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Chapters (53)
  1. Dedication
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Chapter Four
  6. Chapter Five
  7. Chapter Six
  8. Chapter Seven
  9. Chapter Eight
  10. Chapter Nine
  11. Chapter Ten
  12. Chapter Eleven
  13. Chapter Twelve
  14. Chapter Thirteen
  15. Chapter Fourteen
  16. Chapter Fifteen
  17. Chapter Sixteen
  18. Chapter Seventeen
  19. Chapter Eighteen
  20. Chapter Nineteen
  21. Chapter Twenty
  22. Chapter Twenty-One
  23. Chapter Twenty-Two
  24. Chapter Twenty-Three
  25. Chapter Twenty-Four
  26. Chapter Twenty-Five
  27. Chapter Twenty-Six
  28. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  29. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  30. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  31. Chapter Thirty
  32. Chapter Thirty-One
  33. Chapter Thirty-Two
  34. Chapter Thirty-Three
  35. Chapter Thirty-Four
  36. Chapter Thirty-Five
  37. Chapter Thirty-Six
  38. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  39. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  40. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  41. Chapter Forty
  42. Chapter Forty-One
  43. Chapter Forty-Two
  44. Chapter Forty-Three
  45. Chapter Forty-Four
  46. Chapter Forty-Five
  47. Chapter Forty-Six
  48. Chapter Forty-Seven
  49. Epilogue
  50. Preview of Malice
  51. Preview of Incognito
  52. Acknowledgments
  53. About the Author

My lungs seize like I’ve been punched in the gut, and my knees buckle. I’d recognize those blue eyes anywhere.

Adam?

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

March 20X6, San Francisco

The room sways—it’s all I can do to stay on my feet—as a hundred questions collide in my brain. He’s alive. What is he doing here? What does he want with Nicki? His hair is cropped short, and his tan has faded, but there is no mistaking him.

Looking like he’s seen a ghost—and maybe he thinks he is seeing one—he starts toward me. He moves slowly through the water, as if in a trance, drawn forward by whatever fragments of our past tie us together. There’s no doubt in my mind he recognizes me.

My nerves stretch taut over my skin. If anyone were to touch me, I’d shatter. I’m done for. Abort mission…

Shaking his head, he comes to a stop in front of me. He presses a finger to his lips, seemingly pulling himself together—or telling me to keep quiet. “I’m sorry. For a moment I thought I knew you. But I don’t. You must remind me of someone.” Gone is the Australian accent, and the sound of his (real?) voice renders me mute. “I’m Eric.” Smiling, he extends his hand, daring me to deny it.

His toes are pointed away from me. Ready to run. It’s a tell. Liar! But I’ll keep your secret if you’ll keep mine… “Betsy,” I mumble, unable to keep my fingers from trembling in his. “People think they know me all the time. I have a familiar face.” Glancing at Garrett, I’m relieved he doesn’t seem to think anything is odd about this encounter. Yet.

“You know who it is?” Adam/Eric points a finger at me, nodding. “Tiana Santos. You look just like her.”

My stomach tightens, but, faking a laugh, I manage to keep the glint out of my eye. “I’ve never gotten that one before.”

“No, she doesn’t, Eric. She doesn’t look a thing like Tiana Santos. How many drinks have you had?” Nicki says, appearing at his side, and I’m grateful to her.

“You don’t see it? Maybe it’s just me. There are worse people to look like, eh?” Adam ushers her forward. “This is my friend Nicki, and this is Joanna.” He nods toward the pink-haired girl. “This is…Betsy, did you say it was?”

“Yes.” I force a smile.

“Cute,” he says.

“Nicki.” Garrett takes over. “Just who my sister and I were hoping to meet.”

Ack! I didn’t have time to tell him about the note! “I hope my brother isn’t too pushy,” I interject our new plan. “He has it in his silly head that you can help find me a new set of kidneys.”