Seven Years

You can’t tell someone’s age by just looking at ’em.”

We sat for a quiet spell, watching Maizy pile a mountain of pink marshmallows onto her spoon.

“I need to go home for a little bit,” I said.

“Chick patrol,” Denver reminded me, wagging his finger.

“This chick has rent due today. I also need to pay my electric bill, take out the garbage, and check on my neighbor. There might be messages on my machine. Not to mention my boss is probably wondering where I am. Will you look after Maizy? Can I trust you?”

His blue eyes blazed, making his soft features even more striking. “I don’t have a leash on you. Go do whatever you need to do and if Austin calls, I’ll tell him you’re in the bathroom with a book and a bunch of bubbles and candles. You got nothin’ to worry about while I’m in charge.” Then his voice grew uncharacteristically dark. “No one lays a finger on her. Maybe the man who dumped her on the side of the road like trash is your father, but you better pray I never meet him.”

“Lexi’s my sister,” Maizy told Denver, as if he had no idea. Denver arched his brows and nodded at her.

“Is my car here?”

He pointed behind him in the direction of the front of the house.

I got dressed and went to pick up a few pieces of my life and put them back together.

* * *

“No, no, no,” Naya chanted. “You cannot just take off like that, have roughnecks show up at your apartment, and then waltz in without telling me what’s going on.” She cocked her hip angrily and her pea-green dress swished at the knee. She had her hair pinned up in a messy knot and looked beautiful in natural makeup.

Definitely her day off.

“Naya, I don’t think I even know what’s going on,” I said in all honesty.

After dropping off my rent, I had stopped by my apartment to pack my bag and listen to my phone messages when Naya came barging in.

“I was worried sick,” she reminded me.

Before she went on a Naya mouthing spree and gave me a ten-minute lecture, I dialed my work number. “Give me a sec; I need to call work. April? It’s Alexia.”

“What’s going on?” she exclaimed over the phone. “Don’t tell me you’re sick because you don’t sound sick.”

“Can you let Charlie know I’ll be out for a couple of days? I’m so sorry to spring this on you at the last minute, April. Do you think you can handle the store by yourself? Call one of the girls in as backup if you need to.”

“Of course I can handle it,” she retorted. “I’ve just been worried is all. By the way, someone came in here looking for you.”

“Who? Was it a cop?”

Which made me a little nauseous because all these people were suddenly looking for me and my mom was missing.

“I don’t know. A big scary guy with long hair.”

“Was his name Lorenzo?” I asked.

“Yeah, that’s the one. He seemed worried about you too. He wanted to know where you lived—said you weren’t answering your phone. Is he your boyfriend?”

I glanced at my messages and saw the number twenty-four blinking. How did he know where I worked?

“No, no,” I said. “He’s the guy who asked about my car.”

“Don’t worry,” April reassured me. “I didn’t tell him anything. He said he knew how to find you here because of your work shirt.”

Ah, yes. Now it was clear.

“April, it’s just some family drama and I need more time off. I’ve got a ton of vacation and I’m sure Charlie won’t mind. He’s always trying to get me to use it; I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to give you advance notice.”

Which almost made me laugh. Advance notice on a kidnapping?

“Alexia, it’s under control. There’s no need to call Charlie, I don’t want him to get upset over nothing. He’s been sick.”

“With what?”

“I don’t know,” she said in quiet words. “Something doesn’t seem right. He hasn’t been coming in as much over the past few months, not like he used to. When I talked to him, it didn’t sound like he wanted to be bothered with work stuff, and you know that’s not like him. But no need to worry, I got it covered. I created a rotation schedule with the girls; Kelly even stepped up to work more hours in the week if needed.”

“Good.” I glanced up at the impatient Naya, leaning against the front door and picking her polished nail. “Gotta go. I’ll call you later. And if you need anything…” I hesitated, because I wouldn’t be home and didn’t carry a phone. Austin hadn’t given me permission to share his number with anyone.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Alexia. Just do what you need to do,” she said, and I felt the stress melt away with her reassurance.

“Thanks. And if Lorenzo comes in again, tell him everything’s okay and I’m dealing with family business. I’ll try to get in touch with him. Not sure why he even cares, we just met. Talk to you later.”

I hung up and gave Naya the skinny. I left out the part about being half dog and decided she just needed to know about my mom’s kidnapping and to keep an eye out for anyone suspicious visiting my apartment.

“What about the cop?” she asked.

“Was he here?”

“Last night.”

I walked to the bar and got the information I’d scribbled on a napkin with his number. He had wanted to talk to me about my father, and that made me anxious.

She wrapped me up in a generous hug. “Find your mama. I’ll keep an eye on your place and if you need anything, call me.”

“Thanks,” I muttered against her perfumed neck.

“And if any of those strapping young men you’re hanging out with are single, slip them my number.”

I laughed so hard it morphed into my silly laugh. Sometimes you just need to let go when things fall apart in order to keep yourself together.

Naya went back home and I called Officer McNeal. He didn’t answer, so I began listening to my messages. Twelve were hang-up calls from Beckett, according to my caller ID. Lorenzo had left three brief messages, but I saw his number come up five more times. I was surprised he hadn’t assumed I was just brushing him off. But before he turned stalker on my ass, I figured maybe I should give him a call and let him know this wasn’t a good time for me.

What made me curious was wondering if Lorenzo was a Shifter, did he know I was one too?

“Church,” he answered.

“Hi, is this Lorenzo?”

There was a brief pause. “Is this who I think it is?”

“That depends on who you think it is.”

“Yeah,” he said with a dark laugh. “It’s who I think it is. I’m glad you decided to give me a call, Alexia.”

“Call me Lexi.”

“Why?”

“Look, I’m sorry you’ve been going through the trouble of calling. I’ve had some family stuff come up that I need to take care of, but I didn’t want you to think I was being rude and ignoring your calls. I’m not like that. If I don’t like you, I’ll tell you flat-out.”

Lorenzo laughed. “That I believe. Why don’t you invite me over and we’ll talk? Maybe I can help with your problem. I’m a good problem solver.”

I suddenly remembered the cameras that had been installed. As in plural. I sure didn’t see the one outside, so if there were any inside the apartment, I was going to have to get Austin to take them out. That was a little invasive, especially since I liked walking around in my underwear on Saturday nights while watching movies and making quesadillas.