Page 109 of The Reluctant Hero

“No,” I whisper helplessly. “Oh no.”

Out of all the things I thought could be waiting in that room like a ticking time bomb, that was nowhere on the list.

“Yeah,” Cade’s brows go up. “He was a kid, and his dad makes it a point every fucking year to get together and mourn her loss. Like Gabe fucking needs that reminder. Then he takes him out to some fancy restaurant and berates him for not saving her life. Like it’s his fault that she didn’t make it.”

My heart hurts with how much pain he must be in. Did that asshole call him already? We have to stop him! How can Gabriel heal with that in his face all day? And he’s been doing thisevery year?

“Gabe finally put his foot down and isn’t going this time,” Jake adds darkly.

“Which means therealMatthias is fucking furious and is going to be relentless all day,” Cade confirms what I’m already suspecting.

“What a dick,” I mutter in wonder. And then I wince. The guy lost his wife, and grief makes people insane. But his son deserves a chance to grieve his own way.

“That motherfucker doesn’t get to today,” I nod firmly. “We have to take away any chance he has of reaching Gabriel.”

They both rear back to stare at me in surprise.

“Come on, guys,” I whisper angrily. “There’s no way I’m going to sit back and let someone put that look on his face. Fuck that and fuck his dad with a razor pineapple too.”

“That’s graphic,” Jake raises a brow. “I approve.”

Cade is the one who starts nodding, getting into it.

“Who has his phone?” Cade asks Jake.

“Probably Mikael. Ace would be too pissed off to be nice about it. Mik can stonewall him.”

“We don’t answer no matter what,” Cade starts setting up a plan that I’m not a part of, but I’m into immediately. “Take Gabe’s phone and Mikael’s too. Get in the car and start driving that way. If Matthias tracks his location, he’ll assume Gabe is giving in. Having Mik’s phone will convince him it’s legit. We’ll shut him down here so he can’t get any info.”

“What a piece of shit,” I mutter in disgust.

No wonder Ace said they aren’t whole people. Shit like this is why. His own father has done this every year since he was a kid. Even his guards know the routine.

The phone rings at Vanessa’s desk, and I break into a run when she picks it up. My fingers slam down on the button to cut the connection as I pant.

“What are you doing?” She demands with a sneer. “This is my job.”

“If thebigMr. Matthias calls,ourMatthias is not in,” I tell her with wide eyes. “No calls come through no matter what, ok? If he has meetings, cancel them until next century. He got out of the fence, and we lost his leash.”

She scoffs and then sees Jake and Cade. Their serious expressions and the nodding are what convince her.

“What do I do?” She turns to me in utter confusion.

“Tell him the phone line is out,” I burst out and look back at the guys hopefully. “Staticky connection? Problems with the phone company?”

“How abouthe isn’t in,” Cade deadpans with a scowl. “You used to be smooth.”

“I’m panicking,” I squeak back. “Why can’t he just go home? It’s not like he has to call out. He’s the boss!”

“No calls today,” Ace says quietly and then sees us all at the desk.

He takes in my expression and then glances at Jake and Cade with a hard look. “What did you say to her?”

“I saw Gabriel and freaked,” I rush to intercept whatever anger is brewing inside him. I get in between his dark scowl and the twin terrors without hesitation. “They explained what’s going on. We’re coming up with ways to keep his dad away. Cade came up with a great plan. Help us helphim.”

Ace’s shoulders drop, and he pinches my chin with a sad smile. “Darlin’. No tricks planned for today, right?”

“No,” I shake my head. “I swear.”

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