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Razor stood so fast that he almost toppled backwards. “You're dead.”

“People keep telling me that,” the man said.

Ghost heard Crow suck in a breath. “No fucking way.”

Angel looked between them. “Who is he?” The stranger's attention returned to her, and for the first time, something softened in his face. He looked at Angel for a long moment—too long before his eyes filled. Ghost didn't like that—not one fucking bit.

The man held out the leather book. “This belonged to your mother.” Angel stepped forward, and Ghost stopped her.

“Name first,” Ghost said.

The man looked at him. “Samuel Bishop.”

The barn went silent, and Angel stared at him. “You're Bishop?”

“Yes,” he said.

“You knew my mother?” she asked.

His expression broke. “I loved your mother.” Ghost felt Angel go rigid beside him.

Razor laughed. “Tell her the rest.”

Bishop's jaw tightened. “Shut up, Caleb.”

Razor's smile turned cruel. “You came all this way. Don't stop now.”

Angel looked between them. “Tell me what?” she asked.

Bishop didn't answer, so Razor did. “Ask him why Elena trusted him enough to give him the ledger.”

Angel looked at Bishop. “Why did my mother trust you enough to give you the ledger?” He didn’t answer her. “Why did my mother give you that book?” she asked a little louder.

Bishop closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he looked devastated. “Because she knew she was going to die.”

Angel swallowed. “And she trusted you?”

“Yes,” Bishop said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I promised her I'd protect the one thing she loved more than anything else,” he said.

Ghost's instincts screamed again. Angel whispered, “My father?”

Bishop shook his head. “No.” He looked directly at her. “You.”

Bishop took one step closer to her, and Ghost blocked him. “That's close enough.” Bishop barely seemed to notice. His attention never left Angel.

“I've spent twenty-five years trying to keep that promise,” he said.

Angel's face went pale. “I don't understand.”

Razor laughed from behind them, and Ghost wanted to kill him. “Then tell her,” Razor said.

Bishop looked at him. “I told you to shut the fuck up.”

“She deserves the truth,” Razor said.