Read Online Gone in a Flash by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online Page A

brand of encouragement flickered.
    But the woman didn’t want her at home. Had been pretty definite when she’d told her she needed to leave.
    She shook her head and focused on the music.
    Life had just improved 110 percent. And the fear churning in her gut had no place in that new life.
    Serena danced with Jacob Styles, her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Alexia gave a regretful sigh as she watched Serena fold her head into Jacob’s shoulder.
    Even though she’d just convinced herself that she wasn’t interested in having a boyfriend, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be able to lean on someone. To let yourself go enough to trust another person with your heart. To believe that person would never betray you. Alexia blinked back tears.
    Allowing someone that close hadn’t been an option. Not with her home life. The one time she’d allowed someone to cross the barriers to her heart, he’d betrayed her. Devin Wickham. It hadn’t taken him long to show his true colors.
    But now?
    No. She had a life to make for herself. She had goals. Plans. Dreams . . .
    But maybe one day.
    Her throat clogged. Would she ever find someone to love her? To believe in her?
    Alexia’s eyes strayed to Hunter, dancing with his sister, who didn’t seem to care that he was there. He caught her eye and winked. She flushed and looked away.
    Then back.
    If he was interested . . .
    A hand gripped hers and she turned to see Jillian standing beside her, wide-eyed and frantic, tears streaking her cheeks. “Jillian! What’s wrong?”
    “I need your help,” she gasped. “I don’t know what to do . . . I saw . . . I’ve got to leave!”
    Alexia looked for Serena, snagged her attention, and motioned her over with a mouthed “Help!”
    Frowning, Serena whispered something to Jacob and moved to join them. Alexia pulled Jillian into the relative quiet of the hallway. Serena followed two steps behind. “What is it?”
    Jillian burst into tears and sank to the floor. “I’m dead,” she whispered. “I’m so dead. I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to do.”
    “What happened?” Serena ignored her expensive dress and sank to the floor beside her friend.
    “He’s going to kill me. He’s going to . . . because I was there and I think he saw me and what I saw . . .”
    Jillian stopped and slapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes darted to the door as the tears flowed. Frustration with Jillian started to sprout inside Alexia—not to mention a sprig of fear at her talk of killing. “Spill it, will you? You’re talking in circles. How can we help you if we can’t understand you?”
    The girl went still. Her tears stopped as though turned off with a switch. She looked up, horror on her face. “I can’t. I can’t be here and I can’t tell you. He knows we’re friends . . .”
    “Wh—?”
    “I’ll just put you in danger too.” She jumped up, eyes wide with sudden renewed horror. “Oh no! I can’t believe I didn’t think . . . I didn’t—” She shot a desperate look toward the exit. “I’ve got to get out of here. They’ll find me. And then they’ll find you. They’ll think I told you . . .”
    “Who? What?” Alexia nearly yelled.
    “I can’t go home . . . I’ll need some money.” Grief and terror flowed from her. “Please, I’m sorry to ask, but . . .”
    “Here.” Alexia dug into her purse and pulled out a hundred dollars.
    “Never mind, I have to get out of here.” Jillian started for the door and Alexia grabbed her arm.
    “Here,” she said, shoving the money into Jillian’s hand.
    Serena did the same and handed her a handful of fifties. Jillian didn’t even blink as she grabbed the cash and took off.
    “Hey! Come back!” Alexia called.
    But Jillian’s feet pounded down the hallway toward the exit at the other end.
    “Jillian!” Serena yelled. “Wait!”
    Jillian didn’t even turn as she hit the door at a full run. The alarm sounded and Serena and