Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Horns honk and she brushes her fingers over my cheek. “He’s not you. I know that.”
I don’t know how she knows that’s where my head is, how she tasted that fear on my lips, but she did. I kiss her again and say, “Let’s go inside.”
She exits first and I follow. Blake stands on the sidewalk, arms folded in front of him, dark eyes pinning mine over Abbie’s head. The silent message in that look nothing more than a confirmation. I don’t want Abbie to hear what he has to say.
The three of us head into my building and I try to figure out how I get a minute to talk to him alone. Once we’re on the elevator Blake offers me that answer. “Reese and Cat are already in your apartment and Reese is eager to get started with you, Abbie.”
“Get started prepping me to be questioned on murder charges,” she whispers. “How is this my life?”
The answer, I am certain, is as I’ve feared all along but now am about to confirm. My father. I pull her to me, hold her close, wishing like hell I didn’t know this was headed to a place that might just destroy us. We enter the apartment and Dexter all but tackles us both at the door. That damn dog is so happy to have a family he’s about to piss himself and I get it. Abbie makes me get it. Hell, Dexter does, too. My sister is first to greet us after Dexter and she’s looking all belly and smiles. She’s happy, the way I want Abbie to be happy.
Reese joins us and he’s quick to focus on Abbie. “Let’s get you prepped and ready so we can make this go away.”
“Yes, please,” Abbie says, glancing around. “Where’s Cole? Is he here? What about Gabe’s prep?”
“Cole and I talked this afternoon,” I say. “I’m fine. I’m ready.”
She rotates to face me, fixing concerned eyes on me. “You need to prep. More than me. I’m not letting you go down for me.”
She’s protecting me. No woman has ever cared about me beyond my money and my tongue. Cat’s eyes meet mine, warm and worried. She knows what I’m thinking. She knows I can’t lose Abbie. My father will not be the reason. “I’m used to this kind of thing,” I say refocusing on Abbie. “It’s what I do.” I stroke her hair. “And you know the law. You’re an attorney. Use that during the interview.”
“Knowing it and using it are two different things,” she says. “I haven’t been practicing.”
“Good thing I have,” Reese offers, loosening the tie around his neck. “Come on. Let’s go get busy.”
“I ordered pizza,” Cat says. “The baby needs pizza. And ice cream.” She smiles at Reese. “Right, baby?”
“Right, sweetheart.” He laughs and kisses her. “We’ll get a pint or ten on the way home.” He glances at us. “We’re set up at the dining room table. Join us when you’re ready, Abbie.” He and Cat walk away.
I kiss Abbie. “Go, baby. Do this.”
“Go? Where will you be?” She glances at Blake and then me and understanding fills her gaze. “You want to talk to him alone.”
“Don’t read into this, Abbie,” I say. “We’re just talking.”
“I know it’s about your father. I hate that you don’t trust me with that information. That makes me sad.” She pushes to her toes, her hand on my chest, her lips to my ear. “I hate KM and I don’t even know who she is. I just know that she made you this way.” She settles back on her feet. “When you’re done I’d really like it if you would join us. I need you, Gabe.” And with that, she turns away and starts walking, twisting me in ten different directions as she does. She doesn’t want me to let her walk away. She wants me to pull her back but I can’t. Not now. Not until I talk to Blake.
Because I do trust her. I trust her to be a good person. I trust that I’m not. I look at Blake and motion to a small office off the hallway. We enter the room, huddling up by the door he pulls shut
“Tell me,” I say. “What sins hath my father committed now?”
“He’s brokering the deal for Jean Claude now that her ex is dead. He stands to make millions off the deal.”
I absorb that with hard understanding. “My father benefited from her ex-husband’s death.”
“Yes,” Blake confirms. “He stood to benefit by a sum somewhere around ten million if not more.”
In other words, my father may well have killed Abbie’s ex-husband and framed her for it. How does a man come back from that with a woman?
Chapter eighty-one
Gabe
I’m still standing in my apartment office with Blake when Reid sends me a text: Where are you? I’m stuck outside in the zoo of the press at Cat and Reese’s building.