Chapter Twenty-One

Alexa

Looking out the window, I tried not to let a smile take over my forced somber face. Pressing my lips together, I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“Lex! Talk to me!” demanded Abriana.

“Bri,” I said, pausing for a moment, letting Abriana squirm. “It’s about Matías.”

Abriana’s lips parted, but nothing came out.

“While you were gone…” I paused again. Ooooh! I love making her squirm! “While you were gone, something happened with Matías.”

Abriana bit down on her lower lip and her complexion went pale. “What do you mean something happened with Matías?”

“We were out putting up posters and… Well… He kissed me.”

I watched as Abriana’s face fell. “Wh-wh-what?” she stammered.

My shoulders slumped and I wiped away an imaginary tear. “Well, we were out and talking about how much we missed you…  And then he just leaned over and kissed me.”

Abriana’s hands began to tremble. Come on! Start crying! You weak, selfish, little excuse for a human being!

“Take me home, now,” she said in a quiet voice.

Blinking my long eyelashes, I brushed a stray lock of dark brown hair off of her face.

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped.

There’s the reaction I was looking for!

“But, I’m so sorry, Bri!” I pleaded. “I had no idea he was going to try and kiss me! I swear!”

Abriana pulled on her hospital bracelet before exhaling loudly. “I said, take me home,” she repeated.

I threw my arms around her neck and tried to give her a convincing hug. “I’m so sorry, Bri! He said he was totally over you and that he had always liked me! I guess I just got caught up in the moment.”

A wicked grin snuck across my face as my sister’s body went rigid.

“Lex, please just take me home.”

I felt a hot tear hit my shoulder as I released her petite frame.

Aw! Poor Abriana is crying!

“I’m so sorry, Bri! I never would have let it happen if I would have known you wanted to get back together with him,” I apologized in a sugary sweet voice.

Abriana’s body remained stiff. “We aren’t back together.”

“Oh,” I said with a frown on my face. “I just thought when I saw you two in the hospital holding hands that you were already back together.”

Abriana ran her hands through her hair. “Seriously, Lex?”

I gave her my best big doe eyes. “What?”

Her face turned a deep shade of red. “Do you not get it? Somebody kidnapped me and tried to kill me!”

My jaw dropped open. “I was just trying to be honest…”

She balled her fists until her knuckles turned white. “So, as someone had me tied up and blindfolded, you were making out with my ex? Did you think that would help in some messed up way? I mean really, Lex? Come on!”

Um… Excuse me? This is not how this is supposed to go! She is supposed to get pissed at Matías, not me!

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

“Whatever,” she muttered. “Just take-”

Before she could finish someone knocked on the window, sending my shoulders up to my ears.

Abriana rolled down her window and Detective Lock’s face appeared.

“Alexa,” he said nodding, “Abriana,” he said nodding again.

“Hey, Detective Lock,” said Abriana.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the open space the window usually occupied. “Listen, I have something I wanted to talk to you and your family about. Are you headed home?”

Abriana reached down and grabbed the canvas bag off the floor. “Actually, could you give me a ride home?” she asked Detective Lock.

He arched an eyebrow. “Sure. I’d be happy to.”

“Abriana, wait!” I said.

She turned to face me with a hurt expression washed across her face. “I’ll see you at home, Lex.”

As she got out of the car, a small balled up piece of paper fell out and landed on the pavement in the parking garage.

My heart went from zero to one hundred in a matter of milliseconds. Oh no! Not this again! My mind shot back two days ago when someone stopped me a few feet away from the exit door in the hospital basement. Ma’am! Ma’am! Someone stop her! When I felt the hand on my shoulder I just knew it was all over. Ma’am! You dropped this! I spun around and came face to face with a small Hispanic woman with kind eyes and wrinkled skin. Here, she said handing me the same balled up piece of paper that had just fallen out of the car. Little did she know, it contained a picture of Easton’s brother with a thick red X over his face and the words, “My Next Victim,” written above it in bold letters.  

¡Oh, gracias! I had exclaimed as relief swept through my body. ¡Muchas gracias! I remember my hand shaking slightly as I held it out. De nada, she said as she dropped the paper in my outstretched hand. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled. She reminded me of my abuela.

The car door slammed, bringing me back to reality.

“See you at the house,” said Detective Lock as he banged on the top of the car twice.

Please walk away! Please walk away! Don’t see the paper! I said to myself.

As he turned, I let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, Alexa,” said the detective turning around. “You dropped something.”

NO!

He leaned down and picked up the paper. “What’s this?”

Trying to remain calm, I shook my head. “Nothing. Ah, it’s nothing.”

My breath caught in my chest as he started to pull it apart.

“Hey!” I said loudly. “Don’t you need a warrant to do that?”

He ran his tongue over his bottom lip and gave me a cautious smile. “I wasn’t really going to look.”

“Whatever,” I said in a snotty tone. “It’s private.”

“I see that,” he said as he tossed the paper through the open window.

Rolling my eyes, I took a deep breath and exhaled through clenched teeth. “I’ll see you at the house.”

Putting the car into park, I pulled out of the parking space and headed toward the exit.

That was close! Way to close!

***

After a few minutes drive, I pulled over and pushed in the car lighter.

Time to get rid of this evidence…

When the lighter popped, I pulled it out and opened the door slightly. Touching the sortching hot metal to the paper, it caught fire within a matter of seconds. I held it as the flames licked up the sides of the paper. As the sides curled and dropped off, relief filled my core. There, that’s much better.

***

As I pulled up to the house, I slid the gear into park and wiped my hands on the underside of my seat.

Great, Abriana and Detective Lock are already here.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the car door. As I looked up toward the house, anger seeped through my veins. Stupid Abriana! She always finds a way to ruin everying! Ugh! I shook my head as I got out of the car. She was supposed to get pissed at Matías, not me!

As the rage continued to build, I reached in and grabbed my purse out of the backseat. She’s such an idiot!

As I slammed the car door, I heard the squeal of tires. Looking up, my eyes met Matías’, which were filled with rage.

Uh oh… Looks like he talked to Abriana…

----------------------------------------------------

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