Deep Redemption

“Bella,” Stephen said softly and kissed Bella’s cheek.

“You saved me,” Bella whispered, throwing her arms around him. “When I was brought to Puerto Rico, it was you who did not let me die. You healed me. You kept me hidden. You kept me safe.”

She turned to Mae and Maddie, holding out her hand. Mae went to her immediately. Maddie didn’t move at first, but then left the safety of her husband’s arms and joined her sisters. Maddie’s head was cast down in nerves. But Mae looked her father in the eyes.

Stephen smiled at the daughters he had never met. “You are all so beautiful,” he said. “More beautiful than I had ever imagined.” Mae dipped her head, then to my surprise, leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Stephen. Stephen’s face looked shocked, then it melted into an expression of deep relief. Deep relief and love.

Mae stepped back, wiping her eyes, and Stephen looked at Maddie. Bella put her arm around her youngest sister’s shoulders. Maddie fell into Bella’s side, then shakily held out her hand to Stephen.

Stephen smiled. He put his hand in hers and shook it. “Nice to meet you again, Maddie.”

Maddie breathed deeply. “It is nice to meet you too.” Her voice was barely audible, but I could see that didn’t matter to her father. It momentarily chased the darkness from my heart.

I saw movement from the back of the crowd. Lilah was walking through slowly, her eyes on Stephen. She stopped beside her sisters. “Phebe?” she asked. I could see by the devastated look on her scarred face that she knew her sister wasn’t with us.

That I hadn’t saved her.

Stephen dropped his head. When he looked up at her, he said, “You are Delilah . . . Rebekah?” Lilah flinched at the mention of her original name, but she nodded. Ky moved to stand by his wife’s side.

“Phebe helped us escape,” Stephen said. “She sacrificed so much to help us. And it was all in your honor. Your sister . . . she loves you very much. Everything she did was for you.”

Lilah released a strained sob. “I love her very much too,” she cried. Ky held his wife closer.

Stephen rocked on his feet. “She was taken by one of Judah’s associates. I am sorry, but I do not know where he has taken her.”

Lilah cried harder into Ky’s shoulder. Ky let her have a moment, then lifted her head with his finger under her chin. “Baby,” he said tentatively. “Phebe asked you to do something for her. She needs you to help her.”

“I do not understand,” Lilah replied.

Ky put his hands on her face. “Just know that I’m here with you, right? You got this. Fuck, babe, you were fuckin’ born for this.” Lilah gripped onto her husband’s arms tighter. She opened her mouth to speak again, as Sister Ruth emerged from the back of Cowboy’s truck.

Ruth smiled at me nervously, then turned back toward the back seat. Ky pulled Lilah forward toward the truck. Lilah’s steps were slow and nervous. Ruth lifted Grace from the back seat, and the blond sister went still with shock.

Ruth set the child on the floor and took hold of her hand. Ruth approached Lilah, bringing the frightened, wide-eyed child with her. Grace stared at everyone watching her, but when her eyes found Lilah’s, the kid couldn’t look away.

Lilah sucked in a breath, and Ky held her tighter. “You are Phebe’s sister?” Ruth asked.

Lilah nodded her head.

“Phebe has been caring for this child.” Ruth chased the thickness from her throat and said, “Judah had recently proclaimed her a Cursed Sister of Eve.”

“No,” Lilah whispered. Bella, Mae and Maddie were watching on with sad, knowing expressions on their faces.

“Judah was going to take her on her eighth birthday,” Ruth continued. “It is in two months’ time.”

“So he did not . . . he never forced her to . . . ?” Lilah trailed off, unable to finish the question.

“No,” Ruth answered. “Your sister saved her. She locked her away to make sure she was safe . . . if she had not, Delilah would have died today like all the other helpless young.”

Lilah had frozen still. “Delilah?” she whispered, devastation lacing her tone.

“Yes,” Ruth replied. “Her branded Cursed name is Delilah. Judah named her because she looks just like you.” A cry came from Lilah’s mouth.

I cleared my throat and said, “Grace.” Lilah faced me in confusion. I pointed at the kid, who already looked completely enamored with Phebe’s sister. “Her name before my brother branded her was Grace. Phebe only ever called her that.” I pushed my hair back off my face. “She wants you to take her, raise her as your own. She saved Grace so you could give her a better life. Because she couldn’t see another child hurt the way you were”—I met Bella’s watery eyes—“the way you all were.”

Grace stepped forward and tugged on Lilah’s long cream dress. Lilah looked down, and Grace said nervously, “You . . . you are Aunt Phebe’s . . . sister?”

Lilah’s face contorted with grief, and with Ky’s help, she bent down and met Grace face to face. “You have the same hair color as me,” she said innocently, and my heart almost fucking cracked down the center.

Ky looked away, and I knew he was breaking too. Lilah smiled indulgently at the little girl. “I do.”

Grace pointed at Lilah’s eyes. “And your eyes are the same too.”

“Yes,” Lilah said in a husky voice. “They are blue.”

Grace tipped her head to the side, and she blushed. She clasped her hands in front of her. “Aunt Phebe said . . . ” Grace looked up at Ruth for approval. Ruth nodded her head in encouragement. Grace stepped closer to Lilah and said, “Aunt Phebe said you are to be my . . . mama?” The little girl swallowed. “Are you . . . is that true? Are you my mama? I never had a mama before.”

Lilah and Ky both turned their faces away for a moment, trying to control their tears. Then Lilah smiled. She cried through her smile and nodded her head. “Yes, Grace. I will be your mama.”

Grace’s smile practically lit up the darkening sky. She tentatively moved closer to Lilah, and Lilah pulled her into a soft hug. Lilah looked up at Ky, smiling so fucking big. She pulled back from the little girl and pointed at Ky. “Ky, my husband . . . He will be your papa, Grace. He will be your papa . . . ” Ky’s jaw clenched as Grace peered up at him.