Page 7 of The Alpha

Pari took a shower, pushing everything deep down inside like she always did. She had to function, get through work so she could spend the rest of the afternoon looking for Raina and Halden, but she was running out of places to search. She could always start calling hospitals on Long Island. She hadn’t tried any of those yet.

After her shower, she ate and left for the shop. When she arrived, she went to the back room and found the pieces Uncle Al was talking about. A beautiful silver coffee set with matching cups and a matching serving tray.

Pari got to work and tried not to think about her search for Raina and Halden. In truth, she didn’t want to think about anything.

She heard the bell above the door ring, set down the creamer she was cleaning, and went to the front of the shop. “Good morning, how can I…” she stopped up short when she saw Jeffrey waltzing her way.

“Hey baby,” he said smoothly. He looked around. “No Uncle Al here with you?”

She froze. “Get out.”

He gave her a slow, lazy smile. “So, where’s your new friend?” He pointed at his jaw. “He knocked half my teeth loose last week. Did he tell you that?”

She narrowed her eyes at him and took a threatening step forward. Jeffry was stocky and strong. But Halden had taught him a lesson, and it fueled her boldness. “And he’ll knock them out if you don’t leave.”

Jeffrey’s eyes darted around the room, as if Halden might be hiding somewhere. “Don’t see him.”

“Jeffrey,” she said on a sigh. “Just leave.”

His eyes raked over her. “I’ll leave. After all, I wouldn’t want your new boyfriend beating me up again.” He smiled.

Pari’s chest tightened. Oh no, not now…

He watched her a moment. “What’s the matter, Pari. You look…” he cocked his head. “… scared.”

“Leave,” she croaked out.

“Sure, baby. Anything you say. Best be careful, working here all by yourself. You never know who might come through that door.” He made a show of looking around, then fixed his eyes on her and smiled.

She stood stock still, but only because she couldn’t move, and stared him down.

His smile in place, he backed up, eyes still fixed on her, and slipped out the door.

Her shoulders slumped even as her heart hammered in her chest. Did he know Halden was gone? Had Uncle Al told him? But wouldn’t Uncle Al have said something to her if he had?

She looked at her hands. They were shaking. She went behind the counter and gripped the edge. She couldn’t let that jerk Jeffrey get to her.

Pari drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then took another, repeating her deep breathing to calm herself down. When she had a handle on her nerves, she returned to the back room and picked up the creamer.

She concentrated on her job, sold a few of the shop’s more expensive pieces to some tourists, and soon Uncle Al arrived. “How’d we do? Sell anything?”

“Yes, three hundred dollars’ worth. And I finished cleaning the new pieces.”

“Great, thanks. There’s an estate sale in Greenport tomorrow I want to go to. Think you can handle a full day?” He went behind the counter and looked at the transactions she’d recorded.

Pari hesitated, she wanted to keep looking for Raina and Halden, but she could always make calls between customers. “Sure.”

“That’s my girl.” He nodded at the door. “Now get out of here. I know you want to look for your friends.”

She smiled and nodded. “I do.”

He gave her a solemn nod as she went into the office for her bag and left the shop.

She hurried toward home, thinking of what other areas she could search. Should she search hospitals in Jersey? It was a thought, but first she’d call a few on Long Island.

The sound of running feet behind her caught her attention. Probably a bunch of teenagers. She looked over her shoulder asshe sidestepped to get out of the way and almost tripped over her own feet. “Jeffery!”

He grabbed her by the arm. “Miss me?”

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