Page 83 of The Devil's Secret

Hope isn’t something I’m used to.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

JOELLE

We arrive at the hospital,and as soon as the car stops, I jump out, running inside.

“I’m looking for my son.” I huff, my palms flat on the counter of the front desk, a woman no older than me sitting there, peering up.

“What’s his na—”

“Jo—Jade.” I turn sharply toward Enzo’s voice.

“Enzo?” My heart drops from relief as I see him on my left, standing up from one of the chairs. I rush toward him. Our bodies connect hard as his arms hold me with everlasting strength. I sob quietly against him, a hand gliding up my back, soothing me as he always does.

“Have you heard anything?” I ask, just as Elliot makes it inside.

“Not yet, baby. But listen, his name is John Parker here. I didn’t want the Bianchis finding out we have him. Don’t worry about anything. The staff here will not ask questions. We’re good friends with two people on the board.”

“Okay.” My fingertips jump to my forehead. “I need to sit.” Elliot takes the empty chair beside me while Enzo takes the other.

Minutes tick by and we wait in silence until Enzo breaks it.

“I gotta ask…” He leans his elbows on his thighs, his attention on Elliot. “How the hell do you know my girl’s real name?”

He’s trying to remain calm, but I could tell the beast is roused awake.

Elliot snickers. “She’s my sister, man.”

He jolts in his chair, sitting straighter. “What?” He runs a hand past his face, his eyes darting between us. “Is he telling the truth?” he asks me.

“Yeah.” I smile weakly at my brother. “He kinda is.”

“Okay, back up. Someone’s gotta explain all this to me.”

Elliot’s brown eyes grow sad as he momentarily looks to the floor before he speaks.

“Since the moment our mother and I knew she was gone, when the police failed to find her, I was determined to do what they couldn’t. But I was just a kid.” He shrugs. “Only sixteen. So with help from some friends, I found this guy online who could go into the dark web. He tried to help me track Jade that way, but it was impossible. It's like all traces of you vanished,” he says to me. “I decided to join the army at eighteen, wanting to become stronger so I could find and kill the ones who took you. But as the years passed, I regretted it because all that time, I could’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh, Elliot.” Tears spring into my eyes with a renewed sense of anguish. “Don’t blame yourself.” Taking his hand, I hold it in mine. “None of this is on you. You wouldn’t have found me anyway.”

“I’m your brother, Jade, and I failed you.” He’s so broken. I can see it on his face, and the pain, it bleeds into mine.

“No.” I shake my head, my vision blurry. “The path you took, it led me to you. If you hadn’t done everything you did, we probably would’ve never found each other.”

He lets out a sharp exhale. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I was always right.” My mouth cracks with a small laugh.

“Yeah, you never let me forget it.” He chuckles.

“So, how did you end up working for Enzo?”

“Well, technically, he’s assigned to Dante,” Enzo clarifies. “Though the guys work for all of us.”

“I got shot last year,” my brother adds.

“What?” I gasp. “Are you okay?”

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