Page 107 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

Dear son,

I am writing this in the event of my death. You could be reading this when you’re twelve or twenty-two, I don’t know. And for that, I apologize in advance. Things between your mother and I are getting more tense, and I’m not sure to what ends she would go.

Be strong. Everything is left to you. If you’re not yet eighteen, your Uncle David will take care of everything, including you. He’s a good man with a short temper—kind of like your old man—but I trust him to do right by you.

You’re holding up the Asher name on your shoulders, and that is no easy task. Your fate in life is uncertain. To sell the shares, move away, become your own person with a healthy bank account? Continue as I was?

Choose happiness, whatever you do.

I love you, and I’m sorry.

Dad

My memory of him did have dark spots—when his anger boiled over. But overall, he was good. He taught me important lessons without being too harsh, took me to the park when work allowed. He worked for the family.

His whole life was dedicated to building up our name.

And one night ruined it. Dragged it through the mud.

I ran my finger across his signature, folded the letter, and shoved it in my pocket.

When I turned around, Mom was still clutching her unopened one, arguing with the lawyer.

“We’re going back to the house,” she informed him. “It’s Caleb’s.”

“It’s David’s to control,” he corrected, shrugging. “I can’t stop you either way.”

She came to me, holding out her hand.

I took it.

“Goodbye, Josh,” she said. “Let’s hope we never…”

He just watched us. And when I craned around one last time, he winked.

Present

I relay the story as best I can. I don’t tell them the contents of the letter—I did have the thing memorized for a while, when I would read it under my sheets with a flashlight—but the gist of everything.

“Your mom was having an affair?” Margo asked. “With who?”

I shake my head. “It didn’t occur to me to question her.”

Eli groans. “And your dad wrote you a tragic fucking letter. Of course.”

“It was comforting at the time.”

We lapse into silence.

Then Margo says, “Norah did say Josh being Dad’s lawyer was a conflict of interest. But she had said him and your dad weren’t on good terms. Why did he use Josh for his will?”

Eli leans toward her. “She talked about that?”

“I asked,” she says, sheepish.

“She’s never bothered to answer any of my questions about it. I transferred to Emery-Rose soon after you had left, and Caleb sought me out—evidently because of Dad,” he adds with a smile. “But they both clammed up whenever I asked about…”

“Our dads were friends,” Margo says.