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We take a seat and Luke starts to talk right away. “A few years ago, I walked in on a conversation between the man we called our father and some man I didn’t know. At first I didn’t understand what they were even talking about but as the conversation continued I started putting the pieces together. I thought I misunderstood them when they started discussing the prices for each girl. They were calculating, trying to determine the worth of a girl.” He pauses briefly, his eyes meeting mine, holding mine, and I see the sadness in those depths, the sadness and love he has for me.
“Then I realized that they were talking about you. You were supposed to be sold as soon as you turned eighteen. As soon as the men left I confronted Joseph. I demanded answers, Sophie. And that’s when it all came out. He told me about how we weren’t his real children and that we owed him for taking us off the street. I didn’t believe him of course, so he showed me. He showed me papers, photos, and our birth certificates. That’s when I learned that we are actually twins.”
“We’re twins?” I gasp. How is any of that possible? My heart thuds against my rib cage painfully.
“Yes, it’s all true. I swear, I can show you the proof.” I look into his eyes, and the brother I used to love so dearly stares back at me, but beyond that I know he’s telling the truth. I don’t need to see some paper to prove it.
“I’m so sorry, Sophie, I tried. I tried everything I could to get you out of there. He told me if I could find you a husband who was willing to give him money he would let you go, and on top it he demanded that I work alongside him. That’s why I spent so much time away and why I tried to talk you into that marriage. I thought it was your only chance at freedom.”
I get up and throw my arms around him, holding him close to my chest. “I believe you.” Tears swim in my eyes. All those years that Luke kept me away, all the times he brought the attention to himself. The beatings he took for me, the sacrifices he made.
“I was so worried about you,” Luke murmurs into my hair. “When you decided not to follow through with the arranged marriage I was angry, but I understood. I just wanted you to be safe. And when he sold you. I didn’t know Sophie. I swear I didn’t. If I did I would’ve fought harder…I would’ve done anything I could to protect you. I wanted to find you but I didn’t even know where to start looking so I stayed in Safe Harbor. I wanted to wait until Dante and his men came back so I could follow them and find you. I swear, Sophie.”
The tears keep falling, slipping down my cheeks with so much ease, it feels like I’m letting go of every drop of misery that ever consumed my body.
“I know, you don’t have to explain anymore. I was just upset. I thought you turned your back on me. I just couldn’t understand at the time why you changed so suddenly. You were my best friend one day and then the next everything changed. I thought you wanted to get rid of me. You pushed me so hard to marry that man, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t follow through. I’d much rather have died.” Saying the words out loud sting a bit. It’s been a long time since I thought about dying the way that I did back when I lived at the compound or even in that cell before Roman came and got me.
“I shouldn’t have let any of it happen. But I didn’t know how to help you any other way. You’re my sister and it’s my job to protect you Now we’re free from his clutches I can insure that nothing like what happened to us ever happens to anyone else.”
I pull away nodding. “What happened today? Is he dead?”
Luke blinks, then looks at Roman over my shoulder. I twist around to look at Roman. His eyes are dark, sinister and I know the answer without him even saying it.
“I made him pay, Sophie. Just know that for every single time he beat you, touched you, or made you cry, he paid for it and I don’t have any remorse for killing him. In fact, I wish I could bring him back to life and do it all over again.”
At his words, it feels like a mountain has been lifted off my shoulders. The paralyzing fear that crippled me for years is gone. I release Luke and rush over into Roman’s arms.
