After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Blaine stood in front of the old apartment building. It almost looked as if it had been abandoned, though the lights on in the rooms said it was still occupied. Even the hinges on the front door into the building were hanging off

their screws.

She took a deep breath. Exhaled slow.

This felt almost wrong. Almost invasive. But this was another one of those reasons she’d opened up New Dawn.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Elaine mumbled.

Liam shoved his hands into his pockets, his demeanor uncharacteristically solemn. “You don’t have to goin there.”

“If it is true, what Slater said, I do.” She glanced at Liam. “And this isn’t just about Jax anymore. I had a feeling when they first came into the foundation but I… I should have tried harder to get them to stay.”

“It might not be true,” Liam reminded her.

“That’s why we’re here.” Elaine looked back up at the building. “To find out.”

“Do you want me to go up there with you?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to scare them.”

“Am I scary?” Liam asked with a furrowed brow.

If the situation wasn’t so serious, she might have smiled. “You know what I mean. She might not trust men. It’s better if I go alone.”

“And if Jax is up there?”

“Nancy’s been keeping me updated on the situation at New Dawn. He’s still there with his protestors. Probably won’t leave until the lights go out tonight.”

“Let’s hurry this up then before he gets back.”

Elaine nodded. Another sigh. Then she strode toward the door, entering the building. There wasn’t even a lock on the outside. Or, if there had been, it’d stopped working a long time ago.

She climbed the steps to the second floor and walked down the hall. Room 204.

Hesitation came before she knocked, second–guessing herself for the second time now.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Elaine waited a moment, glancing both ways down the hall. It smelled of mildew. Or perhaps mold.

The door cracked open, a small chain preventing it from being fully pushed in. “Hello?”

Elaine focused on that small crack. “Lyra, right?” she said. “It’s Elaine. From New Dawn, you came to the foundation a few days ago…”

A small gasp, then the door closed again.

Elaine blinked. That went just as well as she’d been expecting. Though perhaps the door in the face happened sooner than she might have hoped.

Chapter 137

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Just before she could turn to leave, it opened up again, this time the small chain was gone, and Lyra pulled it fully

apen.

“Elaine,” Lyra said, then opened the door a little wider. “Please come in.”

Relief washed over her as Elaine stepped forward, walking into the small apartment. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I just thought we could chat for a bit. There’s some things I’d like to discuss.”

“I’m not surprised. I’ve seen the news and what Jax is doing…I’m sorry about all of it. I don’t approve of iL e doesn’t listen to me.”

Elaine’s heart ached. “I know.”

Lyra studied her expression, something clicking as she realized Elaine knew more than just that. She shook her head, walking into the kitchen.

“Can I get you some water?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Please, sit down, make yourself at home,” Lyra said, moving to one of the cabinets and taking out a glass, filling it from the sink.

“Where’s Annie?” Elaine asked as she crossed to the short sofa to sit.

Lyra walked over and set the glass of water on the coffee table. “In her room.”

Elaine picked up the glass, keeping it in her lap but not drinking from it. Not yet anyway. She didn’t actually need the water. But it was nice to have something to hold. To concentrate on that wasn’t just this conversation.

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