Page 103 of Protected By the Sinner
One of them, bald and just as tall as I am, steps forward. He reminds me a bit of Blood—same empty stare. “You can’t go in.”
“Who’s gonna stop me?”
“Roman, Elodie’s expecting you,” I hear a voice behind him say.
The man’s accent is different, and even though I haven’t seen him yet, I know it’s LeBlanc.
Theshaved headhesitates but eventually steps aside. When he moves, I come face-to-face with the man who, apparently, is my future brother-in-law.
We’re about the same height and build, and he looks just as likely to smile as I do.
“Amos Cooper,” I say, more to cut the bullshit than out of any desire to introduce myself.
“I know who you are. My sister-in-law thinks you’re siblings. And while I can admit you look alike, that’s not enough in my world.”
“Not in mine either, which is why I brought three DNA test kits. If we send them out today, I can have the results back by morning.”
He nods, though he still doesn’t seem too eager to let me in.
“I’m here to see them,” I say, spelling out the obvious, but he still doesn’t move.
Jesus, this day just keeps getting better.
“Beau, knock it off. I told you not to stop him from coming in. Amber’s been dying to see him.”
That finally does the trick. He steps aside, but neither of us takes our eyes off the other.
And then, just like that, I’m face-to-face with the woman I’ve only ever seen in a photo.
In person, the resemblance is even more striking, and a strong wave of emotion rushes through me.
With no clue how to handle it, I blurt out the dumbest thing possible: “I brought kits so we can confirm the DNA.”
She starts crying and runs into my arms. “Screw science. You’re my reflection!”
There’s no point in denying it, so for once, I push logic aside and let myself be held by the woman who might just be the first real link to my past.
“Come with me,” she says after a while. “Amber’s dying to meet you.”
She leads me to the first door on the right, and when she opens it, a calmer version of the woman holding my hand watches us from the hospital bed.
I remember what Elodie told me: that Amber had been hit by a car, lost her memory, then got it back. She’s pregnant and had a rough night.
And then something strange happens.
Even though it makes no sense—because they might not be anything to me—years spent with Lillyana have taught me better. With one arm around Elodie, I walk to the bed and, without saying a word, pull Amber into my chest too.
You could almost hear the rhythm of our three hearts, and feelings I don’t know how to name rise up inside me.
Elodie’s right. Screw science.
They’re mine too.
Chapter 48
The doctor discharged me, and we all came home—the one I hope will be our forever home.
Amos doesn’t seem entirely comfortable, alert to everything around him. Beau’s also in the living room, and the two of them are studying each other like opponents ready to attack each other.
