Page 200 of Heartless

“I know,” I murmured back.

We separated, and the corner of her mouth quirked in that adorable way.I touched her cheek one last time.Then I let go of my Gabby.

She blinked, and her mouth curved down.“Nana, I said I was sorry.Come on.You know me, I—”

“Yes, I do, Gabby.”

I made my voice gentle.“Take care of yourself.Okay?”

Her eyes shone with tears.“You too, Nana.”

I walked to Jake, who interlaced his fingers to mine.Just as we neared the dining room, Munch opened the door with a slight bow.We entered the room where Joel was pacing the plush rug while talking in a low tone to his cell.

****

Jake

The man was haggard.He shook my hand and kissed Sienna’s cheek.“Thank you both for coming.I won’t keep you long.”

Sienna touched his arm.“How are you, Joel?”

Like everyone who’d gotten to know my butterfly, his expression mellowed.“Going through the motions.”

After declining Morrison’s junior offer of a drink, we followed him farther into the stuffy room.

Twisting to face us, he rammed his hands in his pockets.The man was pissed.I edged closer to Sienna.

“Dad’s lawyer gave me the file he had on you.”He shook his head.“He knew about your mother’s cancer.He knew you were fucking alone, and he didn’t do shit.”

I tucked her to my side while Morrison Junior kept talking.

“I knew Dad was a conniving bastard, but this is beyond the pale.The lawyers also informed me about the visit that weasel Storley arranged.And Sienna, I didn’t know any of this, and I can only apologize for the harassment we put you through.”

He strode to the bar and came back with a folder.Then he handed it over to Sienna.“This is the file.Everything is there, and this is the only copy.And again, I’m sorry.”

She gripped both hands on the red folder and leaned deeper against my side.“Thank you, Joel.”

Fuck if I knew how the dead motherfucker had managed it, but his son was a good man.

“I’ve also redistributed the will, so all his children will share a portion of his estate—”

At that, Sienna’s head jerked.“Joel, I’m really touched, but I don’t want anything from Nigel.”

“Sienna—”

She touched his arm, and her voice held a thread of steel.“I mean it, Joel.I’m fine.”

He glanced at me.“I’m glad she has you.”

I shook his hand.“Thanks, Joel.”

After he’d walked us to the front door, he pecked Sienna’s cheek.“Don’t be a stranger.We’re a kind of a fucked-up family, but we’re family, and in your own time, I would like us to get to know each other.”

Smiling, she nodded.“I’d like that.”

****

In the car, she staredat the file on her lap, and I took her hand.“Are you going to open it?”