Page 115 of Perfect Order
For a brief moment, peace flows through me.I did it, Lee.
I let my hand drop.
After that, the world goes black after Linus pulls the trigger and it hits me exactly where he intended.
Kane
Erzulie—always believed to be folk-award-winning singing sensation Kylie Miles—was proven this evening to be her identical twin sister, Leanne, when she was rushed to the emergency room.
Leanne isn’t available for comment.
— StellaNova
If I thought the scene at Castor was bad enough with the police, protocol, and statements preventing me from getting to her, the riot of reporters waiting for me at Saratoga Hospital almost sends me over the edge of insanity. I easily shove my way past them with the ease born of practice with Beckett, ignoring their questions.
Can you tell us what happened at the crime scene?
Is Beckett coming to visit Ms. Miles?
Are you here to protect Ms. Miles?
Finally, a male voice shouting next to my ear resonates above all the others. “Are you aware Leanne was an imposter?”
My head whips to the side, and I pause midstride. “What trash rag are you with?”
A flicker crosses his face. “StellaNova.”
Figures. “All I’ll say is this—neither Miles sister is an imposter.” Certainly nothing Leanne has made me feel is close to a forgery of love. It’s the real thing. Now, if I can just get her to forgive me for not believing in her when it could have cost her her life.
And with that, I push my way through the rest of the garbage barring my way to the hospital doors, and I hurry to the room I was told Leanne would be in once she gets out of her brain scan for her head slamming so hard against the wall.
Because once she wakes up, I may murder her for not letting anyone know she was wearing body armor beneath her ski wear. She took a hell of a gamble the lunatics she was dealing with would be so anxious to get to Dioscuri they would only check her for weapons, not protection. I’m certain my life expectancy shortened by several years until Thorn blew the lock and I was able to reach her while Thorn took care of the threat.
When I asked him what he wanted as a thank-you, he actually cracked a smile as he stared down at Leanne’s rising and falling chest. “I think you’re going to give it to me.”
Then he disappeared, leaving me to clean up the mess.
I can’t force myself to move away from her side. “You’ve lost weight, baby. You look like you’ve barely eaten, Crash.” I run my fingers through the webbing of hers that doesn’t have the IV through it.
She doesn’t stir, even though it’s been days. The doctors have come by twice a day to see if she’s awake, making noises about sending her down for a new head CT if she doesn’t begin to stir soon. The swelling on her brain isn’t impacting her motor functions, but as they said, “It could be sheer exhaustion.” Then they drew more blood and attached more bags to her overflowing IV.
Judging from that, I lend more credence to that theory than any long-term impact to her brain. She’s just drained from the mental exhaustion of the last sixteen months. “Especially the last six.” I lower the bed rail to get as close to her as I can. I just wish I could erase all the time and space between us as easily, but I need her awake to hear what I have to say. Instead, I focus on reminding her, “You got them, Crash. You kept your promise to Kylie. You figured out who killed her.”
Her lips part, and a puff of air releases, encouraging me to keep talking.
A tremulous woman’s voice comes from behind me. “I can’t believe she did that.” My head whips around, and I stare into Renee Miles’s tearstained face. “No, I take it back. Icanbelieve she would do that for her sister. What I can’t believe is the life she was leading.” Her eyes flick over to mine. “Can you?”
I nod. “But that might be because she saved mine a time or two before I ever knew who she was.” I reach up and brush her loose hair off Leanne’s face. She just sighs, head lolling to the side, instinctively trying to get closer.
I hope.
Renee sucks in a deep breath. “I’ve been so careless with her this past year…Kane? May I call you Kane?”
“Certainly, Mrs. Miles,” I address her formally. When I think about the way Leanne cried in my arms about the loss of her family a year ago, it’s difficult not to be reticent with this woman, yet what grounds do I have to stand on? I pushed her away in much the same manner. Right now, we’re in the same lifeboat, hoping the only person who can rescue us from this river of hell will.
She rounds the bed and picks up her daughter’s other hand expertly, inspecting the IV. “Make it Renee,” she says absentmindedly. “Does Leanne know you’re in love with her?”
“She does. And then I completely screwed up. I didn’t listen, and it almost cost her everything.” I lift her hand to my cheek and press a kiss to the palm. “I’ll never be able to apologize enough.”
