Page 210 of The Reluctant Hero

“You got Gabriel into bed and have no idea what a feat that is.”

Wow, let me celebrate that victory now. Andhe started it!

“It was a couch, so I don’t think it counts for me any more than it does for him.”

I need to shut up. Mikael is not a therapist, and this is none of his damn business. If bringing it up isn’t driving him away, I’ll have to think something else up.

“It meant a lot more to him than you realize.” He lets out a deep sigh. “It means something to all of us.”

“Sure,” I grumble and scrub harder at my arm.

There’s another long silence. I think he’s finally gotten the not-so-subtle hint and walked away. I’m wrong.

“You know we all want you. You’re not blind. None of us really care that you slept with Gabriel. Watching him try to pretend he wasn’t giddy afterward was hilarious. Watching his heart get crushed after wasn’t.”

I remember the look on his face when he left me on that couch. There was nothing giddy about it. If he wanted to hurt me, he’s managed it nicely.

“Fuck off, Mikael,” I shout helplessly. I wish he was right in front of me so I could strangle him. My supposed theft gave Gabriel the perfect excuse to wipe me out of his life, and I’m taking the hint for once. There’s nothing here for me except more bullshit lies and promises.

“Alright,” he grumbles with frustration. “We guard our own, Amanda. That includes you, whether you like it or not.”

The sound of his hand sliding down the door has me shuddering. Like a beast is outside, and all he wants is permission to ravage me. He may be backing off now, but I don’t think he’s given up any more than Ace has.

“Dinner is almost ready. Hurry up.”

Look what I’m not going to do. I don’t want to sit across from Gabriel and imagine that he had his heart broken over me. I’m busy with survival right now, and they have already proven that’s not in their best interests, no matter what they say now.

44

Oh Well

Amanda

I miss out on whatever wonderful, unidentifiable dinner they have. No one comes to bother me, and I fall into a fitful sleep. Even holding Jakob doesn’t help. Instead it gets added to a nightmare I barely remember on waking.

A firm knock comes at my door, something that was happening before I woke up, and I’m just now realizing it. I pull my phone close to check the time. Which one of the dipshits thought it would be a good idea to wake me at two in the morning for a chat?

That’s it.

I swing out of bed with Jakob clenched in my hand and swing the door open hard enough that it slams into the wall and tries to bounce back. My foot holds it open as I bring the weapon up.

The guy in front of me takes in the threat and raises one eyebrow. Other than that, he’s basically emotionless. His brown hair and nondescript features make him almost forgettable. If I passed him on the street, I would never look twice. His eyes are the flat emptiness of a killer.

“Mr. Matthias would like to speak with you,” he says calmly and twists to the side for me to leave the room.

I’ll beat the shit out of him too.

“Lead the way,” I insist with a sneer. I’m assuming he doesn’t mean Gabriel. He has the typical Shade air of fuck around and find out. It’s plausible that he’s one of the ‘good guys,’ but I’m not having him at my back.

“Of course,” he agrees easily. Now, he sounds like a butler.

He starts moving, and I have a short-lived debate on closing the door and trying to sleep. It isn’t going to happen. I let out a disgusted sigh and follow.

We head into the well-lit sitting room that Gabriel prefers for his meetings. The guy continues past the lone chair they have positioned across from the couch. They even moved the rest of the furniture out of the way in some bid to make it more intimidating. I wonder if this is how every meeting with him goes. An interrogation chair with bright lights. I’m too exhausted to be impressed.

The man seated in the middle of the couch is relaxed back, eyeing me with a distinct lack of expression. He’s an older version of Gabriel with his hair cut short and sliver on the sides. He has the same amber eyes and frozen-solid face. He’s handsome, but if he’s anything like his son, he’ll blow that impression as soon as he opens his mouth.

“Have a seat, Amanda.”

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