“Let me do what?” Annabelle asked.
“Doll face,” Phoenix said and ushered her to a chair. “Everything okay upstairs?”
“Yes. Let me do what?” she asked again.
Phoenix blew out a breath and opened his mouth to speak, but I couldn’t let him bear the brunt of the bombshell she was about to receive by being the one to tell her.
With no preamble, I sat up and extended my hand to her. “I don’t believe we were formally introduced. I’m Layla East, your half sister.”
She blinked, looked at my hand, turned to Phoenix, then back to my hand, and finally said, “Well, that explains a whole fucking lot.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened, Copper snorted, and I just stared at her. She pointed at Phoenix, “You’ve been acting weird for the last few weeks.” Then she turned her attention back to me, “And you look almost identical to my daughter.”
“I’m sorry, doll face. I only kept it from you because I was worried about you and the babies,” Phoenix said sincerely.
“I know that, big guy. What I don’t know is what you won’t let me do,” she said, clearly annoyed with having to ask again.
“Donate bone marrow. He was saying he didn’t know if the doctor would allow it since you just gave birth,” Aim said.
Annabelle’s forehead scrunched. “Why would I need to donate bone marrow?”
Aim flicked his gaze to me and nodded subtly before focusing on Annabelle. “Because my daughter is sick, and she’s probably going to die if we don’t find a donor.” He extended his hand to her, “My name is Amos Edwards, and I’m your half brother.”
Annabelle shook his hand, but didn’t utter a word.
He then turned to me and held out his hand. “Hi, Layla. It’s nice to officially meet you. I’m sorry about the way we met before. I was undercover and couldn’t tell you,” he said quietly.
“Yeah, I know that now. Uh, sorry about having you arrested and almost blowing your case,” I said and felt my cheeks flush.
He laughed. “Can’t say I wasn’t pissed when it happened, but it all worked out in the end.”
“Doll face, you okay?” Phoenix asked, and we all turned our eyes to Annabelle.
“I, um,” she started but closed her mouth. “I’m sorry. Let’s start over. What in the actual fuck is going on?”
“Maybe we should step outside,” Aim suggested.
“Don’t bother,” I snorted. “That one’ll follow us, and that one probably will, too,” I said and pointed at Phoenix first, then Copper.
So, right there in Copper’s hospital room, Aim told us his story, and then I shared mine. When we were finished, Annabelle filled us in on her past. And I could safely say, we had some fucked-up history.
“Where’s your daughter?” I asked.
“She’s here in the hospital, on the pediatric unit,” he glanced at his watch. “I actually need to be getting back to her.”
“Can she have visitors?” Annabelle asked.
Aim smiled. “Only family.”
Annabelle and I both stood. “Let’s go.”
“Not so fast, Locks,” Copper, who I thought was asleep, rumbled. “Stay with Phoenix.”
I rolled my eyes, but agreed. “Sir, yes, sir,” I said and kissed his cheek.
I started to turn away to follow Aim and Annabelle, but Copper circled my wrist and held firm. “Don’t be a smartass about me worrying about you. I love you, and I damn sure don’t want anything to happen to you.”
I nodded and closed my eyes for a brief moment. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. And I love you, too. I’ll stay with Phoenix, and I won’t be gone long.”