by Elle Gray
I do what I can to push all of that to the back of my mind as I trudge up the steps to the back porch. Annie has been blowing me up all day, which, in addition to annoying me to no end, is kind of freaking me out. Annie isn’t one to text over and over and over again. She’s really not one to text at all. So, to see all the missed calls and texts I’ve gotten from her—just today—tells me something is up. Something big.
Before I even get to the door, though, it opens and reveals my aunt, looking somewhat harried and somewhat stressed. She steps outside and closes the door behind her, leaning back against it. She obviously doesn’t want me to go inside for whatever reason. She’s acting so strangely and un-Annie-like that my curiosity is piqued.
“So, I’m here,” I announce. “The house is still standing and isn’t on fire. There’s no chainsaw-wielding mass murderer running around. What’s up, Annie? Why have you been blowing me up today? What’s the emergency?”
She clears her throat and tries to stand up a little bit straighter. She looks me in the eye, and reflected back in hers, I see both fear and hope, which only deepens my curiosity.
“Blake, there is somebody here that I want you to see,” she starts.
“Oh, God, you’re not trying to set me up again, are you?”
“No, nothing like that. Not this time,” she says.
“But before I take you inside, I need you to really get control of yourself. I need you to be strong, Blake. I need you to get as tight a grip on yourself as you can. Can you do that for me, Blake?”
“Annie, what are you talking about?” I ask. “You’re making no sense at all.”
“Please. I need you to give me your word that you will keep hold of yourself.”
I open my mouth to reply, but close it again. None of this is making sense, and after the day I’ve had, I really don’t want to play these games anymore. I turn to leave, but Annie takes hold of my hands. Hers are warm and soft. Her expression is earnest. Honestly, she’s being so weirdly insistent, she’s starting to freak me out.
“Okay, fine. I promise to keep my cool,” I say. “I don’t know who you’re about to introduce me to, but know this—if you’re trying to set me up on a blind date again, I will burn your house down. I’ll burn it to the ground.”
Nothing. Not even a courtesy laugh from her. Whatever is going on and whoever is in the house are serious business. She turns and I follow her inside. We enter through the kitchen and I’m immediately inundated by a thousand different aromas, each one better than the last. They’re obviously making dinner for her mystery guest.
We make it to the archway that leads out to the living room, where her mystery guest is stashed, and Annie turns, planting her hand on my chest to stop me. At this point, I have no idea who’s out there or what in the hell is going on. I’ve run through a list in my mind, trying to figure out who could be out there—who could be eliciting this sort of a response from her. And why Annie is so insistent that I maintain my emotions.
“Remember. You promised to—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I wave her off. “I’m fine. I’ll keep my head about me. I promise you.”
She still looks a bit uncertain, but she gives me a nod and turns, leading me through the archway and into the living room. Annie stands in front of her guest, hands clasped at her waist, an expression of stark naked fear on her face. She looks up at me, the question in her eyes—are you ready? I give her a firm nod and Annie steps aside, revealing her guest.
I fall straight to my knees, my eyes locked onto the woman in the chair. It’s been more than twenty years, but I know her anyway. I know her just as well as I know myself.
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. But she looks at me with those dazzling green eyes and a smile that’s so beautiful and so pure, it steals the breath from my lungs.
I shake my head in disbelief and give my arm a vicious twist. The resulting pain tells me this is no dream. This is reality. I stare into her eyes, watching my vision waver and shimmer as the tears start to well.
“Kit,” I whisper. “How? How are you here? Where have you been? I don’t understand.”
“And we have all the time in the world to catch up, Blake. I have so much to tell you.”
Kit smiles and takes my hand in hers. I revel in the warmth of her hand. In the feel of her skin. In the way her eyes sparkle as she looks at me. Waves of disbelief wash over me so fast and thick, I can hardly breathe. I can’t believe it. My baby sister is back.
After almost twenty years, Kit, my baby sister, is alive. She’s home.
Note From Elle Gray
I hope you enjoyed The Lost Girls, book 6 in the Blake Wilder FBI Mystery Thriller series.
My intention is to give you a thrilling adventure and an entertaining escape with each and every book.
However, I need your help to continue writing and bring you more books!
Being a new indie writer is tough.
I don’t have a large budget, huge following, or any of the cutting edge marketing techniques.
So, all I kindly ask is that if you enjoyed this book, please take a moment of your time and leave me a review and maybe recommend the book to a fellow book lover or two.
This way I can continue to write all day and night and bring you more books in the Blake Wilder series.
By the way, if you find any typos or want to reach out to me, feel free to email me at [email protected]
Your writer friend,
Elle Gray
Also by Elle Gray
Blake Wilder FBI Mystery Thrillers
Book One - The 7 She Saw
Book Two - A Perfect Wife
Book Three - Her Perfect Crime
Book Four - The Chosen Girls
Book Five - The Secret She Kept
Book Six - The Lost Girls
Arrington Mysteries
Free Prequel - Deadly Pursuit
Book One - I See You
Book Two - Her Last Call
Book Three - Woman In The Water
