Page 103 of The Photograph

Chris lifts his frown. “What?”

“You must have been under pressure to do so when this all started.”

The slim man sighs. “Let’s just say, I’d seen the signs before and didn’t recognize them for what they were at the time. But when I saw that fierce little girl telling whoever would listen what happened to her, I had to help and get her out of that hell.”

My cell vibrates. “They’re done. You’re coming?”

The lawyer shakes his head “You go ahead, I’ll meet you at the solicitor’s office.”

****

The sun coming from the window behind the bald, sweaty solicitor bathes the small room as we listen to the reading of the old fucker’s will. Aelin, seated between Chris and Cara, with her sister’s hand firmly niched in hers, straightens her back as the solicitor drones on.

I stand by the door while Mike sits on the Chippendale chair against the adjacent wall. The solicitor wipes his handkerchief over his jowls before shoving it the front pocket of his dated brown suit.

“I leave all my possessions including my three properties and all financial assets to my one and only daughter, Cara Elizabeth Lockwoods.”

Cara gasps and turns to Aelin who wraps her arm around her shoulder.

“Aelin, you can contest…” the solicitor starts.

Aelin snaps her gaze to the old man. “I won’t. He’s right. Cara’s his only daughter. I was just the living representation of his monstrosity.”

When the heavyset man frowns and his mouth opens. I take a step.I fucking dare you.He snaps his mouth shut.

Cara’s breath hitches, and Aelin cups her face. “Cara. My Cara.” She waits until Cara lifts her eyes. “Nothing he did is your burden to carry, absolutely nothing because you are the only redeemable thing about him.” She touches her forehead to her sister’s. “You are spectacular, and I love you. Do you hear me?”

I cough out the emotion stuck in my throat.

“If there’s no contest…”

Cara, Aelin, and Chris stand up as one. Mike moves to hold Cara to walk her out of the stuffy room. I extend my hand to Aelin who wraps her fingers around mine.

In the corridor of the hotel leading to our rooms, Aelin lets go of my hand. “Chris?”

The lawyer stops in front of his room and pivots toward us. Aelin runs to him and hugs him so fiercely, the man grunts. Cara joins them and the three of them stay in the embrace until Chris pulls back and kisses Aelin’s and Cara’s head.

After Chris shuts his door, the sisters cling to each other, and when Aelin raises her wet face to me and smiles, my chest expands. Once Mike closes the door of Cara’s room, I head to the lawyer’s room and knock on his door.

“Mr. Matthews—”

I extend my hand. “Gabe. Anything you ever need. Anytime. It’s yours. No questions asked.”

Chris nods. “I just needed to save those girls.”

“Anything.”

He shakes my hand, and I know we understand each other.

****

A week later, Mike’s head peeks through the doorjamb of my office. “Is it safe to come in?” My brother closes the door behind him.

I haven’t seen Aelin since the funeral, and I’m not in the mood. I don’t mean to, but I grunt. “What’s up, Mike?”

Mike grins and lowers his long body in the chair across from me. “Good stuff…”

A quick knock on the door interrupts him as Erica enters. “Gabe, your 11:00 AM appointment is downstairs.”

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