Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) Read Free Page A

“Mommy?”
    “I’m right here, honey.” She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes, struggling to steady her voice. “I’m right here.” Alexa used the last of her reserves to walk to her little girl, sit on the corner of the cushion, and smile. “Close your eyes, Lovely Livy.” She stroked her fingers through her daughter’s soft, wheat-colored hair. “It’s late.”
    “Where’s Auntie Ab?”
    Alexa’s lip wobbled. How much did Olivia see? What did she remember? Would she be traumatized? “She’s not here right now.”
    “Why did they make her cry, mommy?”
    “Oh, Livy.” Alexa scooped her up and cuddled her in her lap, sweeping her hair away from her forehead. “The police are going to bring her home soon.” She had to believe it. As she held her daughter close, clinging, breathing in the comfort of her baby, she shut her eyes. At moments like this, the heavy weight of raising her child on her own, of having no one else to depend on, was crushing. “Let’s get you to bed. You can sleep with me tonight.”
    “Okay, mommy.” Livy kissed her cheek.
    Alexa stood and carried Livy with her to check the lock. She struggled to push the sturdy wooden bench in front of the door and left the lights blazing before she grabbed her cell phone and purse, desperately hoping Abby would find a way to call.
    As she climbed the steep stairs, Livy’s breathing deepened, evening out. Alexa turned into her room and could only be thankful she’d forgotten to open the blinds before they left on their trip. She didn’t want to face the shadows cast by the scant sliver of moon peeking through the increasing clouds or wonder who might be in the dark, watching. Shuddering, she flipped on the dim overhead light. She pulled the covers back and lay Livy down, gently tugging off her shorts, and covered her against the chill of the still, cool nights.
    Alexa settled in next to her, fully clothed in her jeans and Virginia Beach t-shirt, hopeful the police would call and tell her to come pick up Abby. She didn’t want to waste time getting dressed.
    She stared at the pictures on her dresser. One of her and Livy moments after she’d pushed her daughter into the world. Livy’s first birthday. Her first steps. Somehow the years had rushed by, and her baby was three-and-a-half. How did that happen?
    She looked at the photos hanging on the wall—the last family picture before Gran passed so unexpectedly and the new frame with pictures of Abby in her college cap and gown. She was stunning, with long, glossy, black hair, her classic oval face and flawless complexion, those huge dark blue eyes dancing with energy and fun. Everyone had always said she and Abby could pass for identical twins, but Alexa’s cheekbones were sharper, and she had a good two inches on her sister’s five-four, willowy frame. Alexa closed her eyes again when the pain became too much. “Oh, Ab, please be okay. Please .”
    Her cellphone rang, and she jumped. She grabbed the phone up in trembling hands and fumbled it. “Abby?”
    More ringing.
    Frowning, she looked at her phone, confused, before she realized the ringing wasn’t coming from her cell but from somewhere in her purse. She reached forward, yanking her bag off the nightstand, and rummaged through until she discovered the small Verizon flip phone. “Hello? Abby?”
    “Guess again,” the sexless computerized voice said.
    “Who—who is this?” Her heart slammed in her chest as she realized she was talking to Abby’s kidnapper. “Where’s my sister?”
    “I talk. You listen.”
    She struggled not to shout her questions, to demand answers, fearful that disobeying might harm her sister.
    “You’ve already messed up, sister Alexa. You shouldn’t have involved the police or the press. Now we have to up the ante.”
    They knew her name. Did they know where she lived? She rushed out of bed and peeked around the corner of the window shade. Her eyes darted about, scrutinizing the trees