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The minute our eyes lock, my eyes flare and we both do a double take.
No.I think, shaking my head.It’s not possible.
The girl’s name was Violet.Not Alex.I have to be imagining this. Or weirdly superimposing Alex’s face on her.
I look into her eyes and, to my surprise, recognition as clear as day shines in her eyes.
She knows me.
“Alex.” I hesitate, breathing the word out as if doing so will make the question less impactful.
It’s not her. It can’t be.
“Jesus, Stevie.” She curses, shaking her head as her hand reaches out to graze my face. “That was you in there? God, what did they do to you?”
She pulls me in for a hug, but I still don’t know how to react. My body just seizes up like a statue as her long arms wrap around me and my vision starts to blur.
I’m imagining this.I have to be.
“Stevie?” She asks, pulling back to get a better look at me. “What’s wrong?” Her brows knit together as she studies my battered face and even more tears well in my eyes.
“You aren’t her.” I hear myself whisper as a lone tear spills down my face. “You can’t be. Dimitri killed her.”
“Stevie, look at me.” She says, placing her hands on my shoulders and peering into my eyes. “I am her. Dimitri doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. He thinks he killed me, but he’s wrong.”
“You’re Violet.” I say, shaking my head. “Not Alex. I heard them say it.”
She jerks back as her brow furrows into a scowl. “It’s an alias. I use it to protect myself.”
I shake my head as I bite down on my lip. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around this.Alex is alive. Alex is fucking alive.“Why didn’t you tell me it was you?” I ask, glaring up at her.
“I didn’t recognize you.” She says, backing away from me as she softly shrugs her shoulders. “Or your voice. The thought never crossed my mind that it was you. You weren’t even supposed to be there tonight.”
My eyes grow wide at her words. “How the hell would you know that?” I ask, backing away from her as I cock my head. “Did you know where to find me?”
She averts her eyes. “Stevie, this whole thing is a lot bigger than me and you. It’s not that simple.”
“Answer the question, Al.” I snap, blinking back my tears as the emotions inside me slowly transform into anger. “Did you know how to find me?”
“Yes.” She says defeated as her shoulders slump. “You were supposed to be at The Diaz Estate.”
What the hell? Why does she know so much and where the hell has she been?
“Why didn’t you contact me?” I ask, my voice thick with emotion. “I looked for you. I…” I hesitate, shaking my head as I clench my fists. “We looked for you. Why didn’t you tell me you were okay?”
“I couldn’t.” She says, averting her eyes as she shakes her head. “You don’t think I wanted to? It’s complicated and it’s a long story.”
I cross my arms over my chest and clench my jaw. “I’ve got nothing but time, little sis.” I say, glaring at her. “Explain.”
Alex’s mouth forms into a hard line as she tilts her chin up. “Look.” She asserts, holding my gaze. “I’ll explain everything when we get in the car. But not here. Now, come on. The guys are waiting.”
I begrudgingly follow her to the car, purposely dragging my feet just to grate on her nerves. She turns to check on me and I immediately flip her off, feeling just as satisfied as I do stupid for being so immature about it. Never one to let a dig slide, no matter how petty. Alex bends her elbows and raises both of her fists before knocking them together a la ‘friends’ style, and I have to bite back the urge to smile at her. I’m still pissed at her, but I can already feel my anger subsiding. No matter what mistakes led the both of us here, she’s still my little sister and I’m grateful as hell to have her back.
