Page 47 of The Photograph

One mistake tonight is more than I can afford with you. I school my expression as I button myself up and step back. “I’ll make myself a drink. Want one?”

She blinks a couple of time and frowns. “I’ll just have tea.” She enters the cubicle. “I’ll be quick.”

In the kitchen, I slap my palms on the cool counter and drop my head low.Fuck.I pour myself a shot of whisky I swallow fast.I need to get out of here.

As I make my way to the front door, several pings coming from the living room, stop me. I follow the sound to her laptop set on the desk in the smaller living room at the back of the house. More pings break through the dark room lit by the screen of her computer.What the fuck?

I edge closer and without thinking, I glance over the screen. Fuck.My name’s in there.

My palm hits the small secretary, as I edge closer to the screen There’s a table with a list of names. All men. Mort Gaylor’s name is there, as well as most of my acquaintances and business associates. I sweep my gaze to the adjacent column which contains dollar amounts and dates.

Anger makes my hands shake as I scroll down the table where more wealthy individuals’ names are listed. The name of the file is ‘Rainbow account for Cara and Aelin.’I clench my fists while my blood runs cold.She’s doing this with her fucking sister.

There’s a question mark next to my name.How much was she going to fleece me for?Jerking back, I stare at the screen while my temples throb.

I’ve got to get out of here before I do something stupid again. Like demanding an explanation and believe her well-rehearsed lies.

Shaking with anger, I reach the hallway just as the bathroom door opens. I stop dead in my tracks as Aelin steps out of the steaming room wrapped in a towel.

When she smiles and wraps her arms around my waist, I lock my body into place.

There’re shadows under her eyes.

She touches my chest in a way that makes me want to take care of her. “I’m so happy you’re here, can we—?”

I lower her arms and clench my back teeth at the plaintive sound she makes.

“I have to go.”

She grips my forearm. “Gabe, can you stay with me tonight? Please. Just for tonight, please. I have—”

Fuck you, Aelin Thorne.I stride to the front door I slam behind me.

Chapter Eleven

Aelin

Gabe… Please.

I stare at the door and tighten my towel around me while tears pool behind my eyes. I just needed his strong arms around me for a little while. I shut my eyes and sigh. I’ll call Em tomorrow.Yes, that’s what I’ll do.I turn all the lights off and trudge to my bedroom. Once under my duvet, I grab my second pillow and curl around it.

It’s over, it’s finally over. I went to slay the monster and won.

I need my Cara.My breath hitches and I curl deeper around the cushion while my throat clogs with tears that wet my pillow until I fall into a deep sleep.

****

Three days later, I slap my hand on the obnoxious alarm clock and flip on my back to stare at my ceiling. I sit up and spread my arms in a long stretch. I check my cell and sigh. Gabe hasn’t responded to my texts.

In the first two texts I asked him when he wanted the tour of Holloway, the third, if he wanted to have dinner. When I received a message from my bank advising me of a deposit—the payment for Holloway House—I called him but didn’t leave a message on his voicemail.

Why won’t he talk to me?In hindsight, it’s probably best he didn’t stay with me the other night. He would have asked where I was and I would have had to explain. But…

Nope. I won’t think about that today.My next project starts in a week, so today’s mine and Emma’s day. I hop out of bed and get ready.

Two hours later, seated in the armchair in the front room, I scroll down my tablet’s screen. It’s 9:55 AM. Em should be here in… When the doorbell chimes. I leap to the door and pull her to the living room with me.

She giggles as she sits down on the couch. “Hello to you, too, babe.”

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