Sins of Our Ancestors Boxed Set

by Bridget E. Baker

  Sam's carrying a prone figure, and Uncle Dan enters behind him holding something small. I take a few steps toward them before I recognize the woman he's carrying, her blonde hair dirty and stringy.

  Libby. Which means Uncle Dan must be clutching baby Rose.

  A single tear escapes and slides down my cheek. “Is she?”

  Sam shakes his head. “I can't find a pulse.” He lays her down on a cot. “They were in a house alone and no one realized they were there. Not enough volunteers to find everyone. I only found her because I heard the baby.”

  Aunt Anne rushes to Libby's side and presses a stethoscope to her chest to search for a heartbeat. After a moment, she turns away.

  Sobs wrack my body, and I slump onto my chair. We risked everything. Wesley died. We convinced the Unmarked and freed my aunt and still, so many people are dying. We can't save them all, and every new death is like a dagger to my soul. If there is a God, he's not very good at his job. I ball my hands into fists, anger replacing sorrow, my nails digging into the flesh of my hands. The pain helps me withstand my guilt, but I stop when I hear it.

  A tiny mew, barely recognizable.

  Baby Rose. I leap to my feet and cross the room. I peer down at her tiny, unmarked face. Her hand shifts, and her eyes open. If baby Rose can survive this, maybe God hasn't totally forsaken us. “Someone find a bottle.”

  One of the nurses darts out the door, and a few minutes later he returns with a bottle. Little Rose latches on with zeal and I sit down to feed her, her fuzzy head nestled in the crook of my arm.

  Milk sprays her face as she greedily sucks, and I coo. “Not so fast. We're here now, and you'll never be alone again. Ruby's got you, and I’ll take care of you forever, I promise.”

  20

  Seven long days later, the Unmarked send a dozen truckloads of supplies. I guess they were waiting to see whether we survived long enough to need them. I wish I could go back and order that airstrike, but I guess done is done.

  Adrien Kang is the Unmarked delegate who's directing disbursal of the supplies. He looks up from checking numbers on his clipboard, his black hair blowing down flat against his head in the wind. “How many Marked children have been treated?”

  “What's the final count?” I shiver as a gust cuts through my coat.

  A bone weary Dr. Flores stands in attendance so that the Unmarked will take note that WPN provided personnel and supplies far before they did. She looks down at her paperwork and purses her lips. “We dosed sixty-two thousand, four hundred and nineteen people during the thirty-six hours following Samuel Roth and Ruby Solomon’s arrival. Another fourteen thousand, one hundred and four were dosed in the next twenty-four hours.”

  “And how many have survived the week?” Aunt Anne asks.

  Dr. Flores glances down again. “Seventy-one thousand, eight hundred and twelve.”

  I sit down and close my eyes, my mind choking on the number that wasn’t listed. That of those we lost. Sam places his hands on my shoulders. So many died that we could have saved, if only we'd known the location of the hacker virus sooner. Every time I think about it, I see Libby's face while she's holding tiny Rose, squeezing her tightly swaddled form with a smile on her lips.

  Rafe clears his throat. “We have more Marked people to treat, but thanks to WPN's support we are well on our way to a protocol. By our estimates, all individuals infected with Tercera should be cured within the next thirty days.” He grins at his brother. “They provided the miracle we had given up on.”

  Adrien smiles and I can't help stare at his big, shiny white teeth. “We're glad to hear that our expedited pardon and release of Anne Orien, as well as our willingness to free you all from further questioning allowed this phenomenal success. I've brought a list of supplies we have here, and Interim Chancellor Quinn has provided a checklist of items we are able to provide upon your request, Mister, uh, Rafe, is that right?”

  Rafe lifts one eyebrow. “Raphael Roth. Rafe to my friends.”

  Adrien's eyes widen. “Roth? As in—”

  “My brother,” Sam says, “and John Roth's youngest son, yes.”

  Adrien says, “That is a strange coincidence indeed. I also have a proposal from the Unmarked CentiCouncil offering a plan of integration for all of you into our settlements. A few of you originated in an Unmarked community, and some of our citizens are hopeful that they might find and reunite with lost relatives. We have had a pattern of cooperation over the years.”

  “If you call chucking meds at us from over the river cooperation. Now that we're healed you're hopeful, but before you wrote us off as a lost cause.” Rafe folds his arms and glares.

  This isn’t super helpful. I decide to throw Adrien a bone. “I'll show you to a place you can stay the night, Mr. Kang. Once you've gotten settled, you can come back and review the lists with Raphael.”

  Adrien bobs his head in agreement, but pauses. “May I have a moment to speak with you first, Sam?”

  “I'll walk with you and Ruby,” Sam says. “You can say anything you have to say to me in front of her, I assure you.”

  Adrien frowns, but follows us when we start walking down North Boulevard. Once we've made it more than a dozen yards away from everyone else, he says, “You met Interim Chancellor Quinn briefly in Nashville last week.”

  Sam nods. “Ruby did. I, unfortunately, have known him for years.”

  “He plans to attempt to take over the leadership of the Unmarked now that your father's gone.”

  Sam shrugs. “I don't know him very well. I know my dad disliked his ambition and the moves he made to take control of the Unmarked, but my dad's disapproval isn't really a mark against him, is it?”

  Adrien glances my way.

  “I don't mind if you two talk without me, Sam,” I say. “You can show him to his room, and I'll go check on Aunt Anne.”

  “It's fine.” He glares at Adrien. “Please continue.”

  “When Quinn announced I’d be bringing the supplies to you, more than a dozen members of the CentiCouncil approached me. They don't trust Interim Chancellor Quinn, and they worry his ties to your father. . . Well, they'd rather not have a repeat of the same problems as before.”

  Sam stops walking and turns to face Adrien directly. “I am John Roth's son.” He lifts one eyebrow. “Are you suggesting these Council members want me to replace my father because Counselor Quinn has closer ties to him than I do?”

  Adrien stumbles backward. Sam's full attention will do that to you. He swallows and says, “Yes, they did suggest I talk to you about replacing Interim Chancellor in a permanent capacity. I think you'd find the support you need to be voted in. The Council trusts you, in large part due to your heroic actions, your tremendous success here, and the safety it brought to our world. Beyond that, they also appreciated your honesty and bravery at the recent hearing. And of course you’re hugely popular with the people because of your wins at the Games and well—”

  I suppress a giggle. Adrien doesn’t want to say it, but everyone loves Sam’s gorgeous face. I can’t blame them.

  Sam closes his eyes and shakes his head. He opens them again and says, “How could they possibly want to replace my dad with his son?”

  “The son who hates politics, you mean?” Adrien smiles. “The son who swept every event at the games for several years, becoming an Unmarked icon? The son who deposed his own father and then risked his life to cure a hundred thousand Marked kids because it was the right thing to do? Is that the son you mean?”

  Sam rolls his eyes. “For precisely all of those reasons, that son has zero interest in being involved in anything relating to the governance of the CentiCouncil.”

  “We need a strong leader to help integrate the Marked, who, coincidentally are led by your brother.” Adrien looks at Sam purposefully.

  I giggle and Adrien looks at me. “You're the queen of World Peace Now, and we’ve heard that you're Samuel Roth's . . . girlfriend?”

  Sam's face looks pained for some reason.


  “Uh yes,” I say. “Technically, both those things are true. Although, to be perfectly honest, I’ve talked to my brother Adam. I’m going to transition my rule to him and he’s going to dissolve the monarchy slowly. Once they know the truth about David Solomon, I think the people will understand and support our reasons for transitioning WPN to a democracy.”

  I stop myself from telling this delegate of the Unmarked every single thought in my head. “My point is that my control of WPN will be quite short-lived. If there was a word that meant the opposite of ambition, that would describe how I feel about ruling in Galveston.”

  Adrien shrugs. “Desire to rule and obligation based on circumstances aren’t the same. You two have a lot to think about, but the vote for the new Chancellor happens in thirteen days. We can nominate new candidates for the next eleven. Think about how much good you could do in that position, and how much harm the wrong person could inflict.”

  I force a smile. “We will definitely think about it.”

  By the time we're done showing Adrien around, I'm eager to get back to the blood center, which has become our home base. Aunt Anne hands Rose off to me the second I walk through the door.

  “She's been crying for the past two hours.” The bags under Aunt Anne's eyes and the halo of fuzz around her head back up her claim.

  “Come here, Rose. What's wrong?” The second I take her in my arms, she quiets. Her big blue eyes blink and she sighs and burbles.

  “She's too young to have a preference for you already,” Aunt Anne says. “It's ridiculous.”

  Sam leans over my shoulder and beams at Rose. “Yeah, ridiculously cute.”

  “If you've got her, I'm going to take a nap,” Aunt Anne says.

  I nod. “We've got her. Dr. Flores said she'll take care of the kids who are still on medication until six tonight, so you're fine. Go sleep.”

  Aunt Anne walks down the hall and ducks into my little room, pulling the door closed.

  Sam swivels a chair around next to me, and once Rose finishes her bottle, he takes her and puts her up on his shoulder to pat her back. He’s a whiz at burping babies, as it turns out.

  “You've gotten pretty good at that,” I say. “Impressive, for someone with hands like a ham hock.”

  “I love pork, so I'm taking that as a compliment.” Sam coos when Rose burps loudly. “Good job tiny girl. Making me proud.”

  I laugh. “In my wildest dreams and fantasies, I never imagined you taking care of a baby.”

  “So you're saying you fantasize about me.” Sam finishes burping Rose and hands her back to me. “We need to talk more about that later.”

  I'm surprised when he passes her back so soon. “You don't want to hold her any more?”

  He kneels down in front of me. “It's not that I don't want to hold her. It's that I do.”

  “Huh?”

  “This is not how or when I meant to do this,” Sam says, “because I know you’re still really young. But I think you know I'll do anything and everything that you need me to do, no matter when it comes or what it is. If that means raising a baby with you, or ruling WPN, or leading the Unmarked, or completely abandoning all leadership and building a cabin in Wyoming, I'll do it. As long as you're doing it with me.”

  I realize Sam's not kneeling. He's kneeling down on one knee.

  I gasp. “Uh, what are you saying right now?”

  “It’s what I’m asking. Ruby Carillon, er Solomon, or Behl, whether you’re a scientist, a janitor, an adoptive mother or a queen, I love you. Every inch of you, every variation of you. Will you marry me and save us all the name confusion by changing your last name to Roth?”

  I swallow. “Uh.”

  “Or I'll change mine if you prefer,” he says. “But you'd have to pick one. Either way. Or since it's a brave new world, maybe we should make up a name. Your dads didn't seem to mind doing that.”

  I lean forward and kiss him lightly, making sure not to squish little Rose in the process. “Sam, I would love to marry you, but we're both suuuuuper young.”

  “If I'm going to help with Rose, it'll be way easier if we're living together, and I think. . .”

  The door from the back room opens and Aunt Anne walks in, hands on her hips. “Sam I love you, but that's a horrible reason to propose. You don't need to worry about the baby. Ruby may not know this, but I always wanted a house full of children. There were complications when I had the twins, and I couldn't have any more. I should've called David Solomon and told him I had his daughter when Don died, but I couldn't give you up. You were my daughter from that very first minute, and now I feel the same way about little Rose, even if she cries more with me right now. Let me raise her, and then you don't need to feel such pressure. You're young. Be young.”

  “And in love,” Sam says. “I don't care if we're not engaged, as long as we're still in love.”

  I kiss his nose, and then his lips. “I most definitely love you, you big goofball.” I lean down by his ear. “And if my aunt hadn't intervened,” I whisper, “I would've said yes, in case it comes up again in, I don't know, maybe a year.”

  A knock at the front door startles Rose and she starts to cry.

  “Here, let me try,” Aunt Anne says. “I couldn't really take a nap anyway. Too much running through my brain.”

  Sam crosses the room and opens the door. It may be the first time anyone's knocked. Frank stands at the door, official guard uniform on, hair covered by a stupid looking grey hat with a little black brim.

  I stand up. “What are you doing here? I thought you went back with Adam two days ago.”

  Frank bows, and straightens. “Your Royal Highness is correct. I did return with him, but he sent me back with a message.” He reaches his hand into the inside of his uniform, pulls a white envelope out, and extends it to me.

  I sigh and take it.

  Dearest sister,

  I hate to bother you, as I'm sure you're quite busy setting things right in Baton Rouge. However, it's my duty to inform you that disturbing rumors have arrived regarding our beloved first cousin in New Orleans. He isn't pleased the Marked are healed, and means to block any attempt we make at integrating them here in Galveston or other port cities.

  I will do my best, but I feel your presence could eliminate the need for violent conflict. The people like you even more than they liked our father, if that's possible. Please let Frank know what you plan to do, and whether you'll be returning any time soon. If you do not plan to return, please direct Josephine and I so that we can carry out your wishes to the best of our abilities.

  Yours truly,

  Adam

  I hand the letter to Sam. He scans it and meets my eye. “Well sunshine, we cured Tercera. That's what we set out to do, but like I told you before, humans were the real problem all along. At least life around you won't ever be boring.”

  “I could use a little boring, honestly,” I say.

  Sam grins. “Maybe someday. But for tomorrow, what's the plan?”

  I don't have one yet, but together we'll figure it out. Sawyer Blevins might have scared little Ruby Behl, but now I know the truth. I've accepted parts of what I learned and overcome the rest. He doesn't scare me, not anymore.

  “Tomorrow's the memorial for Wesley, but after that I think Rafe, Uncle Dan and Aunt Anne can manage without us for a few days.”

  I grab a piece of paper and scribble a message for Frank to take to Adam.

  Don't worry about Sawyer Blevins, big brother. I'll see you in two days. I’ll head that way to help you clean up this latest mess, and then we need to talk transition. Cuz I’m done with people calling me Your Highness.

  Love, Ruby

  Sam pulls me into his arms and kisses me until my toes curl and my heart sprouts wings and flies. When he finally lets me go, he whispers against my mouth. “You’ll always be my queen.”

  I roll my eyes. “That’s the only title I ever wanted in the first place.” I lean my head against Sam’s chest. “How do you feel about taking
a little trip down to the beach?”

  Sam groans. “Do I have a choice?”

  “Not really. Now that we’ve fixed our parents’ mistakes, mostly, we’ll just have to make sure we don’t make too many of our own.”

  Sam pulls me close and I realize, no matter what comes, we’ve got this.

  THE END

  If you enjoyed the Sins of Our Ancestors series and want more, don’t worry! I just finished a new book, Already Gone. It’s YA romantic suspense. You can read a preview of the first chapter next.

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  21

  Lacy

  Time’s a fickle trickster.

  If I'd been born a few weeks earlier, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have happened. If my vivacious little sister had been born a few weeks later, it might not have taken place. If Mason had shown up just one day after he did, it probably could've been avoided. If the principal had waited a few minutes that day, well, I don't know. Sometimes I think if I could’ve scraped together a handful of leftover seconds, we could’ve saved her.

  She might still be alive.

  It’s Hope’s fault that I’m here, but I can’t focus on that, not right now.

  I’m supposed to sign in when I arrive at the shrink’s office. The little white sheet with blank spaces stares at me accusingly, like it knows what I’ve done. I want to sign in with a beautiful curly script, as if somehow that will make things better. I can’t do it though, because there isn’t a pen or pencil in sight. What kind of crappy, rundown office doesn’t have a pen by the sign in sheet?