The King (Gentlemen Rogues 2)

SAFFRON

I was toast.

For sure, Gabe was going to be able to tell that I was lying. I'd never been able to lie around him. Even when it would have served me best, I still couldn't lie to my brother. He had that way of staring at you, peering into your soul and plucking out the one thing you didn't want him to see.

Like your pussy still aches from Lachlan’s dick.

Like that. My pussy, of course, was no help because she was too busy throbbing and insisting she wanted to see Lock again. Which, after Tabs point blank catching us eye fucking each other that afternoon, was probably the worst idea I’d ever had.

"What's wrong with you?"

Gabe's voice was tight as he stared at me from across the dinner table. In the main part of the house, we still kept things like mum and dad had by some unspoken pact.

There was a large living area, dining room, and a kitchen that was mostly used only by the staff unless I was baking. We'd left dad's office intact. But both of our bedrooms were upstairs along with three others. The middle of the house was divided by a massive courtyard, and on the other side it was all Rogues business. All the offices, conference rooms, briefing rooms, and accommodations for senior Rogue members. The trainees stayed in the cottages on the property. Those that had completed their Rogues training and passed all security clearances were allowed to move offsite if they wished. Underneath the manor house were the training facilities. Even before it was a thing to do in London homes, my grandfather had chosen to build underground. We had a gun range, sparring rooms, locker rooms, and classrooms. Outside on the property, there was a track, more sparring areas, and a long range gun course as well as some other outdoor courses. My father had added a basketball court too.

The estate was massive. I didn't venture to the other side of the house often unless it was to go to Gabe's office. I was mostly downstairs in the training facilities, the gym, the pool, or on the grounds. Literally, it was my house. I was the heir, after all, but there were whole spaces I never ventured into because I felt unwelcome.

I had security clearance, but since I wasn't ops lead, there would be people who would ask what the fuck I was doing there. They'd grumble and let me sit in, but I had no role, no purpose.

"What do you mean? Nothing’s wrong with me."

“I mean, I’m looking at your face. Something's wrong. It's all pinched. I know you don't like asparagus, but just fucking eat it."

I glowered at him. “You realize I’m not ten anymore, right?"

He grinned. “Yeah, but when you were ten, I’d do you a favor and eat the asparagus off your plate. You're a grown up now, so eat the fucking asparagus. It's good for you."

I shoved aside the asparagus on my plate. “I'm not going to, because guess what— I’m an adult. I'll make a smoothie after dinner."

His fork clattered to the plate and he steepled his hands. "Must you always be like this? What the fuck is wrong now? How have I insulted you this time?"

I blinked at him. "What's wrong with you?"

"Me? I'm fine. But apparently, I can't make my sister happy for shit."

Were we going to bloody do this right now? "Well, for starters, you can stop fucking talking to me like that, Gabriel. I might technically work under you, but the only thing keeping me out of the field is you. You're holding me back. I'm not scared of you though. Remember, you're not actually in charge of me. Which is hilarious. Have you stopped to consider that I let you boss me around?"

His gaze narrowed. “I am your supervising officer."

“You are, but I’m the actual heir, remember?"

His lips pressed into a firm line. “Yes, I am your goddamn seat warmer. I know that."

Shit. That was not what I’d wanted to say.I sighed. “Gabe, can we just have a night where we don't fight? Please, I do not want to fight with you. I just want a truce, okay?"

He sat back. “Fine. Sorry."

My eyes went wide at the grumbled apology. Gabe didn't do apologies.

“I'm sorry too. And you're not a seat warmer, Gabe. You know that."

He nodded, but I could see that it still rankled. My grandfather, before Gabe had come along, had put in his will that someone with Abott blood would always own the estate and everything on it. And that his official seat in Oversight and the Rogues Division would always be in the hands of an Abott by birth. How was he supposed to know we were going to find Gabe and adopt him? He died before it happened. So I was technically in charge of this ridiculous inheritance, and my brother was working his ass off for nothing. I knew it sucked.

“Gabe, what do you say we maybe save the pork roast and the asparagus for tomorrow and order some pizza?"

He glanced down at his plate and something warmed in his face. It made him look young for a minute, like the kid he'd once been.

“Yeah, probably pizza is a better idea."