Read Willoughby 03 - A Rogue's Deadly Redemption for Free Online Page B

Robert lengthened his stride, hearing Hasgood’s steps echo his own. But he refused to stop. In minutes, he stood at the library doors.
    “Mr. Melrose, as I said, he is in a meeting. Perhaps you would wish for some breakfast instead.”
    “No need. I won’t be here long.” Robert grasped the cold doorknobs and shoved open the double doors with a hefty push. They slammed against the walls and Robert strode into the room, taking stock of the five or six men seated in chairs, couches.
    “I don’t believe that is the best course of action,” one man said, his nasally voice adamant. “The man in America stated that the bank there has tried…” His words faded as all eyes turned up toward Robert.
    Robert turned his gaze toward his brother, Marcus.
    It gave Robert a slight jolt to see the face so familiar to his own. Though they were twelve years apart in age, their features were stamped with the same angular jaw, the same dark brown hair that curled and created an afternoon shadow across their jaws. Not that Marcus would ever let such an imperfection remain. Robert, however, reveled in doing just that.
    He brought a hand to run across his stubble to be certain his brother took note.
    But his brother’s face remained impassive, without a flicker of awareness as he stood, barely an inch taller than Robert. Not even anger crossed his face. “Robert, our appointment is for later this afternoon. As you can see, I’m in a meeting, so if you would wait—”
    “I have a full day,” Robert lied. “You summoned me, so you’ll have to make do at my convenience, not yours. What is it you want?”
    It had been seven months since they’d last spoken, and this conversation already bore a striking resemblance to the former. That very fact had encouraged him to ignore the requests. Why beat one’s head against the rock that mimicked his brother’s own head?
    Marcus’s gaze flickered to the men seated, and Robert could see the wheels churning in his head. What was the appropriate way to handle this? How did one deal with the unruly brother?
    Robert approached the first man. “Robert Melrose. That’s plain old Mister Melrose, the third brother. You’ve likely never heard of me.”
    “On the contrary,” the man replied, managing to hold his nose slightly in the air to signify his lack of approval.
    Robert grinned. “Truly? Have I finally elevated to the level of black sheep instead of simply the nonexistent, useless brother? Excellent.”
    “Robert.” His brother snapped the word out like an order.
    Robert ignored him and made haste toward the one empty chair, the one his brother had vacated. He plopped down. “And what are we discussing so studiously today?” He noticed the papers scattered on the table and just as one of the men tried to gather them together, Robert snatched a page.
    “Now, wait here—” The man argued even as Robert glanced over the words written on the page. The word ‘forgery’ jumped out and his breath caught in his throat.
    Robert’s heart leapt forward like an out-of-control horse, and he studied the slanted scribble. Report of the Committee… on Preventing Bank Forgeries . What the hell was this?
    Why had his brother demanded his presence?
    The paper was crushed and Robert tightened his grip so even as the page was yanked from him, a corner of it remained in his fist.
    He looked up, meeting his brother’s gaze—now filled with irritation. Marcus straightened the crumpled paper in his hand. “Give me the rest of the paper, Robert. This is confidential business.”
    Robert searched his eyes for any sign of knowledge, something—anything that might indicate that Marcus knew. But for the slight moment of irritation, Marcus’s blue eyes had darkened to an undecipherable mud.
    Robert knew the intelligent thing would be to leave and quick, so of course, he leaned back and waved his hand, crinkled corner of the Report in his fingers, through the air. “By all means, continue. What ways are