Alexa
A WEEK LATER, I was fully over being stuck in the abbey. I had only been able to see Reese twice since our overnight and it was killing me.
I was in the chapel, alone, placing hymnals in pews when Sadie walked in and headed toward me. “Hello, Sister Maria, how are you?”
“I’m well, Sadie. Thank you.”
“I was wondering if you would like to join me and Ryder for dinner this evening.”
My heart raced knowing that meant Reese time. “I would like that very much.”
“Excellent. I’ll pick you up around five.” She wrinkled her nose as she lowered her voice. “You’ll need to wear the wig with your veil and habit.”
I sighed. “Okay, Sadie. I understand.”
“Great. We’ll see you tonight.” She pulled me in for an awkward hug. “I’m so glad you’re coming.”
“Me too.”
She gave me one more smile then left me standing next to the third pew from the back.
Finally.
I desperately needed to see my man.
* * *
Reese
I paced Ryder’s living room waiting for Alexa to arrive. She was late and I was growing increasingly frustrated. Sadie had left over an hour ago and should have been back by now, but here I was still pacing the room. I should have collected her.
Ryder clapped me on the back and handed me a beer. “She’ll be here, brother.”
I took the bottle and sighed. “What’s takin’ so fuckin’ long?”
Ryder chuckled. “You know Sadie drives like an old lady. She’s bein’ careful, but she got to the church and left about twenty minutes ago. She’ll be—”
Before he could finish his pep talk, I caught motion on the cameras. Sadie’s BMW started its ascent up the long driveway. I set my beer on the coffee table, pulled the drapes to the picture window closed, and waited inside the front door. Sadie walked in first, followed by Alexa who didn’t have a second to greet Ryder because I grabbed her, tugging her veil and black wig from her head and kissing her deeply.
Alexa responded immediately, giggling against my mouth. “Hey.”
“Hey. Missed you.”
“Missed you too, honey.”
“Please tell me you’re wearin’ somethin’ else under that thing.”
She raised an eyebrow. “This thing needs to be shown more respect.”
I rolled my eyes. “It would be great, baby, if you wouldn’t mind,” I said carefully, “if you would so kindly take off your habit so I can make-out with you and not feel like I’m goin’ to hell.”
Sadie giggled behind us and the sound brought me back to the present. “Shit.”
Alexa grinned and patted my face gently. “Kinda forgot she was there, huh?”
I sighed and forced a smile. “Little bit.”
“Unzip me,” Lex ordered, and turned her back.
I did as I was instructed and was rewarded with Alexa in jeans and a low-cut sweater that slid off one milky shoulder (which I leaned down and kissed gently). “Thanks, baby.”
“My pleasure, sugar bear.” She faced me with a smile and then picked up her discarded habit and veil, folding them neatly and setting them on the bench by the front door.
I caught Sadie grinning behind her hand and raised an eyebrow in challenge. She shook her head and could no longer hide her mirth. Waving her hand between me and Lex, she said, “I really like this, Reese.”
I grinned. “Me too, Sadie.”
Alexa made her way back to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I pulled her close and kissed her head before walking her (still attached to me) into the kitchen.
“Can I get you a glass of wine or a beer, Lex?” Sadie asked.
“Wine, please.”
Sadie poured her a glass and tried to hand it to her, but I wouldn’t release her to retrieve it. Alexa giggled. “I need to get closer to reach the sweet nectar, baby…”
Instead of letting her go, I shuffled us both closer to the kitchen island.
“You’re ridiculous Reese,” Alexa complained but didn’t loosen her grip on my waist.
I kissed her temple in response.
“Was he like this back in the day?” Sadie asked Ryder.
Ryder wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her. “Yeah, baby, he was.”
Sadie’s eyes widened. “Wow,” she whispered.
Alexa chuckled. “It was out of control back then, too.”
“Hey now,” I admonished.
“You can growl at me all day long, Mr. Alden,” Alexa said as she craned her neck to look up at me. “But it doesn’t make it any less true.”
I smiled down at her and kissed her nose. “Gonna grab my beer. Don’t move.”
“Exactly where would I go?”
I didn’t answer her rhetorical question as I headed to the living room and grabbed the beer I’d earlier discarded. When I walked back to the kitchen, Alexa was at the stove helping with dinner.
“You moved,” I accused, and she glanced over her shoulder with a laugh.
“Technically, I didn’t move, honey. I stepped to the stove.”
“Are you arguing semantics?”
“Damn skippy I am,” she retorted.
I grinned and kissed the nape of her neck, whispering, “Wish I could get you naked.”
“I heard that,” Sadie said.
I laughed. “I don’t care.”
Alexa reached around me and smacked my ass. “Behave.”
“No promises.”
She faced me and kissed my neck. “How about you and Ryder go bond and I’ll help Sadie with dinner?”
“I spend a lot of time with Ryder,” I complained. “I’m good right here.”
“But if you’re here, I can’t talk about you.”
“Sure you can.” I took a swig of my beer.
“I’m not going anywhere, honey.” Alexa squeezed my hand. “Go relax.”
I studied her and then shook my head, leaning down to kiss her. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Twenty.”
“Fourteen.”
“You can’t give me less time,” she argued.
I sighed dramatically. “Sixteen, then.”
She giggled. “Fine… sixteen.”
I stared at her a little longer, then left the kitchen.
* * *
Alexa
“Oh my word,” Sadie whispered. “I have never seen him like that.”
I giggled. “He’s a little over the top, huh?”
“It’s adorable,” she said. “Can you believe he scared the bejesus out of me when I met him?”
I washed tomatoes and started to slice them on the cutting board. “He did?”
“It’s not hyperbole when I say Reese was angry. I never saw him smile.”
“He’s had a tough life.”
“Ryder alluded to that too, and you certainly don’t have to share, but I’m really glad that you’re back in it.” She smiled gently. “He’s happy, Lex.”
“Me too.” I sighed. “Although, I kind of wish I’d made him suffer a little longer.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “Yes. But the problem was, I missed him like crazy and I couldn’t fake not missing him. I did try, but I have never been a particularly good liar.”
“Me neither,” Sadie admitted.
“And especially to him. He can read me like a book.”
Sadie dumped lettuce into a large bowl. “Ryder’s the same way with me. It’s a little annoying.”
I giggled. “Right?”
“Well, I’m glad you’re back. I adore Reese and he deserves to be happy.”
“He really does, Sadie,” I breathed out. “He’s the best person I’ve ever known.”
“He’s a really good guy.”
I nodded. “Even when he was a recruit for the Spiders, he refused to do anything illegal. It’s the reason he did what he did. The pressure was getting intense.” I gasped. “God, I just realized what a bitch I’ve been.”
“I highly doubt that,” Sadie countered.
“I should have been more patient,” I admitted. “I was so wrapped up in my hurt feelings that I wasn’t willing to see his point of view. I was so mean to him, Sadie.”
She just smiled, but didn’t respond.
“Will you excuse me for a minute?”
Sadie nodded and I went to find Reese. He was on the deck with Ryder, so I pushed open the slider and rushed to him, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey,” he said, turning to face me. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m really sorry.”
“About what?”
“You really need to get in the house, Lex,” Ryder warned.
Reese lifted me so my feet dangled by his shins and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me back into the house and down the hall.
Stepping into a guest bedroom, Reese pulled me close and lifted my chin. I was determined not to cry, but I could feel the burn behind my nose.
“Talk to me, baby.”
I bit my lip. “I should have listened to you.”
“When?” he asked.
I could no longer hold back the flood and burst into ugly, sobby tears. “Back when you tried to put some distance between us. I shouldn’t have broken things off. We could have made it work. I should have trusted you.” He wiped my cheeks as I continued to cry. “I’m so sorry, Reese. I was such a bitch.”
“You weren’t a bitch, baby.”
I nodded. “I was. I totally was.”
He chuckled leaning down to kiss my wet cheeks. “Freckles, you were hurt and scared. I never blamed you.”
“Well, you should have.”
“Can’t blame the only woman I’ve ever loved. Especially since you didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t your choice to be born into a crime family.”
“It wasn’t your choice either.”
“I know, baby, but if hurting you was the end result of getting out, it wasn’t worth it.”
I bobbed my head up and down. “I get that now. I would have done the same thing.”
“I know you would.”
“And you would have been gracious and way nicer to me.”
“You think so, huh?”
I nodded. “I totally do.”
“Well, we can’t change the past, so let’s not dwell there, okay?”
“I’m still sorry.”
“I appreciate that, honey… even though you don’t need to be.”
I licked my lips then kissed him and he lifted me high enough so I could wrap my legs around his waist. Our kiss turned desperate and he broke the connection with a frustrated groan. “Fuck, baby.”
“Yes, please.”
“Can’t do this in Sadie and Ryder’s house.”
“I get it.” I kissed him one more time. “I really missed you, though. I still kind of miss you.”
“Me too, Lex. I’ll fix it.”
I smiled and stroked his cheek. “Your fix-it list is getting longer by the day.”
“I’m aware.”
I smiled and slid down his body, back to my feet. “I trust you.”
“Good.” He raised my chin and met my eyes. “You okay?”
“Yeah, honey, I’m good.”
“Dinner ready?”
I gasped. “Crap. I kind of abandoned Sadie.”
“It’s okay. Take a minute. We’ll head out when you’re calmer.”
“I’m calm, sugar bear.” I linked my fingers with his. “I’m good.”
He kissed me again and we headed back out to the kitchen. God bless Sadie, she didn’t ask any questions… just let us have our moment without intrusion.
Under the close and watchful eye of my man, I helped Sadie with the rest of dinner. Even Reese and Ryder feigned assistance, and carried everything to the table. Once we sat down to eat, Reese grabbed my hand under the table briefly, leaning over to kiss my cheek and whispering, “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” I said.
* * *
Reese dropped me back at the abbey a little after midnight. It had been a near perfect night, but I was exhausted and fell into bed with a grateful sigh. It didn’t take long to fall asleep, but I was awoken by the buzz of my burner phone about two hours later.
I sat up with a start, realizing it wasn’t Reese calling, but Paisley. Paisley never called, so it must be important. I kicked off the covers and rose to my feet. “Paisley? You okay?”
A deep voiced chuckle came over the line. “Hello, beautiful Alexa.”
“Who is this?” My stomach churned. “Where’s Paisley?”
Paisley screamed, “Lex, don’t list―”
I heard a slap and the man yelled, “Zatknis!” (Shut up!)
“Paisley!” I hissed.
“You’re to do everything I tell you,” he demanded.
“Or what?” I snapped.
“We’ll kill her, Alexa. Don’t doubt it.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “What do you want?”
“We want you to retract your statement. Refuse to testify.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Your friend will die,” he said. “You have until noon to contact the FBI, and tell them you no longer wish to testify. If you do not, or you involve the authorities, I will send you pieces of your friend in the mail for a year.”
The line went dead.
I needed Reese. I grabbed my other phone and dialed his number. He didn’t answer right away, which only caused my anxiety to rise. I waited a few seconds and tried again. This time he answered. “You miss me?” he asked.
“Reese,” I rasped.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Paisley. The Russians have her. I just got a phone call.”
“What?”
I paced my room. “The call history says number unknown and I have no idea who has her or where she is.”
“Okay, baby. It’s okay. Tell me everything he said.”
I filled him in on the conversation, panicking more and more as I relayed it.
“Lex.”
“They have her, Reese. They’re going to kill her!”
“Lex.”
“She’s my best friend, you have―”
“Alexa!” he snapped.
“What?”
“We’re gonna find her. But you need to promise me something.”
“Okay,” I said suspiciously.
“You have to stay put.”
“I―”
“Lex,” he said again. “Do not leave the abbey under any circumstance.”
I sighed. “Where would I go?”
“Alexa.”
“Fine, I won’t leave the abbey,” I promised. “But you have to keep me updated.”
“I will, baby.”
“Please find her, Reese,” I whispered.
“I’m gonna do that, baby. Promise.”
He hung up and I squeezed my eyes shut and sat down on my bed.