective you all are over him?" I inquire, curious to know if they have his permission to be like that.

"Does he know? Ha," Emma laughs loudly. "He knows he's stuck with us. He also knows we all will put him in his place so damn fast he'd never see it coming, but that's what family does for one another. We are always here for each other through thick and thin." Emma smiles brightly as she looks at the others. "All of us would go to war for one another, even if some of us," she gives a pointed look at Sky, "prefer to handle their problems themselves. Being a part of Rockport Security means that you always have someone to help you."

"Emma is right," Valentina adds. "We all have each other's backs here. I was there to protect Sky and help her when she was dealing with her stalker and her long-lost lovers, who she didn't tell us about and that she was legally married to one of them." Valentina turns to glare at the woman next to her before turning back to me. "I also know that Sky was there to help Emma when her father fell in with the wrong people and tried to sell Emma to cover his debt. Just as I know that Sky has been helping to discover what's going on with your father. You may not know it yet, but you, Illeana, are now a part of the Rockport family."

"Oh, no, I can't be," I quickly mumble, waving my hands. "Whatever is going on involves my father. I'm just here."

"Is that really what you think?" Emma questions.

"I saw the way Steel looked at you when he dropped you off with us and threatened us to keep you in one piece," Valentina adds.

"Looked at me? How did he look at me?" I gasp, turning my head to look between each of them. I'm already confused about my feelings with him. I don't like his personality or the fact he was forced on me, but he is nice to look at. Even in my alcohol-filled brain last night, I knew he was hot. I just know that he would never give a girl like me the time of day.

"Girl," Emma laughs, tossing her head back and making her brown hair fall around her shoulders. "I may not have known Steel as long as the two of them over there," she points at Sky and Valentina, "but I do know that he likes you and is protective of you and not just because you're his job."

"No, there's no way. I'm just a job for him, I swear." I shake my head adamantly against what she's saying. It's insane, like legit insane.

"If it makes you feel better to believe that, then fine. He doesn't like you, and you're just a job to him," Emma agrees, smirking.

"Thanks," I mumble, as I try to think back over the past two weeks for any sort of inclination of him actually liking me, as Emma says. There's nothing that stands out as a moment when I could tell that he liked me in any sort of way.

"You're welcome," Emma smiles. "Now, I'm not sure how much longer their meeting is going to go on for so..." she trails off right as the door opens. "Well, I guess Mr. Grump has now come to join the party. There goes all the fun we've been having," she sighs dramatically, even though I can see the laughter in her eyes.

"Did someone say party?" Steel questions as he steps into the room.

My eyes widen as I turn to look at him before I quickly hide my expression to not give anything away. The women here today have given me a lot to think about, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. I mean, do I even want Steel to like me? I feel like that would just complicate my life even more than is necessary.

"Alright, Princess, we need to get on the road to go see your father. Now that the girls have hopefully done their job of cheering you up, are you ready to go?" Steel questions, holding his hand out to me as he stands beside the loveseat I'm sitting on.

"If we have to," I sigh, placing my hand in his so he can help me up. I really don't want to go face my father, but there's no avoiding it. The longer we take, the worse my punishment from him will probably be. "Let's go face the music."

"It was nice meeting you, Illeana!" Sky states as we begin to walk away.

"Don't let Steel keep you away. If he does, you text me and I'll put him in his place!" Valentina adds.

"You take care of our girl, Steel! If she gets hurt, I'm coming for you!" Emma adds sternly. I'd almost be afraid of the threat in her voice if it wasn't for the fact that I knew how much she cared about him.

"Princess, how did you get the girls to like you that much in less than an hour?" Steel lifts an eyebrow as he guides me back through the same hallways we walked earlier.

"No idea," I shrug, keeping my eyes focused on the path ahead of us. How does he make that look sexy? Ugh! I really don't know why the girls decided to include me as one of their own, but I'm not going to say no to it either. It's nice to know I can have more friends outside of Morgan who don't care who I am or who my father is.