Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
I shake my head. “I never…”
She gives a rough laugh when I trail off. “Saint told me that you had an identical twin and that she had been following you.”
“You thought it was me in Vegas, but…”
“It was her,” she whispers. “Vivian.”
Of course. It all makes sense that my twin was there because she fucked Adam. That bitch had been pretending to be me for years. Well, I guess she was me. She picked and chose when she wanted to play my life. She wanted to replace me. All because of Isabella.
Ashtyn continues at my silence. “When I saw you walk into Bill and Janice’s wedding reception, I panicked. I asked Saint who you were, and he didn’t know, but I thought I knew. So I was mean to you. I thought you were here to sabotage me and Saint. Using Kashton to do it.”
“I love him,” I tell her, and she nods, the first tear running down her cheek.
“He told me he’s known you for six years.”
I nod, wondering when they had that conversation. “I was in Las Vegas,” I tell her, and she glances up at me with her tear-filled eyes. “I was there helping Adam spy on you.”
She swallows.
I sigh. “Your brother was worried about you. After everything that happened and your mother being killed.” Ashtyn sniffs. “I followed you to New York because Adam wanted to make sure Saint hadn’t killed you.”
Ashtyn chuckles, though I don’t know why she finds that funny. Maybe he was close a few times. Who knows. I couldn’t and didn’t want to get inside of Carnage to watch her twenty-four seven after he brought her back.
“I’ve been trying to push you away, hoping you’d leave because I was afraid you’d tell Saint what I did while in Vegas. I’m ashamed of who I was. Of what I did to Saint while I was there on the run.”
She had seen my twin and thought that I came here to tattle on her? I mean, I do know what she did, but I’m not that type of person. “That’s not my story to tell.”
It’s not like I know every little thing. I know enough, but even I know that wouldn’t change Saint’s mind. She’s his Lady. Me being a tattletale wouldn’t do anyone any good.
She nods, licking her lips.
“And if he wanted to know, he’d ask you.”
Her eyes meet mine, and her face drains of color. It’s as if she just realized that he hasn’t asked her about those four years she was on the run. Maybe he already knows. Or maybe he’d rather not.
Truth is, no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes that we must live with. You get to decide what you’re going to tolerate and what you will kill for.
She wipes a tear from her cheek. “Then you died, and Kash…he was so hurt. And he left us. I knew Kashton loved you, and I was so mad when you showed back up with my brother.” Her breathing picks up. “He was dead. I…I just want a chance to know him, and here you are, staying with him.”
“Hey.” I take her shaking hands in mine.
“I’m so sorry,” she cries.
I pull her into my arms and hug her. As much as I don’t like her, now I understand why she felt the way she did. I’ve done extremely irrational shit and said some horrible things to people who didn’t deserve it.
“It’s over.” I rub her back. “Everything will be better.”
She pulls away, and I let her go. Ashtyn rubs her tear-streaked face and gives a rough laugh. “Sorry, I’m an emotional wreck.”
“You’re fine. A lot has happened.” But things are going to be different now. I feel like I can finally breathe. Evan is here trapped in a cell, my crazy twin sister is dead, and I’m married to the best man in the world.
It can’t get any better.
Kashton and I were ushered into a room in the hospital wing. “What are we doing in here?” I wonder.
He shrugs. “No clue.” His tatted hand holds mine, both resting on my thigh.
“Yeah, but what did he say?” I dig. “Word for word.”
He looks over at me. “Just that they needed to see us.”
The door opens and Devin enters, followed by Gavin.
“Is Eve okay?” Kashton lets go of my hand, jumping to his feet. “Did you find something?”
I had a checkup yesterday after my talk with Ashtyn, and they said I was healing nicely. The drug that I managed to get on my skin still lingers, but my husband is taking care of it now. He fucks me until I pass out. Plus, he’s got Devin giving me IVs to help flush my system.
“She’s fine,” Gavin says, and Kashton falls back down beside me, picking up my hand again. I pat his arm to tell him it’s okay, and he leans over, kissing my cheek.