After I hung up with Jack, I took a walk to calm myself down, figuring it was best if I didn’t storm into Cobra’s room with steam blowing out my ears. Ten minutes and a Snickers bar later, I’m back where I started, standing in front of Cobra’s room. The only difference now is I shut my phone off.

Fuck you, Jack Parrish.

Take that!

Ignoring my aching ribs, I knock on the door lightly before opening it. The room is quiet except for the machines. Celeste is standing beside the bed holding Cobra’s hand.

“Blondie,” I greet, noticing the exhaustion in her pretty features as she drops his hand and assesses me.

It’s not the first time she’s seen me since Skylar was rescued, but then I wasn’t a thought in her head. Too stressed about her daughter, frantic over her man, Celeste hadn’t noticed I got the shit kicked out of me.

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m fine,” I insist, glancing over her shoulder at the man who laid it all on the line for his family. “How’s he doing?”

“Thank you,” she blurts, ignoring my question. Diverting my eyes back to her, I watch her swallow. “Thank you for making sure she was safe,” she whispers, kicking me in the gut with her words. Keeping Skylar safe would’ve meant she was never taken to begin with—something I failed at doing.

“I don’t deserve your gratitude, darlin’. If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have been kidnapped in the first place,” I tell her regretfully.

Feeling uncomfortable, I reach around to cup the back of my neck and cringe as pain ripples over my rib cage. Biting back a curse, I force myself to meet her worried gaze.

“You want to thank someone, thank Jack for getting us out of there or thank Cobra’s sister,” I mutter as the thoughts of Ally invade my mind. Angry I can’t tune them out or forget that her hair smells like coconuts, I snap. “Bitch is crazy as all hell, but she took care of Skylar.”

The words taste as foul as they sound and I try to ignore that revelation too. Not that it does me any good because then I start to recall her broken voice as she soothed Skylar in the midst of all the havoc.

“Did she know who she was?” Celeste asks, drawing me away from the coconut scented mess that has me twisting in knots.

“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “She didn’t know until Blackie didn’t pull the trigger on her. Rush had me tied up in a room that had a shit ton of articles and pictures of her, otherwise I wouldn’t have known either,” I say, tilting my head to the side as I wonder what it would have been like if I hadn’t uncovered the truth. Blackie would’ve killed Ally, and that truth hits me hard. Harder than it should.

“It’s fucked up, Blondie,” I continue, gathering my bearings. “I don’t even think she realizes she’s been rescued. It’s been hell over at Jack’s, but the motherfucker won’t let me leave either. He’s afraid I’m going to pop a stitch or something,” I grunt.

The idiot doesn’t even realize I didn’t get stitches. Shaking my head, I refocus my attention back to Celeste, watching as she gnaws on her lower lip. Poor girl. She too has had her whole world flipped upside down in a matter of days. I can imagine she’s torn between Cobra, her daughter and now Ally too. Trying to ease her conscience, I sigh and tell her what she needs to hear.

“Anyway, she’s better off there than with you. Even if Cobra wasn’t in the hospital, I don’t think she should be around Skylar. Jack and Reina are watching her now. She’s better during the day than she is at night. The girl wakes up every night screaming, she’s all strung out looking for drugs, and in her sick mind she thinks we’re holding her captive,” I say, giving her a synopsis of what it’s been like from the beginning. I should probably tell her Ally’s on the mend; that she’s trying to get herself straightened out, but it’s too fresh, too raw. If she relapses Celeste will blame herself. So will Cobra, they’ll think because they weren’t there to take care of her themselves it’s their fault.

I’ve been there, done that and that guilt will fucking destroy a person.

“Crazy, fucking crazy,” I add for extra emphasis.

“I can’t imagine what she’s been through. Actually, that’s not true, I think both me and Cobra have an idea. When no one found her we thought the worst. Every nightmare we imagined was probably her reality,” she says.

Pausing, she shakes her head in disbelief.

“That could’ve been Skylar,” she cries.

“But it’s not,” I remind her. Quickly, I lay my hand on her shoulder, offering her some sort of comfort. “And it’s not Ally’s life anymore either. That don’t mean she will forget and everything will go back to normal. It’s going to take her a long time to heal and transition into life again. A life she owns herself.”

A life where she’s the one holding the lit match.

“Ally,” Celeste repeats. “Is that what she wants to be called now?”

“Fuck if I know. I try not to talk to her too much. Girl’s cost me all sorts of trouble,” I hiss.

I’m not lying. Between ratting me out to that fuck Rush to fighting with my conscience, Ally’s been causing me a shit ton of trouble and something tells me she’s not done turning my life upside down. Hell, I’m afraid to believe she’s only just begun to sink her claws into my soul.

“She’s been asking to see Cobra, so that’s a good sign,” I add as she turns around and looks at Cobra. Sniffling, she runs her fingers through her hair and slips away into her own thoughts. Wondering what I can do to help, I glance over at my brother like he’ll miraculously wake and give me the answers.

He doesn’t.

Shocker.

“Why don’t I go get you something to eat? You look like you’re fading away,” I offer, for lack of anything else.

“I’m fine,” she replies, sounding as if she’s been switched to autopilot.

“Who you lying to, Blondie? You ain’t fine. You’re as fucked as the rest of us and fit right in with all our chaos. Now, you got a little baby growing inside you that needs you well, so I’m going to go grab you a sandwich and you will eat it.”

“You know about the baby?”

“Told me right before we picked up Skylar that day. He swore me to secrecy, but fuck, Blondie, as long as I’ve known him I’ve never seen him happier.”

Glancing back and forth between the two of them, I recall Cobra’s proud smile as he told me they were expecting. He was so fucking happy to get a chance to witness all the things he missed with Skylar and then all this shit happened.

Life isn’t fucking fair, it’s downright nasty. They deserve better than all this, they deserve some fucking peace. A little bit of happiness. But life lacks a return and exchange policy. You’re locked into whatever you get and forced to make it work.

“I’ll be back. I’ll get you some peanut M&M’s too,” I say finally, offering her a wink, knowing it’s something Cobra would’ve made sure to do. Taking another quick glance at my brother, I send up a silent prayer he continues to fight his way back to his girl before turning and stepping out of the room.

As I turn down the end of the hallway, I lift my head and my feet become rooted to the linoleum as I spot Jack, Reina, their baby, Ally and Skylar in front of the elevator. I watch as Reina fusses over her son and Jack lifts Skylar into his arms. He brushes her blonde locks from her face and smiles at her, making it clear to all he wears the title of a family man as well as he wears leather. Turning toward Ally, Jack mutters something and she crosses her arms defiantly before lifting her head. Staring over Jack’s shoulder, her eyes lock with mine.

Regretfully, I watch hope replace the anger in her eyes and for a fleeting second I see disappointment flicker as well.  It’s unnerving and suddenly I feel guilty, but for what I have no fucking clue. Knowing the longer I stare at her, the more twisted my head gets, I fit a scowl to my face and turn around.

Fuck the elevator.

I’m taking the goddamn stairs.

Wishing this day was over, I step off the elevator. Jack goes first and instructs us to keep Skylar occupied while he tells Celeste we’re here. Knowing I’m not a good distraction for anyone and that I’m still reeling from my run-in with Stryker, I fight to tame my pain, to alleviate my anxiety and prepare myself for what comes next. Wondering how I’m supposed to act around Celeste, I also fret over seeing my brother again. I push back my fear of watching him die and think of Deuce’s words. He’s right, not too many people get a second chance. If Jagger doesn’t make it through this, I’ll live the rest of my life regretting I didn’t make an effort to know the man he became.

I wish I was stronger and that the need to be numb wasn’t stronger than me. I wish I didn’t want to escape, that I didn’t want to claw my arms and beg someone to help me disappear. I wish I was never taken at fourteen because then I wouldn’t know what it’s like to be invisible.

As I turn to take a seat, I spot Deuce at the other end of the hallway. Our eyes lock and an unfamiliar calmness coats my nerves.

In that moment, I’m not invisible. He doesn’t see through me, he just sees me. The good, the bad, the ugly—he sees it all. The pity is gone from his eyes, so is the empathy. It’s all been replaced by something I can’t quite place. Something dark and uninviting. Something cold. It’s not me who is invisible anymore, it’s him.

With a scowl planted firmly on his face, he turns around, walking away as if he never saw me. I stare after him for a minute, expecting him to come back, but he doesn’t and for some reason that bothers me. It irritates me. It makes me regret opening up to him and letting him inside my head, inside the darkness.

Mindlessly, I tear my eyes away from the empty hallway and watch Skylar talk to Reina’s baby. Needing a distraction of my own, I drag my nails down the length of my arms and welcome the pain.

Suddenly, Skylar runs down the hallway and I divert my eyes to Celeste.

“Mama!” Skylar calls as Celeste bends down and catches her in her arms. I watch in amazement as she swoops her daughter up and spins her around enticing the most innocent giggle from her.

“Mama’s right here, baby, and guess what? Daddy’s awake. I know he misses you a whole lot and it would make him feel so much better if he saw you,” she says, brushing the blonde mess of curls from her face. She continues to tell Skylar that Jagger is in a lot of pain and warns her to be careful.

Positioning her little girl on her hip, Celeste turns and holds out her free hand. Hesitantly, I stare back at her, unsure what to do. When we were kids, she would offer me her hand and I would take it without question, knowing an adventure always awaited us.

“Let’s go,” she whispers.

I want an adventure.

I want it as bad as I want normalcy.

Slipping my hand into hers, I stand and let her lead me to Jagger’s room. Once we reach the door, I drop her hand and take a step back. Doubt seeps into my veins as I draw a blank. For years I thought about what I might say to Jagger if we ever had this moment, and now I can’t think of anything.

“You should probably go in there before me,” I say quietly before turning to her. “I mean, I don't know if this is a good idea.”

“I won't push you, but I know he would really want to see you. He hasn't been the same since…”

“I was taken,” I say, finishing her sentence just the way I did when we were kids. She doesn’t reply at first and the silence between us is not only awkward but sad as well.

“I'll go first,” she whispers before disappearing through the door, leaving it slightly cracked open behind her. Pulling my sleeves past my wrists, I toy with the ends as I nervously pace outside the room.

First, I hear Skylar greet her daddy then I hear my brother. His voice is deep, a little raspy and everything I imagined it would be. Tears prick my eyes as I eavesdrop on their reunion. His voice softens as he interacts with his daughter and I learn the first thing about Jagger, the man.

He’s an incredible dad.

I should’ve stepped back and given them a moment of privacy but I couldn’t tear myself away from that door. Listening in fascination, I learn more. I learn what I knew in my heart all those years ago—my brother was made to love Celeste.

I didn’t have to wonder anymore. I now know their love not only prevailed, but it grew over the years. Celeste became a fierce woman who grounded my brother and gave him all the things he needed. She gave her love. She gave him a family. She gave him a beautiful future.

And he gave her his whole heart.

Wiping the tears from my face, I find the will to reach for the door.

“I’m going to bring her out to Reina, and then there is something I need to tell you,” Celeste says.

“Is it Deuce? Jesus, fuck, tell me he’s all right.”

“He’s fine—”

Knocking lightly on the door, I push it open with the tip of my shoe and make my way inside. Celeste smiles at me as I glance nervously at the bed then she steps out of the way and I see him.

There is no blaze of gunfire between us. There is no explosion tearing us apart. There are just his eyes and mine. They say there is a connection between twins, some sort of pull that never diminishes. I used to wonder if that connection disappeared along with me. I thought it was dead.

“Alexandria,” he whispers in disbelief and I know it never died. Like me, our bond survived.

“Ally,” Skylar says, pointing a chubby finger toward me.

“Is it really you?”

Nodding my head, I swallow the lump in my throat and struggle to find my voice.

“Hi, Jagger,” I whisper hoarsely.

“Come here,” he commands softly.

Unable to peel my eyes away, I stare at him, taking in the tattoos that cover every visible inch of his skin. His hair is short on the sides and styled so much differently than he used to keep it.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” he says as I step closer and grip the edge of his bed. The tears stream down my face and I try to decipher why I’m crying, if I’m happy or sad. In a sense, I guess it’s a combination of every possible emotion. I’m mourning the years we lost as well as rejoicing over the chance of a new beginning.

“You’re going to be fine,” he whispers. “We’re going to figure it out.”

He has no idea what he’s signing up for or how messed up I truly am. Then again, I don’t know what he’s been through either. I don’t know if the last twelve years have been good to him or if he’s suffered as I did too. I like to think he’s had a good life, but there is a world of hurt in his eyes too.

Our quiet reunion is cut short as the door opens and Jack walks in followed by Deuce. This time he doesn’t even look in my direction and before I realize it my lip curls in frustration. Gripping the rail tightly, I watch him stride across the tiny room. After a moment passes, he turns around and glares right back at me. With my emotions on high alert, I turn to Celeste before I lose it.

“I want to go,” I mutter.

Concern etches across Celeste’s features but before she can ask me if I’m okay or what is wrong, Jack steps in front of her and points to Deuce.

“Reina’s waiting in the hall, she’ll drive the two of you back to the house,” he tells him.

“Wait a minute, why the hell do I have to leave with her?” Deuce asks, clenching his teeth in anger. I don’t know what happened between last night and now but he wasn’t the same guy who held me while I cried my eyes out. He was a supreme jerk-off.

“Because until we get a handle on this shit, she’s your responsibility,” Jack declares.

Deuce’s eyes bulge out of his head and I roll my eyes.

“My responsibility? What the fuck for?”

As much as I wanted to slap him for being an asshole all of a sudden, Deuce was right. I wasn’t his responsibility.

“Well, as our brother’s in a bed recovering from a bunch of bullet holes and his woman has been away from their kid for too long, they’re not ready to take her on yet,” Jack says and I immediately glance between my brother and Celeste. Neither of them say a word, but both shake their heads to disagree with Jack. He’s right though, the last thing I want is to be a burden to either of them.

“Um, I hate to point it out to you but you were just telling me I couldn’t go back to the motel until I was healed.”

“I changed my mind,” Jack says with a shrug. “You can go wherever you like as long as you take her with you and make sure she doesn’t leave your sight.”

That was the last thing I heard Jack say before I tuned everything else out and stared at him wide-eyed. He couldn’t be serious and if he was I couldn’t argue much. I had nothing, nowhere to go and no way to take care of myself. Recalling how I felt when they first took me away from that cabin, I realized my fears were my reality and I was at the mercy of Jack Parrish, only not the way I thought I would be or the way I was used to.

He didn’t want anything from me.

He didn’t want to ruin me, he wanted to fix me and he was trusting Deuce to do the job.