Julia shook her head. “I’m where I belong now. That’s all that matters.”
It wasn’t, but I couldn’t deny that since Julia disappeared with Phillip, both Michael and Albert had been working nonstop as a team to find her. Turning away from the men in the front seat, I soaked in the beauty of the woman again at my side.
My palm came to her soft cheek, pulling her face toward me. “I love you.”
Inclining her face to my touch, her eyes momentarily closed. When the bright blue orbs were again focused on me, she said, “I feel it. I still feel it. Do you?”
“That I would search heaven and hell for you? That I’d face every devil or demigod to find you. Yes, I feel it to my bones.”
“It’s real, Van. Red Sin.”
Is there another explanation for the way I feel?
An inexplicable attraction. “I’m never letting you go.”
“It’s not an option.”
As Michael drove beyond the McGrath home and our car faded into Chicago traffic, Julia’s smile dimmed. The relief at having her in my grasp lessened as the adrenaline in my system waned. “Did he hurt you?”
Julia sat taller as her brow furrowed. “Who is he? Your twin?”
I nodded. “It’s more complicated than that, but yes. We’re identical.”
“No, you’re not.”
Our world was imploding around us—missteps, revenge, and plots—and in that one phrase, Julia righted everything. “You knew?”
“He…I…it felt wrong. You’re not identical.”
“We’re not.”
She reached for my hand, surrounding it with two of hers. “I knew something wasn’t right. I couldn’t understand. And yet somehow I knew.”
“Did he hurt you?” I asked again.
“No, not physically. I was confused and afraid…” She looked down and turned toward the window. “You weren’t listening to me.” She turned back. “Hewasn’t.” A tear slid down her cheek. “You always listen.”
Reaching for her chin, I lifted her gaze to me. “I’m listening now. Whatever happened, I’m so sorry, Julia. I owe you more than an apology. I should have told you about Phillip. I underestimated him.”
“Yes, you should have told me,” she agreed. “I thought I was crazy.”
“No, beautiful. You’re the sanest person I know.”
“I knew something was off, but my mind tried to make sense of what I saw.” She exhaled. “You two may look alike, but that’s where the similarities end.”
“Did he touch you?” It took every ounce of self-control to keep my tone and question calm.
“He kissed me.”
Do I want to hear more?
“Van, it was so odd. It felt wrong—like our connection was gone. I thought he was you, but he was cold. He insisted we marry today.” She exhaled. “I thought you’d changed. Skylar said…”
When she didn’t complete the sentence, I asked, “What did he say?”
She shook her head. “He helped me hide. Whatever was happening, I think Marlin and Logan were in on it.”
“I promise, Julia, Phillip will pay for what he’s done. They’ll all pay.”