Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“You can forget that, Lake. You’re never going to get around Livy ever again,” Carson responds calmly.
His words infuriate me to the point that I lose it. I spent too much of my life at the mercy of fucking men who tried to destroy me. I charge at him with a war cry that would make my Cherokee ancestors proud. “No one will take me away from her again!” I hit Carson so hard he falls back onto the cement. I can feel men clawing at my arms and back, trying to pull me off of him. I keep fighting, landing hit after hit on him. “She’s mine!” I yell.
I fight with everything inside of me, but I’m outnumbered and eventually they get me free. I’m shoved against steel plated wall, face-first. When they pull back, but cuff my hands behind my back, something happens that I wasn’t prepared for.
I see my reflection in the steel. Only that can’t be me. I turned my head to the side. The reflection moves the same way. I bring my hand up to touch my jaw and the same thing happens in the steel mirror.
“Lake?” Cross asks, sounding concerned. I can’t respond.
“This can’t be real,” I whisper. “What’s going on here?”
“What do you mean?” Sasa asks. I turn to look at him, tears falling down my face. “What happened to my face, Sasa?” My legs give out and I sink to the floor.
What have they done to me?
30
WHAT’S GOING ON?
OLIVIA
“I want to speak to him,” I snap at Blade and Cross.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We need to get the paternity test back, Livy,” Blade responds.
“Have you spoken to him?” I ask Blade.
He looks guilty. “Briefly. I told him if he truly believed he was my brother he had to agree to take a blood test. It will be able to tell if what he is saying is true.”
“Did he seem like Bear to you?” I ask before I can stop myself.
This all seems so unreal. This is day two after sleeping with Lake. Of all the things that I thought could happen … this wasn’t it. The man that I was falling for, the man I let into my bed, now says he is the one person that I will always love. It’s like some cheap Lifetime made for TV movie with over-the-top drama. Yet, it has become my life.
“He knew a lot of things that only Bear should know,” Blade says reluctantly, the words almost dragged out of him.
A horrible flicker of hope takes light in my heart. First, Cross admitted that he’s not sure and now Blade. That has to mean something. “And the fingerprints?”
“Well, the only ones we have are from Bear’s birth certificate Equipment wasn’t the best. Plus, Lake—”
“Or Bear,” I whisper. Blade grimaces.
“Whoever he is, has been through such extensive injuries and surgeries that it’s not clear. There’s not enough of even one print to conclusively tell us. They will grow back and keep some of the same markers if he’s Bear—at least that’s what they told us—but, they’re not there right now.”
“So, we’re saying it’s a possibility. What did Winnie’s doctor friend say?”
“He’s not her doctor friend. He’s a national certified surgeon and doctor dealing with brain trauma and associated diseases. They just happen to be friends,” Blade grumbles.
“If I wasn’t desperately trying to figure out if the man that I’m starting to have feelings for is either the man I will always love, or a lunatic, I’d find your jealousy cute, Blade. Right now, it’s just annoying.”
Cross laughs out loud. Blade just looks annoyed. “You shouldn’t get your hopes up, Livy. At least not until we know.”
“Just tell me what the doctor said,” I snap.
“He said there’s something called dissociative disorder that could explain what has happened. Seeing you again, could have reawakened the man Lake had buried inside of him and caused him to switch between the two different personalities,” Blade admits reluctantly.
“There is also the alternative answer,” Cross says.
“Which is Lake is looney tunes and trying to lie to you,” Blade supplies.
“I want to see him,” I reiterate.
“I don’t think that’s a smart idea,” Blade says at once.
“Good thing I don’t care what you think. Cross, take me to see him.”
“Ollie-girl, I’ve spoken with this guy a lot. He’s managed to make me halfway believe him. You don’t need that kind of hope. Let us see if him and blade are actually brothers before you have to face the what ifs here.”
I sigh. “I hear everything you’re saying, but I’m going to do it anyway. I’m asking you to take me to him now. Besides, you and Blade are here, Carson and his brothers are close by. It’s not like Lake will have the chance hurt me, even if he wanted to.”