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“I’ll always worry. She’s my little sister,” I say. “I won’t believe it until she’s in front of me.”
Carina stands abruptly. “Excuse me.”
“Carina. Shit!” Emily reaches for her.
“It’s okay. I’ll be back.”
Emily meets my puzzled gaze. “Her sister was killed recently.”
I pause. “She didn’t tell me she had a sister.”
“A twin. Her name was Alma.”
“How did she die?” I ask.
It takes her a moment to reply, and when she does, a chill goes up and down my spine. “Gideon’s minion killed her. Scarlet.”
My hand flies to my lips. “Oh my God. That’s who Maisie stayed with.”
“I know. That’s why Carina wants to take Gideon and Scarlet out.”
“She knew I was going to see Gideon. That could have been her chance.”
Emily shrugs. “Your sister was more important at the time. She didn’t want you to go through the same pain.”
“I feel sick.” I sit on the step beside Emily and tuck my head between my knees.
She rubs my back. “It’s over now, though. Maisie is safe.”
Now she is. But to think of how close she came. To think about the chance Carina gave up.
Just then, the front door opens. Luca walks in, followed closely by Maisie. Relief at seeing her standing there alive washes over me and I run to embrace her.
Tears flow freely as I hold her tightly, laughing and crying at the same time. “You had me so scared.”
She buries her face in my chest and sniffles. “I’m sorry. I just… I wanted to come home.”
“I know. And I’m sorry I didn’t make sure you had one. I’m so sorry, Maze. But please promise you’ll never scare me like that again.”
Pulling away slightly, she peers up at me. “I promise.”
I spot Arran behind her. He’s looking worse for the wear, with a bruised cheek and a swelling eye.
Something inside me breaks. As if a wrecking ball has just slammed against the restraining wall that’s been holding all of my doubt and hatred and fears, releasing them all at once. So I go to him and fling myself in his arms and cry into his chest.
We hold on tightly to each other. I think we’re both too afraid to let go. When I lift my gaze to his, I see the hope in it. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
“I don’t have a choice,” I say, repeating what Maisie told me. “When I thought my world would fall apart, you were the first person I called out to. You were the one I trusted with Maisie’s life.”
“He kicked some ass,” Maisie throws in. “Before Scarlet kicked his.”
“Scarlet was there?” I frown.
“She saved me,” Maisie says.
“Ismael Lopez’s men were there,” Gunn says. “That’s who attacked.”
“The important thing is that Maisie is safe. And we will deal with Ismael,” Arran says. With his hands on my hips, his gaze lowered, he says, “But I need to know. Do you forgive me?”
