Steele Read Free

instinctively disbelieved him. “I don’t think so,” she said at last, mourning the loss of the chance to earn some fast cash. “I’m sorry but I’ll have to decline your offer.”
    The second man, the bad cop, spoke again. “You would do well to reconsider that decision.”
    Marla frowned, anger boiling just below the surface. “Why don’t you both just leave now?”
    The men rose, towering over her as she sat on the couch, but she was determined not to feel intimidated. This was her home, damn it, her own private domain, one she felt she deserved after all the long months spent in the hospital. She didn’t want her first day at home marred by these two men with their strange offer and high-handed behavior.
    “You will accept our offer and be grateful for it,” the bad cop said with a sneer.
    Marla rose as quickly as she could from her position on the couch. The lightbulb in a lamp on the table next to the couch exploded. The two men started as the glass shattered, but Marla refused to budge. “Get out,” she said again, nearly growling the words.
    The bad cop pushed his suit jacket back to reveal a gun nestled in a shoulder holster beneath his arm.
    Marla felt her eyes grow wide with surprise and fear. “Are you threatening me?” she fumed.
    “You will accept our offer, one way or the other. If we have to use a little force to convince you, so be it.”
    Marla, furious now, bared her teeth at them. “If you don’t get out, I’ll call the police.”
    The man pulled his gun on her, and the other moved to close the drapes on the window of the sitting room. Marla felt a thrill of fear mix with her anger and stood shocked as she watched them. She came to herself with a snap and dove for the phone sitting next to the sofa. She barely touched it when she felt the man press the muzzle of his gun to the side of her head.
    “I don’t think so,” he said. “Put the phone down. Now, we’re going to try this again. Will you come with us willingly or not? Either way you are coming with us.”
    There came a deafening crash as the door to her home slammed open.
    A huge man stepped into the room. He was massive, at least six foot ten with three hundred pounds of pure muscle on him. His head was shaved bare and his cool gray eyes were piercing and bright. He looked like a giant in the confines of the room, an uncivilized brute in a slate gray suit.
    He zeroed in on the man holding the gun to her head. “Let her go,” came his gruff command.
    “Steele,” he sneered. “We were here first. She’s ours.”
    “I think the lady has a different opinion. Let her go.”
    “Sterling scum! You and Ryan Murdock can go fuck yourselves.”
    “I won’t tell you again. Let her go,” said the giant.
    The man hesitated, keeping the gun pressed to her temple. Marla took matters into her own hands. She knocked the hand holding the gun away with a hard swipe of her fist. She pushed the gunman back and rushed to stand by Steele.
    “I think the lady has made her decision,” Steele said, eyes never leaving the two men.
    “This isn’t over yet,” the gunman growled. He and his colleague left with surly looks on their faces, passing close to Steele but not daring to touch him.
    When they were gone, Marla discovered she’d been holding her breath and let out a huge sigh. She grabbed her forgotten cane from where it rested against the couch. She leaned on it for support as she felt her heart rate return to normal. “Now who are you and what made you think to break down my door?”
    “I’m Brian Steele, but you can call me Steele. I work for a government project called Sterling. I came to meet you and noticed the Siren vehicle out front. I figured it was in both of our best interests to get in here and make sure you were all right.”
    His voice held such strength that Marla felt herself beginning to relax somewhat. Marla put a hand to her head, feeling a headache coming on as her ever-present fatigue pulled at her. She’d