Page 95 of A Forever Love
I disregard him for a second—I’m going to get an earful anyway—and turn to Uncle Gavin, who takes a seat on the leather couch in front of me. “Thanks.”
He nods. “I would’ve enjoyed seeing you in cuffs more if I didn’t have to leave Adrianna’s slumber party.”
“That’s one way to make someone feel shitty,” I respond dryly.
“Considering how hard you hit the man, I think making you feel shitty is the last thing any of us wants.” Uncle Connor hands me a glass.
“I heard he’ll live. That’s enough for what he did.”
“He told the police you kept repeating, ‘You ruined my mom’s life.’” Uncle Connor’s voice crackles with tension, impossible to contain.
My grip tightens around the glass, desperate to hide any tremors from my perceptive audience. “Would it surprise you if he’s lying?”
“Not at all. But is his wife lying too?” He fixes me with a steely gaze.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, and if you don’t mind, I’d rather sleep.” I get up after downing the drink in one gulp. But I haven’t even taken a step toward the stairs leading to the bedrooms when Uncle Gavin’s words freeze me in place.
“What are you trying to find in Lily’s journals?”
I swivel around in a flash.
“You really think that after we brought her back home we wouldn’t search for the guy who made our sister run away? Everyday tasks became a struggle for her—leaving the house, talking to strangers, going to the mall. Do you really believe we would just stand by and watch her suffer?”
“You went through her journals yourself?” How the heck did I not think of this sooner?
“We did. We scoured every page and erased every trace of that vile man from her life.”
“Did you have anything to do with his accident?”
“I freaking wish. But no.” Uncle Gavin’s teeth grind. “We had finally tracked him down and were on our way when we received news of his accident. That asshole had an easy death.”
“Why didn’t you come to us before you asked Joel to look into this?” Uncle Connor raises an eyebrow. Unlike Uncle Gavin, his voice remains controlled. What I wouldn’t do to see the man lose his composure for once.
“Did he tell you?”
“Of course not, but I have my means to find out what’s happening around me.”
“Is there anything in this world you don’t freaking know? It’s scary how you seem to be aware of every single thing.” His morning visit to my apartment is still fresh in my mind.
“I’m a man bound to a wheelchair while running a security business. I have to compensate for my physical shortcomings somehow, and information is the most valuable asset, second only to strength.” His lips twist, and then the room falls into pin-drop silence.
“Cut him some slack, Connor. You can’t choose when to play the sympathy card and when not to. He had a rough night,” Uncle Gavin interjects.
“And you think I didn’t?” And at last, the ex-CEO of Kings Security finally snaps. “The day I signed the adoption papers, I promised myself I’d give him a life where he wouldn’t be haunted by his birth father.”
“You know very well I wasn’t looking for the man because I wanted a daddy. I wanted that jerk to know my mom wasn’t alone anymore. I—”
“She was never freaking alone,” Uncle Gavin interrupts. “When your mom left, do you think our lives remained the same? You’ve met your grandmother, right? She threatened every police officer to find her daughter ASAP. Your grandfather ran a search patrol from his office. What happened to Lily was unfortunate, and we couldn’t change it. But if you keep on this path of ruining the life your mother worked so hard to give you, it’ll be an even greater loss. If not for us, live for her. She loved you more than anything in this world.”
The gnawing guilt twists within me, coiling like a serpent in the pit of my stomach. “She was coming to see me that night. We had dinner plans, but I had to cancel due to a meeting with a prospective client. So, she decided to surprise me instead.”
“Don’t let guilt ensnare you, Carter. We’ve all been caught in its web at some point in life, and all you’ll find there is more resentment and hatred. Move on, kid.” Uncle Gavin’s hand rests on my shoulder, and I can’t help but think of the accident that changed his life.
“I don’t freaking know how.” My palms press into the socket of my eyes.
The events of the day crash over me like a tsunami. Guilt snakes through every cell in my body.
Mom. Merida. Me.