Page 195 of Soul So Dark

I only waggle my eyebrows at her before exiting the truck and rounding the bumper to open her door. She steps out onto the concrete, barefoot, but at least I guessed right and my hoodie comes down to her thighs. She takes my hand and follows me to the side entrance where I unlock the door through the app on my phone.

We stroll across the marble lobby, more or less empty except for a cleaning crew in the back offices and one of the night guards manning the security desk.

“Hey, Ezra,” I greet him, slowing my pace as we approach.

“Alex,” he answers with a hint of amusement. “Having a nice evening?”

At least I finally got him to quit calling meMr. Barrera.I’ve hung out with him and shot the shit enough times on the roof of this building to consider him a friend. But I’m sure we’ll have plenty to catch up about later, from the way he’s scanning Dallas with her sparkly purple toes and sweatshirt that looks like a tent on her.

“Fantastic,” I grin, taking a right and leading her to the bay of elevators. “Just got back from GalactiCon, I’ll have to tell you all about it.”

“Mm-hm,” he grunts, shooting me a side-eye before turning back to the monitors.

Dallas remains silent on the trip up the elevator and all the way down the hallway to my door, not speaking until she wanders into the middle of my living room, gazing around at the pristine details and the floor-to-ceiling windows framing the downtown skyline.

“Alex,” she finally turns to me, “where did you come from?”

“A lot of places.” I stroll toward her. “I came back a couple of months ago, and after I got set up here, I came to get you.”

“It was you the whole time, for three years?” She still sounds unsure.

“Yes.”

“I told you so many things,” her eyes begin to wander, “even—”

I know what she’s about to say, and my chest tightens with pure rage at the mere thought. I start to shake my head, but before I can say a word, my phone starts vibrating.

You have got to be kidding me. Right now?

Any other time, I’d ignore it without question, but as soon as I see the name, I know it’s not an option.

“I’m so sorry, Dal.” I raise my hand as I start backing away toward the windows. “I have to take this. Please, stay right there.”

Her quizzical expression remains unchanged as I turn my back to answer the phone.

“Buenas noches, mi jovencita!”

As the call goes on, I relax and it becomes apparent that other plans are finally falling into place. And as soon as it’s confirmed, I strategically and delicately end the call as quickly as possible. Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I turn around to resume my conversation with Dallas. But when I scan the room…

She’s gone.

“Dal?” I stop to listen, but the apartment is silent. “Dal?” I do a loop around the sprawling room, glancing inside the powder room off the foyer and through the windows onto the dark patio.

But she’s gone.

I spin around and stop dead in my tracks as my heart starts pounding and my pec tightens. I grit my teeth as the spasms move up my torso.I don’t have time for this.Punching my chest with a closed fist, I power through it while desperately searching for her. Then, my eyes dart to the front door.

“Dallas!”

I take off across the apartment, throw open the door, and step into the hallway to find her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Dallas

Alex is so different now.

When we were kids, I thought he was intimidating just because he was older. But now, he’s much more serious and walks with a purpose and good posture.