Page 198 of The Reluctant Hero

She gives each of them the same doting attention. When she gets to me, there’s a pause that seems pregnant. Her thorough examination of me as I peacefully eat breakfast is annoying as hell.

She leans down to pretend to whisper in my ear while speaking at a normal volume. I don’t like that she’s in my personal space. My hands tighten over the fork and knife as I stare at the syrup dripping off golden fluffiness. The condescending tone that she uses makes my hand twitch over the knife.

“Would you like a hairbrush?”

I slowly turn my face to see her. I wonder what kind of rat’s nest I have going on. She takes in my lack of makeup, bruises, and wrinkled clothes with a look of disgust. She’s calling me out on not being presentable straight out of bed. If this is what it’s like to have staff waiting on me, I don’t want it.

“I’m trying out a new style. It’s called go fuck yourself,” I deadpan with a toothy smile. She flushes, her gaze darting over the men present.

I go back to my food but she keeps going, trying to be quiet this time.

“Do you know where you are?” She hisses with a stubborn tilt to her lips. “You could at least be polite.”

“No,” I tell her flatly and shove a forkful of pancake in my mouth. I turn my face to hers, so close our noses almost touch, and start chewing loudly with my mouth open.

Gabriel clears his throat, gaining her attention. Her flip from a condescending sneer to a bright smile is startling. I know the effect they all have on women, but to see it in action again isalmost nauseating. I bet I acted the same way last week. A dog panting for any scrap of attention. The knowledge demoralizes me instantly.

I finish my bite and stare at the leftover food. I’m not hungry anymore.

“Was there something you needed, sir?” She asks with sparkling eyes.

“Amanda, would you like some more coffee?” Gabriel asks me in a frigid tone. His attention is on the maid, though.

“No,” I repeat and set my fork and knife aside with a sigh.

“You can go,” his eyes narrow on her, his frigid expression leaving no room for arguments.

“Yes, sir,” her smile falters. When she turns she takes me in with a sneer she keeps hidden from everyone else. My plate gets snatched up as she placidly walks away.

“Put it back,” Ace barks, slamming his hand on the table.

She startles, almost dropping what’s left of the pancakes.

“Sir? She said she was done,” she tells him in a trembling voice. Her wide eyes make the sudden shift into tension real.

“Bullshit,” Cade scoffs, leaning back with his coffee.

“Am I interrupting?” Shade’s deadly flat tone makes the woman startle again. She takes advantage of the distraction to get out while she can.

He stands at my side, close enough that I would have to crane my neck to see him. I’m not making that much effort.

“South is disappointed she hasn’t heard from you.”

Ok,nowit’s worth the effort.

“I’d check in for roll call if I had my phone,” I tell him sweetly. I even bat my eyes as he stares down at me with a stony expression. His eyes move to the bruising over my throat and flick away quickly.

“Oh?” Shade’s head tilts as he glances at Gabriel. “Where would it be?”

“Ask these dicks,” I gesture around the table. The looks of defensive anger I get over it make me sneer.

“The phone is no longer working,” Gabriel assures him firmly.

Called it.

I scoff at the blatant lie. “That’s code for I’m keeping it so I don’t have to worry about her evil plots to steal my precious money from me.”

His cheeks redden as he stares at me. “That is not what I’m doing. The thing is broken into pieces. I’d be surprised if you haven’t cut yourself.”

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