Page 76 of Saving Stella

“Ronan’s goons followed our parents, and they … they got rid of them.”

A pang of sadness hit Stella in the chest. She hadn’t known her birth parents and had already suspected they were gone. But still, they had given life to her, Sloane, and Devon. There was no way she could forget about them.

“Afterward, they brought me back, then concocted that bullshit story. When I found out, I tried to kill Ronan. Been on the run ever since.” She scratched at her head. “One thing, though—I still don’t understand how we were separated if our parents left us together at that train station. And I didn’t even know I had a twin until I saw that video. Scared the shit out of me when I saw my face. You said you were adopted?”

“By a couple here in Nevada.” Stella pursed her lips. Lizzie’s words came back to her. “Maybe … our parents left us at the train station to keep us safe in the first place, but Ronan saw the article.”

“And sent his enforcers to California to take us back to the clan, but only got me?” Sloane finished.

“Kids go missing all the time, so that’s what I’m thinking. The county didn’t have records of you at all. Maybe that’s why—you were kidnapped before they could enter your records in the system, while I was put up for adoption. And also—” Stella bit her lip. “There’s something else.”

“What?”

“We have a brother, Sloane. An older brother.” She didn’t reveal Devon’s identity yet, fearing it would freak her out. “He found me, and that’s why I made the video. So we could find you.”

Her face turned pale. “I’m so sorry. For bringing this all on you.”

“No.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t regret anything. Not now, when you’re here with me. Can I … can I hug you?”

Sloane nodded, and Stella reached over to pull her in. Her scent was so familiar and comforting, and her wolf rumbled in happiness as they embraced.

“I was kidnapping you to keep you safe,” Sloane said when they let go of each other. “I knew they’d be after you. They just got to you first, after all. I heard about the first kidnap attempt from a contact who’s still with the Boston clan. When that didn’t work out, they tried again at your school.”

“I was right,” Cliff said. “I did smell another Lycan in that building.”

“Garret McCall, Ronan’s Beta and a mean motherfucker,” Sloane spat. “You scared him though, Cliff Forrest.”

“You know who Cliff is?” Stella asked.

“Aside from the guy hanging around you, preventing me from kidnapping you?” Sloane chuckled. “Sure do. We had sports and MMA playing on the TVs back at the Boston compound all the time. But, now that we’ve sorted this all out, you can come with me.”

“Come with you?”

“Yeah. After I failed to off Ronan, I went on the run. Turning Lone Wolf made it easy to move around, and I’ve been working odd jobs here and there, saving up enough money to leave the country. I have a place set up somewhere safe and fake IDs, passports, bank accounts, the works. You’ve actually saved me a lot of trouble, being my twin and all, so you can use one of my identities. We can go anytime.”

“She’s not leaving with you.” Cliff’s tone was dead serious. “Over my dead body is she going on the run with you.”

“The fuck she isn’t!” Sloane shot to her feet and slammed her palm on the table. “She’s in danger now. I put a target on her back, and so I’m going to protect her from now on.”

“No.” Cliff bared his teeth and planted his hands on the table, then leaned over. “I’m going to protect her from now on. Her and?—”

“Aren’t I just a job to you, Cliff?” Stella interjected. While she had no plans of running away with Sloane, she wasn’t about to let him bully her sister or think he could control her just because they had sex. “What if I did want to run off with Sloane?”

“Well, you can’t,” he roared.

“And why the heck not?”

“Because you’re having my baby, that’s why!”

Dead silence filled the room.

“E-excuse me?” she sputtered. “How can you be sure?”

“Oookay.” Sloane held her hands up. “I’m sensing this isn’t a conversation I should be in the middle of. Hey, Stella, mind if I use your shower and borrow some clothes?”

“Sure, go ahead,” she said, her eyes never leaving Cliff.

“I’ll join you,” Jacob said.

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