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Aston kissed the top of her hand. “Just breathe. It’s going to be okay. Whenever you’re ready to leave, just say so.”
Julie nodded and got out. She and Aston caught up with the men as they were entering the building. No one said a word as they went up the eight floors on the elevator. The ding made Julie jump. She was so close to confronting this woman, and she wasn’t sure at all how it was going to turn out.
The warmth of Aston’s hand on her put her a little at ease, but as they walked down the hall it almost felt like it was going to close in on her. As if she were headed down an endless tunnel that was going to swallow her whole.
“Here we go.” Ayden went to knock but Channing opened the door. He looked at Julie and motioned them inside.
“I called as soon as Delvicho told me he’d found her. You’re all here as witnesses, nothing more. Julie, are you sure you can watch this?” Channing looked at her, concerned.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
He led them into an open living area. Julie stood close to Aston. Every step felt heavier than the last. A tall man with blond, curly hair turned to look at them. His eyes stopped on her. “Juliet, I presume. Please come forward.”
Bile rose in Julie’s throat. She didn’t want to go any closer, but the command in the master’s voice drew her forward. Aston was practically glued to her side as they stopped in the middle of the room.
“Is this the woman who shot you?”
Julie looked into Corinne’s green eyes. Tears streamed down continually, but she wouldn’t look up from her lap.
“Yes.” The word was thick coming from her mouth. “No.” Everyone looked over at her, even Corinne. “I mean, yes this is the woman who shot me, but she doesn’t look like the little girl I remember.”
“Little girl?” The blond-haired man looked confused.
“Yes. Corina. She was my nanny’s daughter. That’s who I thought she was. There was a hint of resemblance when I was looking at the picture, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Julie, we talked about this,” Ayden said from behind her.
She sighed. “I know we did. I just can’t really see the resemblance between the two.”
Delvicho shrugged. “That’s irrelevant. What is important is that this is the same woman who shot you.”
“But why?” Julie turned to Corinne. “Are you Corina? Who are you? What did I do to make you want me dead?”
The woman turned her head to the windows. “My mother was all I had. I waited for a year for her to come and get me. Nothing. Then when she finally called all I got were her excuses. I’ll leave there soon, she’d said. Julie needs me now, she had said. Then it was too late.”
“What do you mean?” Julie begged. “Too late for what?”
“Have you ever been forced to do something you didn’t want to do?” Corinne asked. The hatred in her voice sent chills up Julie’s spine. She wasn’t sure what to say. She had a feeling there wasn’t going to be an answer good enough to compare to the pain Corinne was hiding inside.
“I did,” she continued. “Every day, from your eighth birthday party until Delvicho found me in Mexico, practically dead.” Corinne’s eyes looked to be in a trance as she stared ahead. “Do you remember, Julie? Do you remember the pink balloons hanging around the tables at the park? Or the streamers hanging throughout the trees?”
Julie was almost afraid to answer. Something was nagging at her mind and she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. “Cole Park?” She looked back at Taylor. He had been at her birthday party, so many years ago.
“Yes,” she spat. “Cole Park.” Corinne broke her stare to look up. “We saw each other for a brief moment. My mother was talking to me and you looked over and waved. Do you remember?”
The flash came unexpectedly, catching Julie off guard. She had been looking for Rosa. The kids were getting impatient for cake and Julie couldn’t find her. Near the parking lot, a red dress caught her attention. Rosa was standing by two men, and next to her was Corina. Julie rushed forward, so excited to see the one friend besides Taylor that she’d really hit it off with. Except, she could tell there was something wrong. Rosa was crying and waving her hands, dismissively.
Corinne stood, causing Delvicho to grab the woman’s arm. “My mother told me that day she thought it was best if I went to live with my father in Mexico. Only thing was, it was a lie. I never made it to my father. I ended up with my uncle’s cousin.” A sob came from her as she pulled against Delvicho. “He sold me, Julie! I was a child, and doomed because my mother was too worried about you to even care about her own daughter. She knew I’d never make it to my father, and she didn’t care. All she ever cared about was you.”
“That can’t be true.” Julie shook her head, not wanting to believe the story she was listening to.
“Prostitution, rape, drugs, abuse…you name it, and that was my life. And you’ve seen it. I willed it so. I was ready to be dead when Delvicho found me! You think I didn’t see my share of blood while I was alive? Now I’m forced to be some type of monster. Never! My new life was purely to pay back all those who hurt me. Those devils in Mexico, my mother, and then you.” She laughed. “Your death and rebirth is the best revenge I could have had. Now you’re the monster!”
The haunting dream Julie had been having for months was nothing more than a glimpse into Corinne’s previous life. It was enough to make her sick. “No, you’re wrong. We’re not monsters, Corinne. Far from it. I’m sorry for what you went through, but that was not my fault.”
“It was. It was all your fault! You did this.”
Corinne went crazy, clawing at Delvicho, trying to get loose. Aston pulled Julie back and the men rushed forward. As her mate was leading her from the room, Corinne’s screams echoed from the walls.
