Page 71 of The Photograph

“Shoot. I’ll be quick,” she says as she races out of the room.

As I make my way to the kitchen, my cell pings with a text from Gabe.

There’re no words to express how sorry I am for the pain I’ve caused you. I’ve destroyed the contract and I’ll keep myself available if you ever want to talk or anything else you might need. GM.

Chapter Sixteen

Gabe

My brother rakes his fingers through his hair while he’s burning a trail in front of the fireplace of my house.

After I told him what happened between Aelin and me and briefed him on the sisters’ story, I braced himself for the punch that never came. But I’ll never forget the anguish in his expression when Aelin’s sister slammed the door of my office.

It’s been a little more than a week since I’ve seen the almost twins who looked at me like I was the devil himself. Now, settled beside Cal who’s slouching on the leather sectional, with my feet on the coffee table, I hang my head low as Mike stands across from me with his arms crossed over his chest.

“And you didn’t know any of this when you met her?”

I set my tumbler of whisky on the glass table.

“No.”

I didn’t know I’d remind her of the motherfucking piece of shit that raped her or that she would nearly die when she lost my child. I didn’t know I was the first man she let touch her. That when she smiled at me, she was only seeing me.

When my brother narrows his eyes, I get to my feet. My chest is heaving and my temples throb as I step to him. “For the last time, I didn’t know any of that.”

Michael leans in. “But that didn’t stop you from sleeping with the woman you thought was mine. Is it some kinky shit you have going on? You fuck the wom—”

I grab his t-shirt. “Don’t fucking say it.”

My brother’s brows shoot up, and he nods slowly as a smirk lifts his mouth. “I see.”

After releasing him, I shift back, but Mike’s hand lands on my shoulder.

“I love you, man, and I can’t say that if you’d slept with Cara, I’d have been so calm.”

That’s your idea of calm?

I roll my shoulder back, but my baby brother clasps his other hand on my nape and bores his blue eyes into mine. “But this whole … attitude you have toward women—”

I jolt back, but he hangs onto my neck. “They’re not all like Vanessa. Cara and Aelin certainly aren’t.”

“Amen to that,” Cal mumbles before he cheers us with his beer. When the doorbell rings, he jumps to his feet. “Bout’ time, I’m starving.”

****

After polishing off the ribs and wings, we trail to the kitchen where Cal and Mike sit side by side at the counter while I grab more beers from the fridge I set before them.

Mike sits up and zeroes his eyes on me.What now?I lean my back against the fridge and wait.

“How the fuck did you get Aelin pregnant?”

I clench my fist around the cool bottle. But Cal says. “Aww. Little Mikey doesn’t know.” He slaps his hand on my brother’s shoulder. “So, when two people love each other—”

Mike grunts. “Don’t be an ass.” He turns his narrowed gaze back to me. “We did have the talk when I was thirteen, and I remember the verbal sledgehammer you gave me about how a rubber is all about protecting your partner.”

She needed me to protect her.My chest tightens while heat crawls up my neck.

Cal studies me and Michael pushes. “The rubber broke, right?”

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