Page 133 of Drawn Blue Lines

Guadalajara

One year ago

“No!” I stumbled backward toward the bookshelf. “It’s not true!”

Cristiano sat on the couch, sympathy etching in the lines drawn across his face. “I’m sorry, Mari. It is.”

But I didn’t want his sympathy. I wanted him to take it all back. I wanted him to tell me it was all a lie.

“How do you know? He’s in with the Carreras! He could be lying!”

He clasped his hands in front of him. “Brody Harcourt got the information from Leo Pinellas. I verified it myself. The birth certificate is authentic, and so are the blood records. Esteban and Carmen both have type A blood. You are AB. They can only produce children with type A or O. Adriana Carrera was born with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. The same thing that forced your transplant at age fourteen. Did you never wonder why your parents weren’t matches? Or Manuel for that matter?”

I heard every word he said, but I didn’t want to believe it. “They told me sometimes that happens.”

The corners of his mouth turned down and he sighed. “Mari…”

“Why?” I screamed, ripping a book from the shelf and throwing it at him. “Why would they do this to me?”

He averted his eyes. “I don’t know.”

The cry that tore from my throat didn’t sound human. I didn’t feel myself falling until I hit the floor. “I can’t be a Carrera. I can’t!”

* * *

Present Day

I blinked, the visions fading as if they’d never been there. “I’m so sorry I never got to know you. I’m sorry I grew up hating you, and for turning into such a selfish, vile woman. You must be so ashamed of me.”

“Cariño, none of what happened was your fault. We live the life we are given. A child cannot be faulted for not seeking the truth when lies are all she knows. I’m not ashamed of you. You gave your life to save my grandson, Adriana. That’s the most selfless gift a person can give.”

I gave my life?

I looked again at her flowing white gown and glanced down at the tether. I couldn’t breathe as I spun around. “Am I dead?”

“That’s up to you, but I believe someone is waiting for you.”

The tether grew slack. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re in charge of your own destiny, cariño.”

I glanced down once more just as the tether snapped and a voice from below carried by me on a passing breeze.

“We’re losing her…clear!”

Chapter Forty-Three

Brody

I was staring down at my clasped hands when Eden jumped up from the chair beside me. “How are they? How is my husband? Is he…” The words caught in her throat as tears poured down her face. Mateo slipped an arm around her, bracing for whatever news came next.

The doctor smiled. “Mrs. Carrera, your husband pulled through just fine. He’s in recovery.”

Eden let out a sob and covered her face.

I cleared my throat and stood. “What about Adriana?” When he didn’t say anything, I repeated it louder as Leighton took my hand.

His face became solemn. “She coded on the table.”

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