Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 105 Where is Ann
Lexi had arrived a good hour or so after she had received Ann’s text a*s*suring her that she was fine. She reached into her bag and checked her phone for any more messages from her, but the message center was empty.
She chewed her lip and frowned as she stared at the blank screen, her stomach tying itself in knots for no good reason.
‘I swear to my father, Ann, if you’ve gotten yourself into some sort of trouble just because you’re too damn naive for your own good…’ She muttered angrily under her breath as she swung the door to her car open and marched into the coffee shop.
After flirting a little with the new barista and collecting her coffee, she moved over to their usual table and sat staring out of the window expectantly, waiting impatiently for Ann’s arrival.
Five minutes passed, and then ten…
Lexi checked her watch anxiously and dialed Ann’s number again. She scowled deeply as it went straight to voice mail and swore under her breath.
Something didn’t feel right about this whole thing. Making a split second decision, she stood abruptly, causing the chair to fall loudly behind her as she hurried over to the counter.
“Hey! Muscles!” She called, whistling to get the new barista’s attention.
He turned with a slightly perturbed look on his face as he sized up the arrogant woman before him.
“I’m not a dog you know… you don’t have to whistle to get my attention.” He muttered moodily in reply.
“Dog, wolf, Lycan, you furries are all the same. Treat you right and in no time you’re on your knees at my feet, begging for me to treat you all over again…” Lexi purred with a smirk as the new barista’s cheeks colored suddenly.
“Don’t worry, my little pet, I won’t tell if you don’t.” She chuckled seductively before fishing in her purse and retrieving her business card.
She handed it to him with a serious face, all flirtatious humour gone and the sudden change had obviously unnerved him.
“As much as I would love to explore this line of conversation a little more, I have something that I need to see, but you can give me a call when you get off work. I’ll answer if I’m free, if not, I’ll call you back when I am. Now, I don’t suppose the owners are around for me to speak to, are they?”
The barista nodded sullenly and turned toward the back of the shop where the owners usually spent their time.
As soon as they emerged into the front of the chop, their faces split into wide grins at the sight of Lexi.
“My sweet girl! How are you doing? I haven’t seen you and Ann for such a long time!” Maureen exclaimed warmly as her husband chuckled deeply in the background.
“Honestly, I don’t know where to start, but it will have to wait for another time. I can’t stay long, I just wanted to ask if you could give me a call immediately if Ann drops in here.”
“An? Is everything okay?”
“Not really, No,” Lexi said shaking her head. “She was supposed to meet me here a while ago and I think something happened… I won’t go into details because you never know who could be listening… but she should be here by now.”
Maureen nodded slowly as she squeezed Lexi’s hand rea*s*suringly.
“She’ll turn up. That la*s*s is nothing if not kind hearted… I can’t imagine anyone would want to see any harm come to her…” Maureen began before her husband snorted loudly and raise an eyebrow.
“No? I can think of a couple of old hags that would delight in seeing her hurting.”
“Nevis!”
“What?! I’m not wrong! The pretender queen… OW GODDAMN IT WOMAN! What the feck was that for?!” Nevis yelled suddenly as Maureen landed a firm right hook against his chest.
“I’m telling you now, lad, if you’re heard talking that way it’s more ‘n’ us that will end up paying! Hush up!” She hissed furiously, jabbing her finger dangerously close to his face in her fury as Lexi tried to soothe them both.
There was never a dull moment with these two.
“I’m sorry, I really can’t stay any longer, can you just keep an eye out and let me know? From what I gather, the pretender queen and her daughter are on the slippery slope downward now… but I’ll fill you in when I see you next.” Lexi appologised as she pulled Maureen in for a quick hug and hurried towards the exit.
“Let us know when you find her Lexi! I’m worried now too!”
Lexi waved her acknowledgment and raced to her car, slipping into the driver’s seat and starting the engine as quickly as she could.
She tapped the steering wheel impatiently as she waited for the sat nav to load up on her screen and quickly searched for the closest hospitals in relation to Ann’s last known position.
Lexi scowled at the road ahead of her in grim determination as she set the fastest routes to drive between all three and reversed out of the parking lot.
As soon as the nose of her car peeked out onto the main road and she saw that it was clear, Lexi put her foot down, the tires of her car screeching in protest as she left a cloud of dust in her wake.
“You better hope I don’t find you, Ann, because when I do, you’re gonna regret making me worry like this you stupid little kind hearted and naive… sister that I never had…” Lexi’s voice dropped to barely a whisper as a single tear rolled down her cheek and she brushed it away angrily.
She wouldn’t lose Ann.
That simply wasn’t an option.