Free Ollie Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Anitra Lynn McLeod Page B

gentrymen should have sex with slammers?”
    “Of course not!” Caleb tossed his hands in the air. “It’s illegal, isn’t it? You’re the sheriff. Go arrest him.”
    McBride nodded.
    “What are you waiting for?”
    “For you to get the point.”
    “I don’t understand you. My brother is at the mercy of our old owner, and you’re standing here arguing with me.”
    “I’m not arguing with you. I’m talking to you about the nature of the relationship between a landed gentryman and a slammer. That doesn’t ring any bells in your head?” McBride was hoping he didn’t have to spell everything out, but Caleb was so furious he might not be able to see the parallel between the two of them and Jonas and Ollie.
    “That’s not a relationship. That’s a man taking advantage of a boy. Just because Jonas is smaller than Ollie, don’t get any ideas about him being delicate. He fucked my brother while drinking his blood.”
    “How do you know this?” Clearly, Caleb wasn’t getting the point, so McBride tried another way.
    “All of us knew what was going on.”
    “And you did nothing to stop it?” McBride didn’t believe that for a moment, not when Caleb had proven time and time again he might have anger issues, but he was fiercely protective of his brothers. If all the Morgan brothers knew about Ollie and Jonas, and they were as upset as Caleb, they would have ganged up on Jonas. More likely it was only Caleb who knew and Caleb who despised Jonas.
    “Once I knew I did. That’s why Jonas brought us here.”
    With his curiosity piqued, McBride pointed to the seat at the far end of the table. “Sit.”
    “No.”
    “Fine.” McBride spun on his heel and reached for the door.
    “Don’t!” Caleb let out a frustrated grunt.
    McBride heard a chair scrape across the floor. When he turned around, Caleb was seated. McBride took the seat across from him. “I want you to tell me why you think Jonas brought you here to my father’s tallos farm.” The unasked question was what had drawn Jonas to McBride’s father, or vice versa. Since he didn’t know and doubted he would get an honest answer from Jonas, he thought asking Caleb would at least get him some background on the situation.
    “Jonas brought us here so he could have Ollie. Jonas thought out here, no one would care what he was doing.” Caleb looked beyond McBride toward the big house. Even though he was seated, it was clear he wanted to run into the house and defend his brother. Against his will, McBride had to admire his protective nature. Caleb could be crass and cruel, but he could be unbelievably compassionate.
    “They aren’t going to be doing anything in there other than waiting for me.” Of that, McBride had no doubt. Right now the two lovers were going to do anything to keep him in a forgiving mood.
    “How do you know?” Caleb’s concern for his brother made his fury completely understandable.
    “I know because they are desperate to curry my favor.” McBride silently conferred with his butler, who confirmed that Ollie and Jonas were sitting in the parlor. They were both on the small settee, holding hands, but they did no more than that. “I also just had the butler check on them.”
    That relaxed Caleb a bit, but not very much. He was a man who always wanted to see for himself. McBride could appreciate that. “What did Jonas do to you?”
    “Nothing. I would have killed him.”
    “And yet you let me take liberties.”
    Caleb’s eyes widened. “Are you saying if I condone their relationship, I would have a chance with you?”
    Was that what McBride wanted? Zooks. How could he even think such a thing? It was madness. Two wrongs didn’t make a right. Just because Jonas and Ollie were comfortable breaking the law didn’t mean McBride was.
    Before he had a chance to answer, Caleb was on his feet. Caleb moved toward him so swiftly that McBride stood, knocking the chair over as he backed away. Caleb watched his retreat with a wounded