I had no right to ask but dear God! How much was I supposed to take? Keeping my tears at bay had never been this difficult, not even when Laurette left, but the colors of the carpet began to blur. Fortunately, my hair hung low enough to give me a bit of privacy. No one needed to see me have a complete meltdown.
In the last several days, a sister I long thought dead and loved more than myself reappeared in my life only to want to take everything away from me—my home, my legacy, and even my life. The why of it all was still shrouded in mystery.
The one part of my life that wasn’t corrupt, damaged or evil was snatched away before it even had a chance to grow. Was I cursed? Was I supposed to spend the rest of my life alone with no one to love me and no one to love? Everyone had a breaking point; I think I was getting close to mine. How strong was I meant to be?
The ride down to the hospital morgue had been quiet aside from the low hum of the elevator moving from floor to floor. It stopped on the third floor instead of the basement where the morgue was located.
Dex’s forehead wrinkled, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at the elevator panel. “Dr. Weller, why are we stopping on this floor?” His tone caused my natural instincts to kick in.
“I’m sorry, I forgot my keycard. It’s late, so I’m sure those doors down in the morgue are locked. It’ll only take a second. Please follow me.”
When I started to exit, Dex blocked my path. He whispered low. “Stay behind me just to be safe. Something feels off. He’s been trying too hard to get you to his office.”
I felt the same way and had already snapped into survival mode. I was on heightened alert as I followed lagging just a few steps behind.
Dr. Weller turned around toward us. “This is my office right here.”
Dex positioned his hand on his firearm at his hip ready to whip it out if necessary. He wasn’t alone. I popped the button on the holder of my revolver at my side as well—just in case.
“This keycard sticks sometimes.”
Didn’t Dr. Weller say we needed to stop by his office to get the card to enter the morgue? Dex gazed at me with a raised eyebrow. He was thinking the same thing I was. My adrenaline started to pump like crazy. I didn’t know what was waiting for me behind that door. Hell, if my life had to end in a hospital then so be it.
The doctor fiddled with the door trying to open it. Why did it seem as if it were taking him forever and a day? Finally, it opened just a crack, and ever so slowly, it widened enough for us to walk through—first Dr. Weller, Dex, and then me. Dex stopped so abruptly at the threshold that I almost ran into his back.
He hadn’t whipped out his gun. So, What? What was wrong? I looked around his hulking body to see for myself.
No one would need to kill me. I just died standing there.
*****
Dr. Weller’s office had been transformed into a hospital suite. The entire Windham clan was there watching me as I walked through the door—waiting for my reaction.
Brody Windham was sitting up slightly. Those crystal blue eyes were full of life and trained directly on me. Is this real? My eyes glanced around the room at everyone, waiting for someone to say I wasn’t dreaming. Initially, my feet were rooted to the ground but dream or not, if I could have just five more minutes with this man, I’d take what I could get.
“Just going to stand there? I expected more of a greeting than this.” His voice was raspy and weak, but it was Brody. The moment he started talking I dropped everything and went to him. I was not sure if I ran or flew, but I just needed to touch him. This time, I didn’t care who saw the tears as they rolled down my face.
Greedily, my eyes devoured him as I stood shocked out of my mind. Tentatively, I ran my hands across his arm until they touched his, and then our fingers linked together. The warmth and pressure of my hand in his confirmed it. I wasn’t dreaming. The electricity of his touch went through my entire body. Finally, I leaned over and hovered just above his lips before gently pressing mine to his.
I whispered. “He said you were dead?”
“I know. That’s my fault. Jamal brought me up to speed enough to know that you’ve got a lot going on. Figured I’d take one less obstacle out of your way.”
I laughed through my tears. “If I weren’t so happy you were alive, I’d kill you.”
He hadn’t lost his sense of humor as he gave me a half smile. “Good thing then.”
“I swear, if my father or anybody else rises from the dead, I’m going to have myself committed. Why didn’t Jamal or Dr. Weller just tell me?”
“We needed this to look authentic if it was going to work.”
“If what’s going to work?”
“Your sister needs to . . .”
“Stop. Stop it right there. You almost died. So, no. Not just no, but helllllllll NO! Whatever you think you’re going to do . . . you’re not. This is my problem, my fight, and I’ll solve it.”
“I’m not letting you go
