Page 74 of The Billionaires' Gamble

And not a moment too soon, by the look of things.

“Thanks,” Alex says over Gabe’s, “Not hungry.”

Alex reaches for an apple and returns his attention to Gabe. The tension ratchets higher as he waits for a response. What is the ‘it’thatAlex thought Gabe had a handle on?

“I did. I thought I did,” Gabe adds quickly.

He sounds miserable.

I don’t understand. We got Katherine back. Well, Alex got her back. But Gabe helped. She’s in the main house with LaShonda, enjoying her freedom and some estrogen.

What does Gabe have to be sad about?

Other than the fact that we’re out here and she’s in there.

“What are we talking about?” I ask because I thought we were done with secrets. I told Katherine I love her, and I plan on telling her every day for the rest of our lives. If we’re all in this together, honesty is our best policy, no matter how difficult it is.

“I thought I had a handle on my demons,” Gabe replies.

“Apparently not,” Alex adds and takes a big bite of the red fruit.

“I’ve already apologized.”

“I know.”

“So why are you on my back?”

Alex looks from the apple to Gabe, his head cocked like ‘did you really just ask that?’ “You’re carrying around twenty-year-old trauma.”

I settle next to Gabe. Close enough so he feels supported but not so close that he’s coddled. Alex is right. We’re grown ass men, and we need to get our shit together. Starting with me.

Or maybe starting with Gabe.

Alex is pretty much fucking perfect, which is annoying. But he’s not the type to humble brag, so at least he’s bearable.

“I’m not theonlyone holding on to twenty-year-old trauma,” Gabe shoots back, stressing the word.

Alex tosses the half-eaten apple onto the tray, spinning toward Gabe. “You’re really going to compare my sister’s murder to Henry trying to cheat you out of your company? Courtney fucking died and is never coming back. Your company is still around and thriving.”

The temperature in the room cools about fifty degrees. There’s the same kind of stillness as when a waiter drops a tray full of food and everyone gawks at the mess. Beside me, Gabe lowers his face into his hands, then he lifts his head and gives Alex an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry—I?—”

“Fuck you and your apology.” Alex stands, shoulders back, looking every intimidating inch of a six-foot-five security specialist. “And don’t think of going near Katherine until you’ve got your head screwed on straight.”

He storms off, slamming a bedroom door behind him. The house seems to quake.

“Dammit.” Gabe bounces off the couch and storms to the opposite side of the house, leaving a wake of frustrated energy.

I sigh and reach for a sandwich. What the hell was that?

We get our girl back and those two are suddenly at each other’s throats? I don’t get it. I mean, I do. Alex has got some serious baggage weighing those strong shoulders down. And Gabe, he’s never gotten over Henry’s betrayal.

It just feels like all that should be a moot point right now.

I glance from the door Alex just slammed to the room Gabe disappeared into. For the moment, I’ll let them be. Maybe they just need to go to their corner and lick their wounds. No doubt today stirred up a bunch of shit for both of them. How could it not?

My phone buzzes in my pocket.