Chapter 29
“Holly?” Andrea whispered, as if she were staring at a ghost, and if she spoke too loudly, the apparition would disappear.
Really, it was like staring in a mirror.
They were identical twins with only subtle differences, and few could tell them apart physically, while personality-wise, they couldn’t be any more different.
Even their tastes in clothing were different.
Andrea wore casual clothing and sandals or flats.
Whereas Holly liked to show off her assets and always wore heels.
“Hi, Andy.” Holly smiled warmly at her as if they saw each other all the time and not nine years ago as she walked toward her. More like glided. Her hips swayed like she was a supermodel walking a catwalk instead of across her floor.
“Don’t call me that.” She always hated that nickname. Holly knew it too and always did it just to annoy her. Andrea stepped closer, reaching out for her sister. Needing to touch her to make sure she wasn’t a hallucination.
“It’s me.” Holly chuckled as if reading her mind. Holly took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Emotions clogged her throat. It had been so long since she’d seen her sister. Not since Holly couldn’t take living in their house and left in the middle of the night, only waking her up long enough to say goodbye.
Andrea pulled her sister close and hugged her. Holly wrapped her arms around her and held her tight. Holly was the only family she had left.
Then Andrea remembered why she hadn’t seen her sister in years. She released her hold, but Holly didn’t let her go, gripping onto her forearms. “Holly, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s some greeting for your sister.” That didn’t answer her question.
Andrea managed to pull free from her sister and stepped back toward the front door, needing distance. “What did you expect when I haven’t seen you in years?”
“It was for your safety,” Holly pouted.
“How did you even find me?” She’d gone out of her way to stay off the radar so no one could track her down.
“Please,” Holly rolled her eyes, “I can find anyone.”
If Holly could find her so easily, how hard would it be for others?
“You shouldn’t be here, Holly.” Andrea was where she was at because of her sister.
If her enemies ever tracked her down here, she’d have to pack up and leave again.
Change her name. Everything. She was prepared for it, but after making a life for herself the past seven years, she didn’t want to leave, and Michael had nothing to do with that reluctance.
“I missed you.”
Doubtful. Holly only ever cared about herself. For being twins, they were never close. They were polar opposites. They’d shared a womb together, that was as close as they had ever been. “What do you want?” Holly didn’t just show up out of the blue for no reason.
“Just to visit, and I’ll be on my way.” Holly was the picture of innocence. She had perfected it over the years. Looking at her now, she was an accomplished actress, but Andrea knew her. Her sister was lying.
“How long are you staying for?”
“A few days.” Holly shrugged, not meeting her eye.
“And let me guess, you want to stay with me.”
“Yeah,” Holly said as if it were obvious.
“Why? Why now?”
“I’ve been on the road so long I was starting to miss family. I saw Mom died a few years ago, so I looked you up.”
Their mother had passed away from lung cancer a few years ago. Because of the deal, Andrea couldn’t visit her or attend the funeral. She felt guilty their mother died alone. It hadn’t been the easiest growing up with her, but she was still her mother. “Why should I believe you?”
“I’m your sister.” Holly blinked, almost looking offended Andrea could ask her that.
As if that meant anything. “I haven’t seen you in nine years.”
“I’ve been busy. Traveling.”
“Making deals with your suppliers?”
Holly’s eyes opened in shock. “What are you talking about?”
“Your illegal activity.” Holly may appear innocent, but underneath all of that makeup and sweet smile was a viper ready to strike at a moment’s notice, and she didn’t care who was in the stroke zone. Friend or foe. Or in this case, family.
“I don’t do anything illegal.”
“Uh huh.” Andrea didn’t believe her, and Holly was giving her non answers which wasn’t helping. “I’m sorry, but you can’t stay here.” Andrea didn’t want to get caught up in her sister’s drama or caught in the crosshairs.
“Andy—drea,” Holly corrected herself at the last second. “Look, I’m on the run from a very angry person. I just need to lie low for a few days, and then I’ll be gone. Please, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Tears pooled in Holly’s eyes. It could be a ruse, but Andrea didn’t have the heart to send her away. Who knew the next time she would see her sister? She was probably going to regret this. “Who did you anger?”
“An ex. He was the jealous type. He hit me, so I ran. He’s been chasing me for the past week.”
“And you’re leading him to me?” Andrea squawked. She didn’t want crazy exes showing up on her doorstep.
“He doesn’t know I’m here. No one knows I have family.”
It should have hurt that Holly didn’t acknowledge her, but then again, Andrea always said she was an only child, so it was only fair.
“I’ll stay here inside the house and not leave. Please, Andrea, I just need a few days. I have travel arrangements, but they aren’t for two days.” Her sister’s eyes beseeched her.
“Fine,” Andrea relented.
Holly squealed and threw herself into Andrea’s arms. “You won’t regret this.”
She was so going to regret this.