Chapter 22
Alex paced her suite feeling anxious. She wanted to go have a drink so damn bad, but it sucked when none of her few friends at StoneCrow were available. For a moment she considered going out alone but quickly shucked the idea. She’d done that once, and all the females in the bar had approached, eyes filled with pity, to ask if she was okay while all the guys practically formed a single file line to take turns hitting on her. Ick!
Frustrated, thirsty, and restless, Alex jerked her cell out of her back pocket and pounded out a text to her friend, Alise. She stalled a moment, knowing new employee candidates weren’t supposed to leave the Estate unescorted, but throwing caution to the wind, she hit send.
A few minutes later, her phone pinged, and Alex beamed wildly. Snagging her jacket off the chair, she set her cell phone on the counter. She didn’t want to be contacted or tracked.
Leaving her suite, Alex made her way down to the parking garage where Stoney kept her ride. The same ride she’d told Alex she could borrow at any time. Recker had told Alex that her car had been brought to the Estate, but she had no idea where it was. It was probably locked up somewhere so she couldn’t break the rules and leave.
Rules be damned, Alex needed a break.
***
Outside of Alex’s suite, Recker knocked again and waited while James stared at him like he was an idiot.
“Bro, she’s not here. And I know you’ve got the code, so just let us in.”
“You don’t know. She could be showering or sleeping.”
“You’ve been knocking for ten minutes, man. Let us in!”
With an exasperated huff, Recker punched in the code and was shoved aside by James when the door beeped its admittance.
Inside, James was already snooping around. At the same time, they both saw Alex’s phone on the kitchen counter.
Recker lunged for the phone, but James turned just as quickly and was much closer.
Holding the phone out of Recker’s reach, James scrolled through it.
“She’s been texting some Alise chick.” James cleared his throat and pointed at his chest and said, “Alex,” then began reading in a high pitched mimic of a female. “WYD? I need you.” James then pointed his finger away from him and said, “Alise” then started reading in an even higher pitched voice. “Don’t get your panties twisted, sister. Been at work. What up?”
James continued to read the entire dialogue stopping between each exchange to either point at himself and say “Alex” or point away and say “Alise” indicating whose text he was reading.
“Alex. I think I might be an asshole.”
“Alise. You are correct, ma’am.”
“Alex. Alise! Recker and I had a fight.”
“Alise. Put his oscar in your mouth. He’ll forgive you.”
“Alex. Can you please be serious for two fucking seconds?!”
“Alise. I did. It was yesterday. Sorry, you missed it.”
“Alex. I need a girl’s night? How about a tattuesday? We haven’t had a drink n ink in a long time.”
“Alise. Don’t be absolutely fucking hideously stupidly moronic. It took me like nine minutes to type that! Now, get your ass to my house, beitch! I’ll be ready when you get here. Door’s unlocked! Yes! Shots, shots, shots, tatts, tatts, tatts! Another nine minutes! Fuck!”
“Alex. On my way.”
James lowered the phone and Recker sighed in relief. “Okay, we know where she is.” He looked at James, but James’ eyes had glazed over, and he was staring at the wall in a trance.
“James?”
“Bro,” James sighed. “I think I’m in love!”
“What?” Recker growled taking a menacing step forward and earning a disgusted glare from James as he jerked Alex’s phone out of Recker’s reach.
“Don’t be a duck. I’m not talking about Alex. I mean Alise!”
“Oh.” Recker’s frown vanished, and a grin actually tweaked his lips when James took on that far off look again.
James nodded in a daze. “Alise is a wonderland!” It took him a moment to snap out of his awe, but when he did, he instantly declared, “Okay, bro. I’m in!”
“In what?” Recker snorted.
“Don’t play dumb.” James held up the phone and shook it. “I know you’re going after Alex. I’ll come help.”
“Don’t need your help.” Leaning forward, Recker snatched Alex’s phone out of James’ hand.
“Hey!” James pouted. “What if they give you trouble?”
One of Recker’s brows shot up mockingly. “I’m pretty sure I can handle Alex and her little friend.”
“You don’t know,” James argued. “What if Alise is a shifter?”
“Then I’ll handle it.”
“What if she’s a bear?”
Recker frowned hard. “I’ll handle it.”
Almost whining now, James asked, “What if she’s a lion?”
Shaking his head Recker paced to the door. “James! I’ll handle it.”
“Yeah?” James countered trailing after Recker. “What if she’s a…a…a shark?”
Recker stopped halfway out the door and turned to give James an are-you-fucking-serious stare.
James had the good sense to blush, which had Recker snorting a laugh before he offered, “Fine! Come on. Don’t wanna be getting attacked by any land sharks without back up.”