Broderick: A Sabine Valley Novel by Katee Robert (best reads of all time txt) 📗

I frown. “It’s possible. Probable even. Monroe has one hell of a poker face.” At least when she’s not coming all over my hands and face. She didn’t bother to hide her delight or desire even once when we were in bed last night.

“Shiloh?”

I realize I’m blushing, but there’s no way to combat it. I clear my throat. “I’ll keep an ear out for anything that might be out of the ordinary. Do you want me to wear a wire?”

“No.” Cohen shakes his head. “We don’t have the manpower to listen back through, and even if we did, you’re more likely to pick up on stuff than someone is over a recording. You spend most of your time with her and in that building.”

It’s not an accusation. It’s pure fact. They assigned me to keep watch over Monroe, and that’s what I’m doing. The only reason for the guilt threatening to choke me is my own conscience. Monroe has gone to my head in a way I never could have anticipated. “Do you think they’re planning something? Even with the hostages involved?”

“We can’t afford to assume anything.” Cohen’s expression doesn’t change. There’s no indication of the rattled man I spoke to earlier. It’s comforting, in a way. At least this is back to normal.

I’m going to have to face the consequences for the move I pulled last night with Monroe and Broderick. There’s no way around it. I still can’t quite believe I went there. I’m still so fucking angry. It doesn’t make sense. Broderick might be acting like a jerk and being high-handed, but he’s always been overprotective of me. And, frankly, Monroe just offered to murder an entire town for me. I don’t understand why her words, while shocking, didn’t fill me with any anger at all. Broderick, on the other hand, makes me want to shove him out a window these days.

It's Sabine Valley. It has to be, because the only other option is that our friendship is ruined beyond repair, and I can’t handle the thought of that being true.

“Shiloh?” Maddox shifts. “You good? You seem…off.”

As much as I want to lie to him, Maddox has known me so long, he’ll see right through the deception. I sigh. “It’s personal.”

He narrows his eyes. The man is too smart by half, and if he seems like the kinder, gentler half of Cohen, it’s only surface-deep. He’s just as ruthless and just as willing to make the unpopular, hard calls if it serves the mission. “Is it—”

The door opens behind me before he can finish. I tense, half expecting Broderick to come barreling through and start spouting high-handed nonsense again, but it’s Ezekiel. He’s wearing slacks, a tank top, and suspenders. And…nothing else. On anyone else, that would be a complete outfit. For Ezekiel, with his fondness for three-piece suits, he’s practically naked. Even his red hair is mussed, and his full beard looks haggard.

He gives a mocking salute. “You called, Cohen.”

Cohen stares. I can practically see him categorizing the little details of his brother’s appearance and coming to the same conclusion I am; Ezekiel is unraveling. He finally says, “You’re late.”

“I didn’t want to come.” Ezekiel wanders to the empty chair and drops into it. “Let’s wrap this up quickly.”

Cohen still hasn’t moved. He hasn’t seemed to breathe at all. The tension in the room spikes, and I want to be anywhere but here. I might not have personal experience with it, but even I know that siblings clash. I don’t think normal siblings clash like the Paines do when things get tense—especially when Abel isn’t around to knock some sense into them. Normally, Cohen doesn’t get involved in the squabbles, but if what happened earlier is any indication, he’s off his game right now.

Maddox leans forward. All his attention seems to be on Ezekiel, but he’s angled his body slightly toward Cohen. “We need to talk about Jasper.”

Ezekiel doesn’t blink. “There’s nothing to talk about. He’s been tied up in my bed for the last three weeks. The first time he’s talked with his family is today, and you can take that up with Broderick.”

Tied up in his bed…

For three weeks?

I haven’t seen Jasper since the first time the Brides gathered after Lammas, but surely Ezekiel doesn’t mean he’s literally had the man tied to his bed this entire time?

“And Beatrix?” Cohen’s voice is terrifyingly even.

“Tied to my bed, too.” Ezekiel snorts. “Did you think I’d let her run around freely?”

It’s Maddox who pushes slowly to his feet. “You have an Amazon and a Mystic tied up in your bed, and they’ve been there for three fucking weeks? Are you out of your fucking mind? That constitutes torture, and it will violate the handfasting your brothers worked so hard to put into place.”

I glance at the door, but moving right now means bringing attention to myself. Better to just sit still and wait this out. Selfishly, I’m glad that Ezekiel is getting their full attention—and taking it off me. There was a time in my life when I desperately wanted siblings, but conversations like this remind me that it’s not a bad thing to be an only child.

Not to mention, it meant I was the only one who suffered through my parents’ abuse.

“Don’t worry about it.” Ezekiel sounds completely unconcerned. “They’re fine.”

“No, Zeke. I’m going to fucking worry about it.” Cohen’s still speaking softly. On anyone else, that would be reassuring. With Cohen, it means he’s a breath away from violence. “We cannot let anything jeopardize this peace until we’re ready for it to end. You’re setting us up to repeat history with both the Amazon and Mystic factions coming for our heads.”

Maddox curses. “I knew it was a mistake to give you Jasper as your Bride. You have too much history together.”

“Mind your own fucking business.” Ezekiel says it mildly, but his hand drifts to his hip.

Best guess, he has some kind of weapon stashed there. If he attacks