Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) (47 page)

“Are you sure this is a good idea with your ankle?”

“What choice do we have?” She glanced up at the window still partially open. “If someone notices that, we’re in trouble.”

Abby nodded. “I’ll go first.” She moved to the edge of the roof, rolled to her stomach, and wiggled her body until her legs dangled. “The stones on the house stick out a bit. I can rest my feet on them.”

Alexa turned on her belly and eased her legs over the side, slamming her eyes shut when gravity pushed more blood to her foot. The throbbing pressure was almost more than she could bear.

“Here I go.” Abby let herself hang by her fingertips and counted to three, then let go.

Alexa’s heart stopped when she heard the thud of her sister’s landing. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m all right. Come on down. I’ll help you.”

Alexa pushed herself further over the edge until she hung like her sister had. The rough shingles bit into her fingers and she pressed her lips firm as she released her grip. Gasping, falling, she tried to maneuver her body to land on her good leg. Her foot met ground and she lost her balance. She rolled once, and her wrapped ankle slammed against the stone on the pretty walking path. The shocking pain stole her breath, and she whimpered, fighting her tears, as she clutched the cool grass.

“Lex. Oh, Lex.” Abby rushed forward, crawling, and cupped Alexa’s sweaty face in her hands.

Alexa struggled to clear the gray haze of unconsciousness from her vision as Abby stroked loose strands of hair from her damp forehead. She could
not
pass out.

“You’re so pale. We have to get away from the path. Someone might see us.”

She blinked, relieved when the tiny dancing spots vanished from her vision. “I need—I need a minute.”

“We don’t have a minute. If someone happens by the window, they’ll take us away. Come on, Lex.” Abby hooked her arms under Alexa’s armpits and dragged her to the shadows.

Alexa groaned as the jerking movements caused her more unspeakable agony.

“I’m sorry. We’re almost there.” Abby gave her another tug and sagged to the ground out of breath. “Let’s rest for a few minutes. It doesn’t seem like too many people are on this side of the house.”

Alexa nodded and leaned her head on the rough rock of the house. “Most of the party’s in the back half of the east and west wings.” She closed her eyes, attempting to summon up any remaining dredges of strength. The last few minutes had drained her dry.

“I knew this was a bad idea. You should’ve stayed on the roof. Why didn’t I make you?”

“Because there’s no way you could’ve. I’m not leaving you.” She reached for her sister’s hand.

Abby grabbed her fingers and held tight. “I’m sorry you had to do this. I’m sorry I didn’t escape.”

She opened her eyes and looked at her sister. “Ab—”

“I wanted to. It was all I thought about at first.”

“We’re together and you’re safe. That’s what matters.”

“I tried once.” Abby continued on, despite Alexa’s reassurances. “I saw an opportunity and went for it. One of the guards went to the bathroom, and I snuck away from the basement they kept us in and ran right out the front door, but they grabbed me and told me they would make you and Livy suffer.” Her eyes watered and her lip trembled. “They called you and made me listen. I could hear the fear in your voice when they told you I was going to die.” She clutched Alexa’s fingers tighter. “They held me down while Eric talked to you and came at me with a syringe full of clear liquid. He told me to say goodbye. Then they shoved the needle in my arm and I didn’t wake up ‘til the next day.”

“Ab, I’m so sorry.”

“I didn’t try to run again, but I tried to call.”

“I remember.”

“I wanted to tell you where I was, but I didn’t know. They cover our heads when they put us in the vans. Sometimes we’re in there for minutes, other times hours. The phone idea was just as bad as trying to run. They realized a phone was missing and started beating one of the girls…”

Alexa rested her head on Abby’s shoulder. What could she possibly say to lessen such a trauma?

“After that, I lost hope that I was ever going home. They reminded us daily that we were theirs and escape meant death to our families.”

“I left.” Alexa blinked away her own tears. “I put Livy and myself on a plane and fled to Los Angeles. I didn’t want to—”

“I’m glad you did. I was constantly terrified they would take you and Livy. They’re evil. The things they make the girls do… They’re so young, and I couldn’t stop it.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“No, but it doesn’t change what I saw or what I listened to. They made me—they made me keep the books. All the questions Renzo asked about my business background...” She shook her head. “I thought he was interested in me… It was my job to handle the organizations books as well as dole out the girls—ten to twenty times a day.” She sniffed. “God. I can barely stand the guilt. There were so many nights I wanted to die, but then I saw you with Jackson at Lady Pink.”

“I wanted to take you with us, Abby. You have no idea how much.”

“Probably as much as I wanted to go. But I knew I couldn’t.” She leaned her head against the wall. “I was never more surprised than when I opened the door to that disgusting room and saw Jackson Matthews grinning at me. He looked at me with his kind eyes and told me he would be back…and I started to believe again.”

She pulled her sister against her. “I hate that you went through this. I hate it so much.”

Abby clung. “I just want it to be over.”

“It is. They’re waiting for us on the other side of that wall—or down the next block, at least.”

“Whenever you’re ready, I want to leave and never look back.”

“Then let’s go.”

Abby frowned as she studied Alexa’s face. “You’re still pale.”

“My ankle hurts a bit.” ‘A bit’ was an understatement. Her foot begged her to be still as the swollen skin bulged around the yellow and black wrap. The second fall had injured her further but they couldn’t afford to stay here any longer. “I’m okay.” She swiped at the sweat beading along her forehead. “I need you to help me up.”

“Of course.” Abby crouched and wrapped an arm around Alexa’s shoulders. “I’ll lift on the count of three.”

Alexa nodded.

“One…two…three.”

Alexa kept her right leg extended and used her left to help propel herself up with Abby’s tug. The stabbing throb almost sent her back to the ground.

“Lex, this isn’t going to work.”

“It’s fine,” she said, her voice strained. “Let’s just go.”

Abby hesitated.

“Please, Ab. I can sit down again when we get to the bushes.”

“Okay.” Abby wrapped her arm tight around Alexa’s shoulders.

Alexa leaned in to the support her sister offered and hooked her arm around Abby’s waist. They hobbled forward with little grace. Putting weight on her right foot was impossible. They paused as they came to the first large window of the formal dining area.

Abby peeked in the edge of the glass. “There’re only a couple people mingling about. If we duck, I think we’ll be okay.”

“This should be interesting.”  

“Never a dull moment when the Harris sisters are together.”

They both smiled.

“Here goes nothing,” Alexa said as they leaned forward and moved slowly with Alexa’s awkward hop.

“One more window to go.” Slightly out of breath, Alexa pressed a hand to the house and eyed the bushes ahead. She needed to sit down. “I’m ready if you are.”

They were faster this time, as Alexa found the rhythm of her one-legged gait. “We’re almost there.”

They stopped as they came to the edge of the house. There were fewer shadows to hide in as the walking path widened and twisted toward the bright lights of the party a few windows away.

“Take a rest, Lex.”

“Let’s keep going.” Alexa pushed off the side of the house and stumbled with Abby as they crossed the path.

“No, man, I’m outta here.”

Abby and Alexa froze when they heard the man’s voice heading in their direction.

“Something isn’t right. They’re going to bust us; I can feel it. The valet drove my car to the side gate.”

“Back up,” Alexa mouthed, but it was too late. Renzo turned the corner and stopped short of running into them. Shock registered on his face, but then his eyes changed, and a harsh smile crept across his mouth. “I’ve gotta go.” He slid his phone in his pocket. “Well, well, well what do we have here?” He studied Alexa and shook his head. “I
knew
you looked familiar. What happened to your blonde hair, Jenny—or should I say Sister Alexa?” He advanced.

Alexa struggled to stand upright as Abby took two steps in retreat. What were they going to do? She fought to think over the kick of panic. “I’ve—I’ve been working with the FBI. They’re coming. They’re coming for you. The cops have been watching you all night.” She expected him to run, but he didn’t.

“Good thing I won’t be here, and neither will you. Let’s go.” Renzo grabbed Abby’s arm, and she gasped.

“Leave her alone. Help!” Alexa screamed as loud as she could.

Renzo shoved Abby down and yanked Alexa against him, slapping a hand over her mouth, and squeezed. “Shut up,” he said between his teeth. “You shut the fuck up.” He jerked her closer, and she whimpered as pain shot through her foot. “Try that again and your sister’s dead. Fawn, get your ass up and let’s
go
.”

Abby stood on visibly shaking legs and did as she was told.

Renzo clutched Alexa’s arm and yanked her forward. She had no choice but to put weight on the foot that wouldn’t hold her. Crying out, she lost her balance and fell.

“I don’t have time for stall tactics. Get your ass up.” He squeezed and jerked on her arm, sending a hot wave of pain through her shoulder.

“I can’t.” Tears coursed down her cheeks. “My ankle.”

“Fine.” He smirked and pulled her by the wrist, dragging her along.

Rocks, twigs, and other sharp items bit into her skin as she tried to gain her balance and get to her knees, but Renzo moved too quickly, and she fell back to her butt.

He stopped at a wrought iron gate hidden among the bushes, lifted a small utility-type box several inches to the side, and pressed a button. A hum filled the area as the latch released.

Alexa tried to gain her feet once more with Abby’s help. Her sister’s teeth chattered and her hands shook as she eased her up. She stared into Abby’s terrified eyes as she clutched her arm around her waist. “It’s going to be all right, Abby,” she murmured close to her ear.

“No it’s not. You’re a witness,” he pointed at Abby, “and you’re a snitch.” He rammed a finger into Alexa’s tender shoulder. “Nothing good’s going to happen to either of you.” Renzo chuckled and shoved them out to the sidewalk. Alexa tried to catch her fall with her injured foot and tumbled. Concrete ripped at her already shredded palms and elbows, and her knees screamed. The pain in her ankle had her seeing stars. She whimpered and bit her lip, attempting to fight back her need to weep.

“Lex. Oh, Lex,” Abby sobbed as she crouched next to her.

“Quit your fucking blubbering and get in.” Renzo yanked Abby up and pushed her toward the car.

Terror coursed through Alexa, quickly followed by adrenaline as Renzo opened the door and shoved her sister. If he took off with Abby this time, she would never find her. Unable to run as she wanted to, Alexa crawled forward and clung to Renzo’s pants as she fought her way to standing. “Don’t you touch her.” She sunk her teeth in his bicep, and he let go of her sister with a string of curses. “Run, Abby! Run away!”

But Abby stood where she was, quaking and crying.

“You bitch.” He whirled, swung, and caught Alexa on the chin.

The force of the blow sent her back to the ground, but she got to her knees just as quickly when Renzo opened the car door.

“Get in, Fawn. Now.” He pushed her in.

“Abby, fight, damn it!”

Alexa wedged herself in the opening, afraid he would leave her behind. “We can take him.”

Renzo let out an amused chuckle. “Oh, I’m shaking. Pansy-ass and gimpy here are going to take me down. He stooped low and tossed Alexa in with a nasty shove, then slammed the door.

“Honk, Abby!” She struggled to open the door, pulling frantically on the handle, but the door held firm. “Honk, Abigail!”

Abby pressed her shaking hand to the steering wheel, and the horn echoed through the street.

“Again.”

Renzo hurried around to his side. “Stop.” He backhanded Abby and turned the key in the ignition. He pulled away, made a u-turn, and sped down the street.

Alexa’s breath heaved out as Abby cried uncontrollably in the cramped seat next to her. They lurched forward when Renzo slammed on his brakes at the four-way stop, then accelerated, burning rubber on the empty parkway. Alexa stared at the trees rushing by, desperately thinking of a way out of this, but there wasn’t one. They were trapped.