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My only hesitation was Luna. I knew that she would be happy for me and tell me that it was only a matter of time before she had to leave the nest permanently, but I was still worried. She could keep our apartment, we still have five months on the lease, but she’d need to find a roommate quickly. I was pretty sure Grant wasn’t going to let me pay for the rent here – or was it the mortgage? – and I could help Luna for a couple months, but she was stubbornly independent. Wonder who she got that from.
I would have to give her a call today and let her know. The thought of giving news like this over the phone wasn’t ideal but Luna wasn’t planning on coming back to the city until the end of the month. Grant was insistent that we pack up most of my stuff today and move it over here. He was at Triple X this morning training with Xavier then off to a team meeting so I figured I could pack up at least a suitcase full of stuff on my own.
Speak of the little devil, my phone lights up beside me with Luna’s name flashing.
“What up, turd monkey,” I answer, laughing before the words are even out of my mouth.
“L-Lexi, hey.”
I’m instantly on alert. Sitting up from my spot hunched over the counter, I slide my coffee away from me. Luna is never upset, never not a ray of fucking sunshine. Especially when she’s talking to me. This isn’t a sad stutter, this is…a scared one. I know my sister well enough to know that something is really wrong.
“What’s wrong Lu-Lu? Tell me, now.”
“N-nothing,” she clears her throat. “I’m just calling to let you know that I’m at the apartment.”
“You’re at the apartment? Why?”
“I decided to come home early. Business was slow at the diner wi-with the tourists leaving.” She was lying. I could feel it in my bones. “Where are you?”
“I’m at Grant’s.” My words are slow, weighted down with confusion.
There’s shuffling on her end. Is someone there with her?
“Oh. Umm, cool.” There’s a long pause, like she’s trying to think of something to say next. “D-do you want to come back here and catch up?”
It’s my turn to pause before I speak. This conversation feels wrong. Really wrong. There has never been a point in our relationship where Luna and I didn’t say what we were thinking. We’re always honest with each other, we hide nothing. Yet what’s happening between us is…off. If she was hurt, she would tell me. Even if it was over the phone, she would tell me so I would know the facts before I went on a murderous rampage. And we never did this weird, strained back and forth small-talk business.
In a very low voice, I spoke concisely. “If someone can overhear this, say purple.”
“In the next hour? Yeah, that works for me.”
Okay, so someone was with her in the apartment but couldn’t overhear my side of the conversation. My heartrate was gradually increasing as I fumbled for a plan.
“Are you in danger?”
She forces a laugh. “For sure.”
Oh God. I started pacing back and forth through the kitchen. I needed to think. I hit my forehead with a loose fist as I tried to think of what to do next. I had to go to her, there was no way I wasn’t going to come to her rescue, but how did I go about this? Did I call the police without knowing what the danger to Luna was? Or did I go and hope I could resolve whatever was waiting for me?
There’s a scratching at the front door that has me freezing, seconds before Grant walks in, keys in hand.
“Hey Pix, I just—” He must see the frantic look in my eyes because he doesn’t finish his sentence. Instead, his gym bag drops to the ground with his keys as he strides to me. My hand goes to his chest, needing to touch him to ground myself but also to keep him back so he didn’t cause me to fumble with my phone.
“I’ll be there soon, Lu-Lu. Be strong. I love you.”
“I love you too.” The line goes dead.
“What’s happening? What’s wrong Lexi?”
My hands drop and I step into his welcoming, secure arms. He instantly engulfs me in his warmth, giving me a tight squeeze. “I don’t know what’s happening. Luna called me from the apartment, her voice was off. She didn’t tell me outright, but someone is there with her. I think she’s in danger.” Extending back a bit so he can see me, I work through my fears out loud. “With everything that’s happened to that apartment in the last month, I think my tormentor has returned. But this time, they’ve found Luna there.”
“Jesus. Okay, well you’re not going over there.”
Pushing away from him and taking a step back, I glare at Grant. “Yes, I am.”
“Lexi. You said she’s in danger. There is no way you’re going to her with a half-brained scheme.”
“I wasn’t going to do that.”
