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)
“He asked for the divorce?” Reid asks, looking confused, his gaze shooting to Gabe’s, before returning to mine. “Why didn’t you ask for a fair settlement?”
“He told me if I did, he’d punish me in creative ways I couldn’t even begin to imagine. I couldn’t believe he allowed me to keep the shelter but that felt safe. How could that possibly backfire on me? And yet, it did.”
“Okay, Abbie,” Reese says. “I think, for now, we’re close to wrapping up.”
Abbie. They all call me Abbie. Because of Gabe. Because he’s shaping my life in ways I don’t yet understand but I want to. I so want to. “Help Gabe stay out of this, Reese. Please. Put him first. He’s what matters to me.”
“I’m going to help you both,” he replies. “If I’m even needed. If we’re lucky this doesn’t go beyond some basic questioning. They may have their man. I know only what you know,” he says. “And that’s not much, certainly nothing official.” He pauses a split second. “I’ll make a preemptive call on my way back into court, but if you’re contacted by the police, tell them I’m your attorney and that you’re dating my brother-in-law. That lets them know I won’t let you talk and that I’m prone to being extra cautious on this one.”
“That’s great,” I say. “Thank you.”
“I’ll let them know that I’m representing your mother as well, for the moment,” he continues. “I need to meet her before I’ll say that goes beyond initial law enforcement contact. Fair enough?”
“Yes,” I say, relieved. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed,” Reese assures me. “Now. Aside from me talking to Gabe, which I can do later tonight, is there anything else I need to cover with you, Abbie?”
“Yes actually,” I say. “There’s something you need to know before you make a call on my behalf.”
Reese laces his fingers in front of him, settling in for more. “I’m all ears.”
But so are Cat and Reid. I glance at Gabe and he nods. “Tell him. Reid knows. Cat is under a confidentiality clause with Reese’s firm.”
Tell his siblings that I all but killed my ex? Of course. Why not let them hate me right out of the gate? “My ex was threatening Gabe. He was threatening my mother. Bottom line, I not only told Jean Claude Laurette that my ex stole from him, but I gave him proof by email. I knew Jean Claude was a dangerous man but I believed he’d fire him not kill him.”
“Telling Jean Claude about your ex stealing from him is not the same as contracting someone to kill him,” Reese assures me. “You’re fine.” He winks. “You have me.” He looks at Gabe, and almost nonchalantly, says. “Did you kill him?”
“No,” Gabe states.
“Did you hire someone to kill him?”
“No,” Gabe says again.
“Do you know who did?”
“No,” Gabe replies. “But if I did, I’d send them flowers and chocolate. He was a snake, as is Jean Claude.”
“A snake you and Reid worked for,” Reese counters.
“I worked for him,” Reid states. “Gabe wasn’t in that circle. It was me and my father.”
Gabe looks at Cat. “He’s involved, Cat.”
Cat frowns. “Who?”
“Dad. He’s doing legal work for Jean Claude again now that he left the firm and Jean Claude had investments with Abbie’s ex.”
“Oh God,” she whispers, eyeing Reese. “What if he did this to pin it on Gabe and Reid? As payback for pushing him out of the firm?”
“Your father’s a dick, baby,” Reese says. “But that hurts his legacy.”
“He’s already lost his legacy,” Cat argues. “A trapped animal in a corner shows his teeth.”
“You underestimate our teeth, sister,” Reid assures her. “And we don’t even have to be angry to show them.”
Someone opens the door. “We need you, Reese.”
“On my way,” Reese calls over his shoulder, before looking at me. “I need to speak to your mother.”
“We’re flying her in from the Hamptons,” Gabe supplies.
“Call Cat when she arrives,” Reese instructs. “She’ll communicate with me.”
Gabe nods at Reese and Cat pats the table in front of me. “Be strong. This will all work out.” She’s sweet and kind, her support appreciated but I don’t miss the way her voice is now a different octave, defeat just below the surface. Her father’s involvement has changed this for her. She’s worried and I’m not sure what to make of just how worried.
She and Reese stand, followed by Reid, and in a splatter of fast activity, Gabe and I are left to watch the door seal us inside the room alone, every mistake I’ve made since meeting Gabe tormenting me with its closure; the only kind of closure we have right now. Kenneth is the only one who has closure. The kind you don’t come back from.
Chapter fifty-four
Abbie
Abbie
Hand in hand, Gabe and I follow the rest of the group, stepping out into the courtroom hallway where Cat is awaiting us. “Why don’t you go to our place? There’s no chance you’ll get sideswiped that way. All the reporters stalking Reese are here right now.” She looks at me. “Have your mother come to us, too. Then Reese can meet with her as soon as he’s free.”