AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Freddie appears in the room, leaning against the doorway. He’s wearing an impeccable suit, and he’s freshly shaven.
“We’re at another one of our properties,” Freddie answers, then raises his eyebrows. “One you didn’t know about.”
I hear the accusation in his tone and slurp my tea loudly. “You knew I was watching you. So what?”
“It looks like someone was following you, too,” Freddie counters.
“Bastard,” I mutter, covering my bruised ego.
“What happened?” Seb asks. “Did you get a look at who it was?”
“They snuck up on me from behind,” I say, clutching the mug handle so tightly that it shakes. “You should have left me there. I’m not a Duke, remember? You made that clear.”
My eyes focus now that I have some of Yorkshire’s finest in my bloodstream. Behind Seb, photographs are pinned to a corkboard on the wall. There are images of Rose, Spencer, other faces I don’t recognise, and different locations.
What do they know?
I nod at their collage that would put a stalker to shame. “What are you working on?” I smirk. “Have you found out Rose isn’t so fucking perfect after all?”
“What do you know?” Seb demands.
“Why should I tell you anything about your precious princess?” I laugh coldly. “You threw me out.”
Freddie grimaces and swallows hard like he’s chugging down shards of glass. He takes a deep breath. “We…”
“Go on.” I narrow my eyes, putting the tea on the coffee table nearby. Freddie’s gaze hardens when I don’t put it on the coaster. He’s a neat freak. “Say it. You were wrong.”
“See?” Seb throws his arms in the air. “Didn’t I tell you he’d be like this?”
I tap an invisible watch on my wrist. “I’m waiting.”
“We… I… was wrong,” Freddie says. It’ll pain Mr Self-Fucking-Righteous to admit a mistake. “I… I let my emotions cloud my judgement. You were right.”
“Say it again.” His words are music to my ears. “Tell me how right I was.”
“Don’t push it,” Freddie warns. “We saved your life, remember? We could take it just as easily.”
“So we’re even,” I declare. “Why should I tell you anything?”
“Because you’re a Duke,” Seb says. “You wouldn’t have kept watching us if you didn’t care.”
I shrug nonchalantly, refusing to admit that he’s right. “I had a lot of free time on my hands.”
“Cut the bullshit,” Freddie barks. “We know you, and we know you were right about Rose. She’s not who she says she is.”
I clap my hands slowly, and Freddie’s cheeks flush.
“Do you want a medal for finally working that out?” I taunt. “Is it the lack of pussy that made you finally see it? You two haven’t got laid in so long that you believed her over me.”
“We…” Freddie hangs his head. Good fucking riddance. “We fucked up, and…” He looks pained. “We need your help to make it right.”
I consider his offer, putting my hands behind my head. “What’s in it for me?”
“He’s unbelievable,” Seb gripes. “Now I’m having second thoughts about whether we need him.”
Freddie raises his eyebrows. “You’d be part of the team again.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” I challenge.
