Chapter 2:

Brad glanced at his reflection as he strode up to the sleek, glass doors of the lawyer’s office. The man was absolutely insufferable, but the terms of his father’s will dictated that he deal with him. It was a shame that he had underestimated the cunning of the man. Perhaps they were more alike than he had thought, however, it was too late now to think about it. He’d insured that his father had paid for his fickle love. Of course he’d never planned to have to deal with a stepsister and a half-brother.

Without betraying the swirling anxiety within, he strode purposefully to the front receptionist’s desk. The woman paused her phone conversation and smiled as she noticed Brad. Apparently his dark looks and focused intensity was a turn on for women, not that he had the time to deal with one for more than an evening.

“Hello Sheila,” he greeted, not from memory as the woman hoped, but from the small nameplate on her desk. “I have an appointment at eleven with Mr. Hauntle.”

“Of course, Mr. Parker,” she replied with a coy smile. “I’ll go let him know you’re here.” She quickly disconnected her call and hurried down the hall. Brad watched her go, a small smile of appreciation forming as he watched her lovely form. He lounged against the chest-high counter and waited for her to return.

During his last meeting with Mr. Hauntle, the man had been dropping hints left and right about Lola. The sudden interest was an irritating pest. Lola was easily controlled when kept in the lonely, little cabin, but he had yet to experience how his threats would work against her in a public venue. Granted, his possession of Jaden, had made her completely controllable so far, but one little slip could ruin everything. “Mr. Parker,” Sheila had returned. He turned to meet her wiping all emotion from his face.

“Mr. Hauntle is ready. Do you need me to show you the way?” she asked with a smile.

“Thanks, but I think I know it by now,” he offered her a wink for her efforts. She blushed brightly, leaving him with a grin to carry him to the office.

“Hello Brad,” the irritating lawyer greeted him without looking up. “Have a seat.”

Uneasy about the icy reception, he confidently settled into one of the leather chairs that sat facing the imposing, cherry desk. He waited in silence while Hauntle finished reading the paper he held and set it aside.

“I suppose you’re wondering why I called you in,” Mr. Hauntle began.

Brad shifted in his chair and nodded. “I was under the impression that things were settled until the reevaluation.”

“I was looking over Lola’s bank accounts and I noticed that several large withdrawals had been in rapid succession over the past three months,” the other man began. “I’ve also been curious about Lola, so I went and spoke to the manager at the banks where these withdrawals have been made. Not one of them recognized Lola’s photo.” His suspicious gaze rested on Brad as he leaned back in his own chair.

“She’s been traveling, so I, or one of my associates, have been making the withdrawals for her,” Brad replied calmly and confidently.

“Why not just withdraw from one of the banks during her travels?”

Brad clenched his jaw. The man was becoming an absolute pain. “I don’t know,” he finally answered.

The lawyer nodded pensively before standing and moving around the desk. “I am freezing all of Lola’s accounts until I can meet with her in person. Seeing her signature here and there is not enough.”

Brad stood without thinking. “You don’t have the authority to do that.”

Mr. Hauntle drew himself up to his full height. “I certainly can. In your father’s will it states that Lola does not come in to complete control of her trust until she is twenty-five, the same goes for Jaden, and until that time I have control and can do what I deem necessary.” He bypassed Brad and opened the office door. “I believe our meeting is over, until I see Lola the bank accounts are frozen, effectively immediately.”

Brad ignored the out held hand, angrily strode out of the office, and pass the flirting receptionist. He shoved open the shining glass doors and cursed under his breath.

“Didn’t go well?” his right hand man asked as he came up on the car.

“The accursed man is freezing Lola’s accounts,” he explained tersely as he slipped into the passenger seat.

Castiel, meanwhile, dropped into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Why?”

Brad flipped down the visor to block the midday sun. “He’s suspicious and he wants to see her in person.”

Castiel swore loudly and made a daring left turn out of the parking lot. “Do you want me to have him taken care of?”

Sighing, he leaned back against the headrest. “Impossible. My father stipulated in the will that if Hauntle dies the account goes to his successor, and if the death is suspicious all assets are frozen indefinitely.”

Castiel groaned. “Your father was a cunning bastard.”

“I should have reconciled before killing him. The softhearted fool would’ve written me back into the will. It’s too bad I let my revenge get the better of me,” he paused a moment. “Take me to the estate. I need to have a talk with the darling sister.”

Castiel’s rough laughter rang out as Brad allowed himself to doze for the rest of the drive.

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Lola was standing, staring out the kitchen’s small window when the dark sedan pulled out of the trees and up to the front of the cabin. A band of tension tightened around her chest as she watched Brad step out of the passenger side. The driver remained inside, concealed behind tinted glass and dancing shadows. She backed away from the window and placed herself behind the table. Offering a limited bit of protection against the man who had destroyed her life.

As a key was inserted into the lock the deadbolt flipped and the door opened quickly. Brad’s form blocked out the rays of sun trying to sneak in, but did allow a gentle breeze to drift through the stale house. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the bit of fresh air. The only time she ever got it was if she left the back door open, all the windows consistently remained shut.

It was easy to deduce from Brad’s tense expression that something was amiss. Without a word he stepped around the table taking away the bit of security she had felt. He slipped something from his coat pocket and held it out. She glanced at his face for a moment, before quickly taking the photo from his grasp. Flipping it over she was plunged into elation as she stared at her baby brother. Jaden was sitting on a floor surrounded by toys, but he was staring with wonder at the camera.

“What do you want?” she whispered, as usual all her strength had deserted her.

Brad smiled faintly, seemingly enjoying her misery. “How would you like to see him?” he asked.

Her eyes flew to meet his, searching for sincerity. “Jaden? Of course….what would I have to do?”

At this his smile grew. “You’ve learned well. It would just require a simple trip to see Mr. Hauntle.”

Lola frowned in confusion, “Dad’s lawyer?”

Brad’s eyes turned stony when she said ‘Dad’ but his expression quickly became a mask. “Yes, he would like to see you, but the only way that can happen is if I can be assured of your good behavior.” He took a threatening step forward and quickly backed her into a corner. Despite her relative ‘tallness’ at 5’8’’, Brad still easily towered over her by roughly four inches. “So, are you going to cooperate?”

Struggling against the fear he was trying to feed, she inwardly warred against her conscious. “Why the sudden offer?” she asked quietly.

Brad frowned and leaned back a little bit. “It’s been three years Lola, are you going to pass up on the chance to see Jaden?”

He was easily playing on her biggest weakness, but she would do anything if it meant helping Jaden. “I’ll do it.”

Brad nodded with a flash of triumph. “Good.” Without another glance, he was going out the door.

“Wait,” Lola cried and hurried after him. “Where are you going?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back for you tomorrow. Be ready.”

As you probably noticed, if you've read the original AU, I'm still following the basic chapter set-up, for now at least. If it continues like that you should expect Bruce in the next chapter or the one after. I can't wait to bring him back in and re-introduce Lucas & Samuel!!

Thanks for reading, please review! :)