Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) Read Online Free

salary and then some. Teaching’s a noble profession, but it doesn’t pay much.”
    Did he think she didn’t know that? Each month was a struggle to stay afloat financially, but they were making it. As the last of her hope withered away, Alexa closed her eyes and took a deep breath against another torrent of tears. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Mr. Macabee what the money was for. Surely he would find a way. He’d known her and Abby for as long as she could remember, but she didn’t dare. The kidnappers said no one.
    She glanced at Livy coloring in the Dora activity book she’d brought along. “Can you run my numbers again? There has to be something...”
    Mr. Macabee’s pudgy, lined face sagged as he sighed and took her hand. “Alexa, it won’t do any good. If there were any way, I’d walk into that vault and hand it over right now. I may work and live in a small town, but I have my suspicions as to what this money’s for, honey.”
She gripped his hand tight and evaded his gaze. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
    “Honey, this isn’t the way. Even if I could give you the cash, it wouldn’t guarantee Abby’s safe return. After you hand it over, they may very well ask for more.”
    Her fingers went lax and she pulled away. “I need her back, Mr. Macabee. I can hardly breathe without her.” The heavy weight of living without Abby, of letting her down, was almost more than she could stand. She’d always taken care of her sister; she’d always taken care of everything. Gran’s Rheumatoid arthritis had worsened rapidly, disfiguring much of her body, not giving Alexa much of a choice, but she’d never minded. Gran had given them a safe haven from her mother’s mental illness.
    “Stay in contact with the police, honey. Give them time to do their job. Don’t give up hope. We’re all praying so hard for Abby’s safe return.”
    Nodding, Alexa struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. She stood up. “Please keep this between us. They might—they might…” She looked at Livy, unable to let herself think about what the kidnappers might do to Abby.
    He nodded. “Of course.”
    Alexa gathered up crayons and shoved them in the box. She couldn’t be here anymore. She wanted to lash out at Mr. Macabee, to yank him up by his over-starched collar and demand what she’d come for. He had piles of money just sitting in his vault, stacks of stupid green paper that could save her sister’s life, yet he refused. “Livy, honey, it’s time to go.”
    “Okay, Mommy. Do you like my picture?”
    Alexa crouched down, fighting to be in the moment with her little girl. She had to keep herself together for Livy. Everything had to stay as normal as possible. As much as she wanted to fall apart, she would never do to her daughter what her mother had done to her and Abby. “I definitely do. You did such a nice job staying in the lines. We should put this on the fridge when we get home.”
    Livy gave her a huge grin. Her father’s grin.
    “We’ll tuck this away for now.” Alexa closed the coloring book and put it in the small canvas bag. “Come on.” She held out her hand, and Livy took it.
    “I’m hungry. I want peanut butter and jelly for lunch.”
    They were low on bread, peanut butter, jelly, and everything else for that matter. They had to go to the store. Her sister was missing, but Alexa had to struggle to keep up with life as it continued to move on. “We need to stop off at the grocery store. You can be my helper.”
    “I’m a very good helper.”
    “Yes, you are. The best.” Alexa walked out of Mr. Macabee’s office and stopped. News vans and eager reporters waited on the steps outside the glass doors. Damn. They weren’t supposed to know . How did they find her? Did they follow her here? The phone calls had started early in the morning. Now this.
    Mr. Macabee stepped up behind her. “Alexa, honey, why don’t you go out the back door? Give me your keys. Meet me down the block. We’ll