Chapter 08: Fight or Flight

“Eva Austin. I don’t know, it has a nice ring to it. Then again, so does Michelle Brand,” Tobias smirked, folding his arms into his chest.

“Ok. Are these clients?”

“Interesting. I was curious how you’d react but, flat out denial? Tsk, tsk. You should do better, ‘Hannah’.” Digging into his right breast pocket, he pulled out a couple of pictures and showed them to her. “You’re pretty photogenic. And red hair; it’s quite fetching on you.”

“Where’d you get those?” Alexa asked, already knowing the answer.

Chapter 07: Every Picture Tells a Story

“What are you some sort of ninja assassin?” Melissa asked, coming up behind Alexa as she practiced Tai Chi on the patio. She had been watching for a while, impressed by the fluid motion in her form.

Alexa smiled and used her towel to dab at the sweat on her forehead. “I just like to stay active is all. I could teach you a few moves if you’d like.”

“Nah,” Melissa replied, shaking her head. Dropping onto the top step, she continued watching, sighing every now and again. “Can I ask you something?”

Chapter 06: Web of Lies

“All set?” Gavin asked, tossing the keys around in his hands with a smile.

“Yes! Let’s do this!” Alexa replied cheerfully as she folded the blanket in her hands and slipped into the passenger seat. Gavin waited for her to get comfortable, shut her door and happily danced around the front bumper, making her laugh, before sliding in beside her. “Someone’s giddy.”

“I admit it, I am. I’m just itching to see what this puppy can do!”

“Well, be gentle. You don’t want to scare her the first time out.”

Chapter 05: Nightmares

—Brooklyn Heights – 1999—Age 9

“Daddy, I’m scared.”

“Shh! I know, Lyric, but you have to be very quiet, baby, can you do that?”

“I’ll try,” she shook her head and squeezed her legs tighter against her chest.

“That’s my big girl. I have to go and get your brothers. Now you stay down, and no matter what you hear, you don’t leave this closet. Understand?”

“I understand.” Sinking down to the floor, Lyric closed her eyes and tried her best to find a happy place; her 7^th birthday party on the sandy shores of Turtle Creek. Running on the beach with her brother Echo and building sandcastles with Blaze.