I looked from Alexander to Richard.

“Alexander Hayes," I answered Richard.

Richard shook his head. “No, he’s–” He cut himself off as his eyes widened again. He turned to Alexander with that look, his mouth opening and closing. “You… It can’t–”

"Since you’re here, I assume you’ve signed the papers,” Alexander said, his voice low, yet it carried. One look at Richard, and he clamped his mouth shut.

“He was just about to,” my father spoke for the first time in a while. He turned to Richard with a glare. “Sign them.”

Richard looked at me, his eyes soft, but I kept my back straight and my eyes hard, even...