Page 33 of Blades and Bone

What the fuck was Garrick talking about? He didn’t have any personal photos on his phone. He didn’t save dick pics. And anything sensitive was protected, though he had no doubt that if the Ashbys wanted in, they would force him to use a fingerprint, his face, or a PIN to access his information.

Brodie glanced at him and laughed. “I’ll make a coffee for Garrick while you do that. It won’t take long, will it?”

“No.” Hamish frowned. It would take no time at all.

But there must be a reason Garrick had mentioned the photos, so as soon as Brodie walked into the kitchen, he unlocked his phone.

Even though they weren’t alone, as Brodie was only a few meters away, that didn’t stop Garrick from making conversation.

“How’s it all going?”

How was he supposed to answer that? His heartbeat quickened, and heat spread over his skin and up his neck. This time he couldn’t blame sunburn, as that had healed overnight. However, if he went out in the sun today, he’d burn again and probably worse because of the extra blood. That was the downside of drinking blood, and it would only become worse as he got older.

“Good…we’re getting to know each other.” He opened his photos and recognized Garrick’s handwriting in the most recent.

Some of us have lesions from vitamin C poisoning.

Hamish glanced at his uncle. That was a serious allegation.

“And he has been treating you well?” Garrick continued as if there wasn’t a problem.

Hamish nodded, not wanting to think about the three orgasms or the kissing and biting in the shower. It had been like standing in their own private tropical storm. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Garrick forced a laugh that probably sounded natural to people who didn’t know him. “Should I be worrying about Brodie?”

Hamish frowned, well aware that it was a double-edged question but unsure how to answer. “Well, he doesn’t snore in his sleep, so I didn’t have to smother him with a pillow…I don’t think you need to report that I’m planning on killing him.”

Brodie brought over Garrick’s coffee. “We talked about the treaty and agreed that it is more important than both of us, so we are working at making this marriage mutually beneficial.”

How the fuck did Brodie manage to make mutually beneficial sound smutty? Like all the orgasms he wanted would be supplied? His face was on fire, and there was nothing he could do about it, so he concentrated on reading the rest of the note that Garrick had photographed.

I don’t know if the Ashbys are affected. Ditch your guard and come to the house as staff to investigate. Watch what you eat.

“Good. I wouldn’t want my favorite nephew to suffer needlessly,” Garrick said, as if there were a needed way to suffer.

He’d suffered last night, but that had been entirely self-inflicted because Brodie had reminded him several times he could just apologize. Maybe he was a masochist. But every time Brodie had given him an order, he had that glint in his eye like he wanted Hamish to fight back, and he’d been more than happy to oblige. It had been a game. What he wanted at two am was his phone so he could get online and do some research.

“All done?” Brodie asked, pointing at the phone in Hamish’s hand. “I’d like to drop it off before the talks resume.”

“Almost.” There was nothing more to read and no other photos. He deleted Garrick’s note, then removed it from the deleted items to make sure it was gone. Though he was sure that if someone was smart enough, they’d still be able to retrieve it. He didn’t know enough about the tech side of things, and he’d never been inclined or asked to learn.

“Can you make sure it’s unlocked? Otherwise, I will need a PIN.”

Or my finger.

Garrick knew the PIN, so he hadn’t needed to ask. Hamish quickly changed the setting and handed it over. “Will I get it back tonight?”

Brodie nodded. “You should.”

Another day without his phone, only this time there was a bigger problem than what he was going to do all day. He knew what he needed to do, and he didn’t know who to trust.

Brodie hadn’t mentioned any ulcers in his mouth or any gut pain, so he might be involved. But why claim to put the treaty above all else and then attack? Or maybe that had been the plan so that he looked innocent. Not only that, but he seemed to support Vivian, who had been the instigator behind the treaty. He doubted that she secretly wanted Ann, her daughter, and several other high-ranking Reids dead…unless she’d already made a deal with the Orlans.

And if that was the case, his life was in a very precarious place.

He didn’t want to believe that Brodie could betray him like that…unless Brodie was completely unaware. Perhaps it had been accidental, and someone had risked eating their favorite fruit or vegetable; after all, the food was very good.

“How are the talks going, or are you not allowed to tell me?” His gaze flicked between his uncle and his husband. His loyalty split between the old and new. Would they offer him the truth?