Page 84 of Protected By the Sinner
“Good point,” she says after a pause. “I really hope you remember more by the time we meet. There’s somethingimportant from our past we need to talk about. And besides wanting to see you and make sure you’re okay, I’m also coming back to meet someone important—someone connected to us.”
“Someone from the cult?”
“No, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk about it right now.”
“Okay. So can I ask if you’re okay, over there in Italy? Why did you go so far away?”
“Because it’s my boyfriend’s home country. I can’t say more. Will you call me again?”
“Yes. Even if this was probably the weirdest conversation two sisters have ever had, I like hearing your voice.” I stop for a moment, trying to find the right words without offending her. “Elodie, you told me you’d always be by my side, and the same goes for me. Even if I don’t remember every detail of our past, you can count on me. If this man you’re with isn’t—”
“I get what you’re trying to say. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” There’s something in her voice that tells me she’s not being entirely honest.
“Are you sure? Because if I ask, I know Beau will help you.”
“I don’t need any help, sis. I’m fine. Now tell me about you. How are you feeling, being pregnant? Have you been hungrier? Any nausea?”
We hang up about fifteen minutes later.
I feel the same way with her as I do with Beau: even though the recent memories haven’t come back, there’s a sense of familiarity that makes me feel safe.
There’s no doubt in my mind that both of them are incredibly important to me.
I feel more hopeful now. Certain that once my memory returns, everything will be okay.
Chapter 38
Two Days Later
“Someone’s investigating you.”
“What else is new? Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Yeah, but before, it was more or less familiar enemies.”
“Ethan, I’d appreciate it if you were more direct.”
“Jesus, your mood really never improves. I thought my sister would’ve tamed you by now.”
“She has—but I save my smiles for her. Now quit stalling and tell me what this is about.”
“Nothing to worry about. Someone—a woman—in Italy hired a private investigator to dig up everything on you.”
“A woman?” I look at him and immediately know what he’s thinking. He and I have been best friends for most of our lives, and yeah, we had a wild past when it came to casual sexwith random women. But all that ended when I got married. “Don’t even say it. I’d never cheat on Lilly.”
“I know you wouldn’t. If I had even the slightest doubt about that, this would be a very different kind of conversation. It’s only because I’m sure you love my sister more than you love yourself that I didn’t even consider she might be a mistress.”
“Great. Now that we’ve established I’m not a scumbag,” I say sarcastically, “how about you just get to the damn point? I don’t believe for a second you don’t already know everything.”
“Of course I do. You’re my brother-in-law, but you’re also my best friend. I’ll always have your back.”
I say nothing because we don’t need words to reaffirm our friendship. I’d die for him—and he’d do the same for me.
There was a time, back when I first got involved with Lilly, that we fought. He didn’t want me near his sister and ended up doing something so stupid it caused a months-long break between her and me—and almost cost us our friendship.
We’re both proud men, and it wasn’t easy for either of us to let it go and move forward, but today, years later, our bond is just like it used to be.
“I’m going to ask you something, but fair warning—you’re going to think I’m crazy,” he says.
