48: You have to mark your first mate

AXEL

I drove into the palace feeling like a superstar. It had been a very long day after a lengthy business meeting with some clients. I had represented my dad and the deal pulled through. If it had gone any other way, I would not have heard the last of it.

As I walked towards the front porch, I knew my mood was about to change. My brothers were outside with Ashley, discussing what I had no idea about.

I took rigid steps towards them, with a stern look on my face. The sound of my footsteps called their attention and they looked up at me. My frown deepened and I saw Ashley flinch at the sight of me. I finally reached them and realized there were various gifts displayed before Ashley.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

“A good evening to you too, brother,” Brody said, a serious look on his face.

I acknowledged him with a curt nod and turned back to the gifts. The fact that Ashley looked so comfortable with those gifts before her was even more annoying to me. Who the hell did she think sh