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I’d been a married man for a month. I had never been happier. The only thing that could make me happier was for Haven to announce that our considerable efforts had paid off and that she was pregnant. I was hopeful to hear that any day. She was due to start her period within the next few days.

I smiled when I heard the door open, and she entered the house. She’d had a meeting with a client, so we drove separately to work. I got up and met her partway so I could kiss her. I took my time and made sure to savor her before stopping. She gave me a dreamy smile. One I loved to see on her face.

“Welcome home, Witch.”

“Thank you. It’s great to be home,” she said hoarsely.

“I hope you’re hungry. Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes. Enough time for you to change and relax,” I told her.

“Perfect. I’ll do that. Oh, here, I almost forgot. This was in the mail.'” She handed me a letter before walking off toward our bedroom.

Our mail was delivered to a large communal mailbox outside the gate. We each had a smaller individual box in it—like those apartment mailboxes you sometimes see. Sitting down at the counter, I turned over the envelope. Seeing the return address as a lawyer’s office, I was puzzled. It wasn’t a name I knew.

Tearing it open, I removed a small bundle of papers. Unfolding them, I began to read. As I did, my curiosity turned to slight sadness.

Mr. Halliwell, my name is Ethan Smith. I am your father, Vernon Halliwell’s attorney. Mr. Halliwell Senior named me executor of his estate since he doubted it was something you wanted to deal with. I’m sad to inform you that your father passed away two weeks ago from complications of cirrhosis. His last wish was for his home and any assets he had to be left to you. Included in this letter is a list of those assets. We can arrange to meet to make final arrangements for those at a date convenient for you.

In addition, Mr. Halliwell Senior asked that I send you the enclosed letter only after his death. Please let me know if there is anything else I may assist you with. I look forward to speaking with you.

Regards,

Ethan Smith, Esquire

I felt the faintest ache at the thought of my dad being gone. Even though we had no real relationship, he was still my father. Pushing it away, I found the other letter. I recognized my dad’s handwriting on the outside of the sealed envelope. Opening it, I began to read.

Dear Son,

I know I haven’t ever been the father you wanted or deserved. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d done differently. A big one would be not to wait eleven years to reconnect with you after I divorced your mother. How different things might’ve been if I had.

I’ve been a man who regretted few things and lived his life the way he wanted. However, how you and I left things is one of my regrets, Vance. The other was that I denied someone else from knowing me and you.

As I lie here, waiting to meet my maker, I must say I’m sorry. And I have a request. One I pray you’ll grant. Not long after I divorced your mom, I met a woman. I didn’t love her, but she was a good woman. It wasn’t long before she came to me and said she was pregnant. I made it clear I wasn’t husband material in a most hateful way. I told her I wasn’t looking for another child. I gave her money for an abortion, and that was the last I saw her.

However, I was driven to make amends after seeing you last time. Your mom is gone, so I couldn’t apologize to her. However, I could say sorry to the other woman. I hired a private investigator to find her, which he did. Unfortunately, she died a few years ago.

You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this. The reason is she didn’t have an abortion like I thought. It seems she had the child. You have a sister, Vance. She’s twenty-five, and her name is Conleigh. My wish is that you contact her and the two of you have a relationship. I know how much family means to you. If you choose to do as I asked, Mr. Smith, my lawyer, has her contact information.

You might not believe this, but I love you, son. I always have.

Dad

I sat there frozen in disbelief. I was shaken from it when Haven returned to the kitchen and approached me, putting her arm around me. Glancing at her, I saw her concerned expression.

“Vance, what’s wrong?”

I handed her the papers. As she took them, I blurted out, “I have a sister. Her name is Conleigh.”

As she stared at me in shock, I sat there making plans to find my sister. No way would she be left to think she was unloved, unwanted, or alone. Not if I had anything to say about it. Goddamn you, Dad.

The End Until Mayhem’s Fury Book 7 of the Iron Punishers MC