Page 97 of The Reluctant Hero

“Shade already did,” I tell them with a frown. Jake doesn’t look pleased about it.

“And you didn’t think to tell us?” Gabriel’s voice has gone ice cold.

“No?” I give him a skeptical look. “Why would you care? You’ve been hanging out with him the whole time and believing every word out of his mouth about me. This is personal stuff, not business.”

“Why did Shade rate telling then?” Cade raises his brows at me. He looks disgruntled as if I’ve offended him. They all do when I glance around. Some are more furious than others. Ace’s neck has gone red, and his jaw is ticking.

“I was drunk?” I remind them. I barely remember the venting session with them. I was halfway through it when the tequila knocked me sideways. “And he’s a good listener? He also doesn’t recommend chopping off body parts to send a message to people he hates like South does.”

“Whose body parts?” Ace grinds out.

“I didn’t ask, and I don’t want to know,” I tell him quickly with raised hands. “South wanted me to give him a ‘gift’ in return to shut him up. That’s how the marriage thing came up. I was desperate for a distraction. Oh, and you're welcome, by the way.”

My pointed look at Gabriel makes him lean back with a frown.

“For?” His brow rises haughtily.

“Helping you mend whatever bridge got napalmed between you and your brother,” I shrug with a smug smile. I turn on Cade and Jake next, my expression turning into a scowl. “You two need to back off. Shade is trying to get to know his brother better, and you being jackasses isn’t helping.”

“What didIdo?” Cade protests in surprise.

“You both act like he’s here to slaughter everybody. It’s rude.” It’s more than rude, but I can’t think of any other way to put it. It’s terrifying? Worrying? Making me more paranoid? Stupidly dramatic?

“Because he might be and we should be ready,” Jake gives me a patient smile like I’m an idiot.

“Oh please,” I sneer back. “The man wants to be acknowledged by his family with some love. How horrible.”

“How do you know that?” Gabriel asks tensely.

“Because tequila makes his lips loosen up, and he used actual words to tell me. How many times haveyouguys been blackout drunk? This is shameful. Do any of you pay attention?”

“Do you?” Jake asks sweetly.

My eyes snap to his, and my chest aches like he just bruised my insides.

“I didn’t before, and now my desperate, broke ass is planted in this chair highlighting. I don’t want to make that mistake again. Find something to do already!”

“I’ll get lunch for you,” Jake agrees readily and walks out. Cade scrambles out of his chair to catch up.

I frown at the action and glance at Ace. “Are they always together?”

He and Mikael exchange a tense glance, and they both nod.

Besties for life, I guess.

“Ace,” Gabriel says calmly, gaining his attention. The three have a whispered discussion I try my best to ignore. Then Ace and Mikael leave. Ace stops and gives me a soft kiss on my temple with a be right back.

The move stuns me into freezing. Only my eyes move as he leaves, and Mikael smirks at whatever look I have on my face.

When was the last time I had that kind of easy affection? Loser would call goodbye from the door and sometimes not waitfor an answer before leaving. So many little things are stacking up in my mind. Things I didn’t notice or care about. Subtle signs of distance I didn’t realize were there. Would I have seen it if I hadn’t cowed all of my instinctive behavior down? I’m certainly seeing it now.

Or I’m thinking about useless shit to make myself feel bad, and I should get back to work. I’m not wasting any more time thinking about him.

“You should have told us about the flowers.”

I guess I’m still going to have to think about him after all.

I glance at Gabriel, who is focused on the paperwork in front of him, spinning his pen again. His eyes flick to mine, and he quickly looks away.

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