10. Sienna
Chapter 10
Sienna
"T hanks for meeting me," I say to Theo Steele, once we're both settled in the booth at the corner of the old, worn down bar.
"Sorry, Rusty's is like the only place that's open at this hour. Island times," Theo says with a shrug, then grabs his water and takes a sip.
"So, what’s this all about?"
"I was hoping you'd give me some insight on your dad," I say, cutting to the chase.
"Dad?” He scoffs. “What do you want to know?"
His voice gains an edge that he didn’t have before I mentioned his father.
"Just what he's like. Anything that will help me get on his good side. The crew, too. Look, I’ve got thirty days to prove myself at the garage or I’m out. And currently, your dad will find any excuse to get rid of me.”
“I find that highly unlikely,” he says.
“Why do you say that?”
Theo’s gaze darts around before saying lowly, “Well, is it true what I hear about you being Brody’s kin?”
“Who told you that?”
“Who do you think?”
He raises a brow, in question.
“Levi?”
“Your cousin. He’s been telling everyone.”
I’m going to kill Julian.
“The point is,” I continue. “I’ve messed up before. Made mistakes. But SKC… it can’t be one of them.”
He leans in, hands intertwining over the table, “What’s so special about that place anyways? It’s just an old shop that used to be something. Be honest… you’re a little delusional aren’t you?” he says it teasingly.
I crumble up a napkin and toss it at him, playfully.
“No. I just…” I pause. How do I put this into words? How do I communicate the weird pull I have to a garage that I had grown up seeing on TV. The need to feel apart of something. And the desire to see it come back from the brink of destruction, considering I may have had a part to play in it’s demise.
“I just need a win, Theo.”
He leans back on his side of the booth and watches me a minute, before he nods in understanding.
Even though he's much younger than Levi, he still looks so much like him. Just with darker hair and lighter eyes. He must've got those genes from his mom.
Evie.
I remember she was a staple on Grunge Garage. She was Levi's wife. His high school sweetheart who would come on the show every once in a while, swishing her hips and flipping her hair.
On the show, Evie was the eye candy. The guys in the garage knew not to mess with her.
"Look, don't touch." Levi would say. I'm sure the producers just ate it up when he'd get into one of his jealous fits.
Must be nice to have someone care so much.
"Dad, doesn't have a good side, Sienna," Theo says. "Not anymore."
"That can’t be true."
"Why? Because he had his own show at one point. Well, the guy from that show, isn't the same man that owns that shop today. I’ll tell you that much."
What happened between these two?
Clearly they have some rift that’s torn them apart.
"What do you mean?" I press.
Before he's able to answer, I see the topic of our conversation walking up to the bar. He looks around the space, casually and when his eyes meet mine—his body tenses.
"Oh, boy," I say, looking past Theo.
He looks over his shoulder to see his father coming toward us and reaches for the water in front of him, gulping it down as Levi approaches.
Theo’s eyes lock with mine in a wordless exchange. He doesn't say anything but I see the battle playing out behind his eyes.
"Dad." Theo says casually. "Can I help you with something?"
"Is this what it's going to take to get a response out of you? Running into you around town?"
"Good to see you too."
"I need that bike back, Theo."
He turns to face him head on.
"And I told you, I'd get it. I just need time."
"Is everything okay, here?" I ask.
"Everything's fine." They both say in unison.
Like father, like son… I guess.
Theo sighs, the muscles on his arm coiling as if he's trying to hold himself back.
"I need a week."
"You have three days."
"I won't have it in three days," he says. "I need a week."
"Theo, I swear to God , I'm done covering for you. This is it. No more chances."
Theo shakes his head, fingers drumming on the now empty glass of water in his hands.
"Says the man who needed three, four and ten chances. Real nice, Dad. I appreciate the grace."
Levi’s glare lands on me to see how I register his son’s comment. I decide not to react, and look down at my phone instead.
"This isn’t the same thing and you know it.”
This time I look up and our eyes meet. He softens, just the slightest.
“One week,” he says without another word.
Levi storms off.
"You two have such an endearing dynamic," I say, dripping in sarcasm. "What happened?"
Theo shrugs.
The stress in his shoulders slowly relaxing now that his father is gone.
"I'll always be Levi Steele’s greatest disappointment."
I look at Levi's retreating form as he fills the darkened hallway. A man of shadows and secrets. A man with a past. A man who I definitely shouldn't care to get to know better. Theo would know him better than anybody.
I should heed his warning.
And still, there's something about him that pulls me. I can't help it.
As much as I really want to.
"Anything I can help with?"
He hesitates before he finally says, “You wouldn’t happen to know what to do with a drowned bike?”
"A drowned bike? As in–"
He nods.
“It may have ended up in the ocean.”
I purse my lips.
"A bike from SKC?"
He reaches his hand nervously behind his neck.
“I borrowed it. Was at the beach with some of the guys from the tattoo studio and…”
I wait for him to keep going.
“Look you can’t tell him any of this. Okay?”
I make a locking motion on my lips and throw away the pretend key.
I may be his unwanted assistant, but that doesn’t mean I’m required to also be his personal informant.
“I may have had a bit to drink and passed out.”
“On the beach?” I ask for clarity.
He nods.
“Your friends just… left you there?”
“They told me to sleep it off before I got back on the bike. They were looking out for me."
His story doesn’t quite check out.
"I know I just got here. But even I can tell that a friend that leaves you drunk and alone on a beach, probably isn’t a very good friend, Theo.”
He looks me up and down, studying me. “Well now you sound like him .”
I roll my eyes.
“Who? Your dad? Oh my God. No, it’s just common sense.”
When Theo seems to close off. I add, “But what do I know? Like I said, I’m new here.”
“So what's your deal anyway?"
Theo tilts his head to the side, eyes still studying me like I’m some kind of specimen he’s trying to understand.
"My deal?"
“Yeah, most people are trying to run the other way, but here you are making Breaker’s your personal mission ground."
I shrug.
"New beginnings, I guess. It wasn't working out where I’m from. I needed a fresh start."
"Boy trouble?"
He waggles his brows and I get a hint of his uncle's charisma. The charisma that Levi is certainly lacking.
"Something like that," I say, just as two older gentlemen take seats at the table next to us.
Theo sits back, stretching his arm over the back of the cushioned seat.
"Bet I could help take your mind off of it," he offers.
I watch the younger Steele intently. His eyes are the color of honey, and the look behind them is one I recognize.
"Are you trying to flirt with me, Theo Steele?"
“Is it working?” He smirks.
I shake my head, grinning. “Not really.”
One of the men next to us leans over, clearly having been eavesdropping. "You really wanna impress a pretty girl, you gotta prove your guts with the keeper, son.”
Theo and I both look over at the man.
"The keeper?" I say.
Theo shakes his head still smiling.
"Sienna. These guys are Big Mike,” he motions to the man who just spoke. He has dark skin and sports a Thunderhawks jersey.
Then Theo motions to the other man who is totally bald but has the thickest red beard I’ve ever seen. He’s smoking a cigar out of the corner of his mouth. “and Rooster. Local bar legends. And perveyor's of island lore."
"Pleasure to meet you both," I say.
"Pleasure's all ours," Big Mike says with a warm smile.
"You know the old lighthouse on the cliff at the far side of the island?” Rooster interjects.
“I do now.”
“Well, you prove yourself with the keeper, you can earn any woman's respect around here. Hell, even the men's."
“Interesting… please explain,” I say, leaning in and resting my chin on my intertwined fingers.
"Well, pretty lady. There was a storm, long time ago," Big Mike begins.
“Ships couldn't see five fingers in front of them if they tried.” He does a show of wriggling his fingers in front of his face. "Ships kept wrecking. One after another. Lives lost, treasures lost. And the lighthouse keeper, well, he felt responsible since he couldn't keep the fire burning due to them winds blowing out the windows. It was long before electricity came to be a thing."
"People say he jumped down the lighthouse stairs to his demise. Couldn't handle the guilt of so many lives on his hands, so he took his own," Theo adds.
"Some say it was an accident. That the winds were so high that night that they blew ole keeper down the stairs and wasn't even his doing," Rooster says.
"Either way," Big Mike continues. "The lighthouse is haunted. Don't nobody wanna be caught dead in the middle of the night when the keeper's ghost comes out." He does an exaggerated shiver.
"Nope," Roster agrees. “And he always does.”
"So I take it neither of you have gone out there?"
"You kidding me? It’s a rite of passage here. You’re not a true Breaker’s Islander until you’ve spent a night with the keeper,” Big Mike says. “My wife was just about your age when she did it. All alone too. Bravest soul I ever seen. You best believe I wifed her up quick after that," Big Mike whoops.
"He sure did, I was there for the wedding,” Rooster confirms.
His belly moving up and down as he chuckles, the cigar bouncing at the side of his mouth.
"Seems like you've been here a long time," I say.
“You callin’ us old, missy?” Rooster says, squinting his eyes at me.
I stammer.
“Ah, he’s just messin’ with you, kid,” Big Mike says, reaching over to pat me on the shoulder.
"Big Mike & Rooster lowkey run this town," Theo says, proudly.
“And word on the street is that you got quite the steady hand there, young Theo. May need to swing by JR for a new piece soon,” Big Mike says, showing off his tattoo sleeve.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Theo says, and then to me he adds. “You too, Sienna.”
“I’m sorry… what’s JR?”