Written with Regret (The Regret Duet #1)(77)

“I’m sorry to hear about your sister.” He grinned. “Must have been hard to lose her, what with you two being twins and all.”

My pulse spiked as I attempted to yank my arm out of his grasp. “I think losing a sibling, twin or not, is always devastating. But thank you for your condolences.”

His fingertips bit into my skin as he refused to let go. “You want to know something I learned about twins when I was looking into your boring past?”

Adrenaline hit my system like a bolt of lightning illuminating the night sky. “What I want is for you to get your fucking hands off me.”

“Identical twins have the same DNA.” His arrogant grin grew. “But different fingerprints. Isn’t that some shit?”

I tugged at my wrist again. “Let me go or, swear to God, I’ll scream for Caven.”

He gave me a rough pull toward him, the arm of the chair painfully digging into my side as my panic swirled to a new high. “No, you won’t. See, I’ve got a theory on you, Hadley Banks.” His eyes flared wide, that slimy smile never faltering.

I held his unwavering stare. “Is your theory that I’m going to have you arrested for assault if you don’t let me go right fucking now?”

He shrugged and casually released me. “I’m a cop. I know a scam when I see one.”

I stood up, rubbing my wrist, and backed toward the door. My chest was heaving, and my heart was in my throat. “You might want to talk to your brother before showing up here to rescue him from the clutches of a woman you know nothing about. I have more than enough money to ever need to scam a single cent off your brother.”

He set his beer on the ground and then stood up, keeping his distance this time. “Now, that I’ll agree with. Which honestly was the most confusing part of all. But while you may have money, you don’t have much else. After losing your sister, you don’t even have a family left. Let me ask you this: Why didn’t the police find your prints in Caven’s apartment?”

I stood up straighter. “I don’t know.”

“I mean, you were there that night, right? Or at least somebody with your DNA was there that night, because Rosalee exists.”

Curling my lip, I shook my head. “We’re done here. I get that you’re trying to be a protective older brother and look out for Caven. But putting your hands on me and making wild allegations is quite honestly sick.” I turned again, starting for the door, but he stopped me in my tracks.

“Your sister, Willow, died in a car accident in upstate New York. At the time, her home of record was Puerto Rico.”

“She was visiting—”

“A friend. I got it. A buddy told me your girl Beth Watts was hysterical when they delivered the news. Apparently, you and your sister had been staying with her for a few days. You two got into an explosive argument where you both flew off the handle and then took off like bats out of Hell. Explain to me how Willow died on the exact route she would have taken to get to the cabin you two shared. Meanwhile, you, Hadley, flew back to Puerto Rico.”

I spun to face him, my whole body trembling. “We were dissolving the business. I went to clear my stuff out of her studio.”

His eyes flashed dark. “Could be. Or the city could have declared the wrong Banks girl dead and you’ve come back to reclaim the only family you have left. It could be that you aren’t Hadley Banks at all. Isn’t that right, Willow?”





Eighteen years earlier…



“Just try to breathe,” the paramedics said as they poked and prodded at my side.

It hurt.

It hurt more watching my hero fall apart.

He was a wreck of sobs and adrenaline, screaming at the paramedics to help someone else. He was determined to stand on his own two feet but unable to remain upright, falling from one wall to the other. The wounds on his stomach and his side had soaked through until his entire shirt was red, which left blood pouring down the legs of his pants.

Nobody could lose that much blood. He was going to die if he didn’t let them help him, and that terrified me all over again.

“Calm down,” I choked out. He couldn’t hear me beneath the oxygen mask the paramedics had placed over my face, so I tugged it down and gathered whatever strength I had left to shout, “Please just calm down!”

His head snapped to mine immediately and I could see the fight and despair turn to panic all over again.

“Let them help you,” I pleaded.

His chin quivered as he stared at me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Tears I should have long since run out of filled my eyes, and I stretched my hand out toward him. “What’s your name?”

He stared at it for a beat before he lowered himself on flimsy legs to the floor beside me, taking my hand. “Caven.”

“Kevin?”

“Caven.”

“Gavin?”

His face crumbled, rivers of tears pouring from his eyes as an unlikely half smile snuck out. “Caven. But close enough.”

“Okay, Caven. I’m scared.”

He folded both hands around mine. “No. No. No. Don’t be scared. It’s over. He’s dead. He can’t hurt us anymore.”

“But I’m scared you’re going to die now.”