Page 64 of The Photograph

The bed still doesn’t feel like it’s mine and it’s full of boxes.I shrug. “I’m still getting used to my new bed.” When she frowns, I squeeze her hand. “The old one was soaked with blood.”

Once inside the spacious room, we climb onto her bed where we sit crossed legged next to each other with our backs against the upholstered bed head.

I link my fingers to hers and tell her about my visit to Leslieville. When I tell her about my relationship with Gabe, she leans back.

“Angel, isn’t he a bit … old for you?”

No, but he’s a butthole.“You mean too experienced?”

My sister sighs. “Angel…”

I clear my throat. “Let me start from the beginning.”

When she nods, I huddle close and tell her as many details I can.

“Gabe’s Mitch’s brother—” Her face pales and her eyes fill up with tears that tighten my chest. “After you broke up, Mitch had an accident. It was pretty bad, and he needed several surgeries—” God, I hate seeing my sister hurt, but I continue. “Gabe found a picture of my eighteenth birthday Mitch had with him and concluded I was the one dating him and broke his heart … and he wanted to get revenge for his brother.”

I wipe her tears and cup her face. “I’m sorry—”

She leans back and I gasp at the frightening anger in her gaze. “So, you nearly died, and you’re being blackmailed into leaving because those assholes couldn’t take no for an answer?”

I tighten my hands around her scowling face.

“It’s all right, my Cara.” I whisper. “I promise, I’m okay, and with the surgery, Dr. Nareen says I will be able to have children naturally, so everything else is—”

She jumps off the bed and I kneel on the mattress as her curly hair whips around as she paces.

“Cara—”

Her eyes flash with rage as she sits beside me. “Nothing. Nothing’s fucking okay about this, Angel.”

Oh God. It’s never good when Cara drops the F bomb. But before I say anything, she kisses my head, holds me tight, and I loop my arms around her. She slants back. “I’m exhausted and you need rest, let’s go to bed and we’ll talk tomorrow.” Cara’s gaze hooks into mine. “Are you all right?”

I nod with a smile. “I promise.”

“Do you need your pillow?” she asks around a yawn.

I shake my head and we lie down, forehead to forehead.

My Cara’s home.

Chapter Fourteen

Gabe

“Thank you, Erica.” I stand to shake the hand of the woman soon to be my assistant.

The last of the two candidates Ann has introduced me to as her replacement exits my office while Ann sits across from me with her legs crossed. “So, what do you think?”

I don’t care.I swipe my hand over my face. “She’s fine. Pick the one you think is best, Ann.”

She shifts to the edge of her seat and tilts her head to the side. “Gabe, what’s wrong?”

When I plant my elbows on my desk and pinch the bridge of my nose, she frowns.

“Anything I can help with?”

I shake my head and sit back. “I’m good, Ann. Thanks.”

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