Page 48 of She's Mine

I very muchdoubtedthat Pedro and Pamela had gotten as close as me and Alyssa had, but I nodded and said nothing.

“They’ll be okay,” Pedro went on. “And Jeffrey and the rest of the team will catch Joseph before we know it.”

“I wish I shared your optimism,” I told the other security guard, as I got into the car waiting for me. A cold, sinking feeling settled in my stomach as the car took off through the streets of LA.

That cold, sinking feeling only got worse over the short journey back to Blue Jay, and by the time I was entering my compound, sweat was dripping from my forehead. I wouldn’t relax until I held Alyssa in my arms.

It was still early, and I imagined she, Mavis and Lawrence were still having breakfast on the deck, so that’s where I headed first. When I got there, the breakfast things had been cleared away, but I heard giggling coming from the hot tub.

I raced over only to find Mavis and Lawrence in a very compromising position. I quickly covered my eyes, and barked out, “Where is Alyssa?”

“David, we’re sorry. We didn’t expect you to be back so soon.” I heard Mavis getting out of the hot tub, and the sound of her throwing on a robe. “You just missed Alyssa; she went out for a hike.”

“You let her go out there alone?” I practically bellowed, as Lawrence got out of the hot tub and threw on a robe too.

“We offered to go with her, but you know how stubborn she is. She insisted she wanted some time alone, but promised she wouldn’t go far. I’m sure if you hurry, you can catch up to her.”

I sighed. This wasn’t Mavis and Lawrence’s fault. They weren’t to know Joseph Blythe was still alive.

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried about her,” I said, forcing myself to remain calm. Alyssa would be alright. She was probably down by the brook, even as I spoke to Lawrence and Mavis. I could surprise her with my return, and maybe we could have some alone time together, before I had to reveal the truth about Joey.

I ran from the deck into the woodlands, following the path that led to the brook, but as I reached the water, there was no sign of Alyssa. My heart pounded. Did someone get onto the property? No. That wasn’t possible. I’d had the security system updated. More likely she was just in another part of the woodlands. Maybe she’d gone in search of that fox again.

But, after an hour of searching, it soon became clear, Alyssa wasn’t in the woodlands at all.

I hurried back to the cabin, once again imagining the worst. But Lawrence and Mavis hadn’t been concerned about Alyssa’s whereabouts. That led me to believe there hadn’t been an intruder or anything. Maybe she’d just slipped back inside while they were otherwiseoccupied.

I raced to mine and Alyssa’s room, but there was no sign of her there, either. I was just about to head back downstairs again, when I noticed the safe was open and one of the pistols was missing.

Why had Alyssa taken one of the guns … unless … No! She wouldn’t be so stupid. Icouldn’tbelieve she’d actually left the property when I’d explicitly told her not to.

I headed downstairs, grabbed my laptop and booted it up, then loaded the software for the security cameras around the property. My heart pounded as I watched the footage from a few hours ago, and there on the screen was an image of Alyssa climbing the security fence.

What the hell was she doing?

I was torn between being furious with her for sneaking away like this, and worried sick that something might have happened while she was away from the safety of the compound.

“Did you find her?” Mavis asked, as she and Lawrence entered the living room.

“She’s snuck away!” I replied.

Lawrence and Mavis’ eyes widened.

“Oh my God, David. We’re so sorry. We had no idea what she had planned,” Mavis said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

“Don’t worry, she fooled us all,” I said, biting back my anger.

It wasjustlike Alyssa to break the rules and go off to do her own thing at the first chance she’d gotten. I thought she’d grown out of the bratty behavior, but I guess not.

Or, at least, that’s what I told myself. Because being angry with Alyssa was safer than feeling any of the other emotions currently coursing through my body.

I couldn’t give into the fear and panic I felt. That wouldn’t help anyone. I had to keep telling myself Alyssa would be okay. She’d just snuck out to visit the shops. No doubt I’d find her in some shoe store, and she’d cry and tell me how sorry she was.

I’d be angry at first, but then relieved she was okay, and we’d make up.

She’d be okay. Joseph didn’t have any idea where any of the Blythe family were hiding. She’d be okay.

That’s what I kept telling myself as I hurried into Blue Jay and searched around the shopping center for her. Thankfully, the town wasn’t too big, and there was only really one commercial area. Starting with the closest cafe, I decided to ask around to see if anyone had noticed someone matching Alyssa’s description.

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