Freefall to Desire by Kayla Perrin Read Free Book Online Page A

since Carter had disappeared. Brianne didn’t know why that surprised her. Life had to go on for those Carter had left behind.
    “When do you think you’ll be able to get the time off work?” Alex asked. “Ideally, I’d like to leave as soon as possible.”
    “I’ll let you know in a few hours. I’ll tell my manager that it’s an emergency, and hopefully I’ll be ready to leave by tomorrow. Sound good?”
    “Sounds good.”
    “All right, then.” Brianne began to walk to the door, and Alex fell into step beside her. “I’ll talk to you later.”
    “Later, Brianne.”
     
    It didn’t take Brianne long to get things straightened out at work. As soon as she called the district manager and told her what was going on, Marlene okayed her request for further time off.
    Brianne waited until her break to call Alex.
    “Brianne?” he said the moment he answered his cell.
    “It’s a go,” she told him. “My district manager has agreed to give me a week off, starting tomorrow.”

    “Great,” Alex said, and Brianne could tell he was smiling.
    “I can’t believe we’re really doing this, that this is really happening,” Brianne said.
    “I know what you mean,” Alex agreed. “But hopefully before next week rolls around, we’ll have found Carter.”
    Brianne inhaled a shaky breath, thinking about Alex’s words.
    Would everything work out the way they hoped?
    Next week this time, would she be reunited with her long-lost fiancé?

Chapter 5
    A lex heard his iPhone sing and thought he was dreaming.
    But a moment later he realized that his phone was indeed ringing.
    Groggy, he glanced at the clock and saw that it was shortly after one in the morning. Then he reached for his singing phone.
    Seeing Brianne’s number, he was instantly alarmed. Why was she calling him at this hour?
    “Brianne?” he said cautiously. “Is that you?”
    “I’m sorry to call, and so late, but no one’s here, and—and I’m scared—”
    Alex bolted upright, his alarm intensifying. “Whoa, Brianne. Why are you scared? What’s going on?”
    “There’s a big ruckus outside. Sounds like someone’s fighting right outside my door.”
    “Have you gone to the door?”

    “No. I’m afraid to even look out the window.”
    “Good. Stay inside.”
    “There have been problems with the people next door. They bought a house that was in foreclosure, and I think the old owners have been harassing them. I don’t want to be paranoid, but I’m the only one here, and what if someone pulls out a gun?”
    “It doesn’t sound like you’re paranoid. I’m on my way.”
    “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Brianne said. “I don’t even know why I called you. I should just call the police.”
    “It won’t take me too long to get there,” Alex said, out of bed and already reaching for his jeans. “I’ll drive by, see what’s happening. But if the disturbance continues, don’t hesitate to call the cops. I don’t want a stray bullet going into your place.”
    “Okay,” Brianne said, her voice shaky.
    Moments after Alex disconnected with Brianne, he was dressed and heading down the stairs in his home. He ran out the back door off the kitchen and charged toward his car. Within seconds, he was speeding to Brianne’s house.
    He saw the police cruiser the moment he turned onto her street. His heart rate sped up as he wondered if he was too late, if something had happened in the ten minutes since Brianne had called him.
    But as he drove nearer to Brianne’s house, he saw a young couple, both wearing robes, standing near the sidewalk while talking to two police officers. Alex narrowed his eyes, wondering what was going on. That’s when he noticed the white picket fence had been vandalized—likely kicked viciously until it had been mostly broken. Not just the fence, he noticed. There was a huge hole in the house’s front window.

    Someone had hurled a rock through it.
    He parked several feet past Brianne’s house to keep