Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 281

"What?" I ask.

My mother's voice cuts her off. "Mia. I didn't birth you for you to abandon me in my time of need."

I hold my head. Is she seriously doing this right now? "I'm. Coming."

"Who are you using that tone with?" she asks.

I'm gonna pull my hair out. "My friend is having an emergency."

"I'm having an emergency," she shakes the shopping list.

Bri sounds taken aback. "Are... Are you even listening to me?"

"I was-" I start.

"If you don't want to be found," Bri grumbles. "Don't let me waste your time."

I smack my forehead. She's worse than Suzie sometimes. "I'm sorry, Bri. My mom was saying something."

"Just go stand next to someone," she says.

I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"Just do it." Her voice is as cold as the temperature in the building.

Krys has a little more compassion right now. "We're gonna use their mindlink to locate you."

"You can do that?" I ask.

Something tells me she's nodding. "Just... don't tell them why you're standing next to them. In case they're a murderer."

That's reassuring. I look around. "Anyone?"

"Yeah," Bri says. "It might take a second, but it should work."

I'm ready to do it, but there's no one around. It's just like the parking lot. This entire place is deserted. I go to the cash registers, but there's not a soul in the building.

I may have been dumb enough to walk in here, but I'm not stupid enough to stay. I march over to my mother, ready to grab her by the arm and drag her out of here if need be. I'm not dying today.

I don't say anything, lest I end up like the girl's in the horror films. Nope. I keep my mouth shut, stalking up to her.

"Finally. You're here." She hands me half of the list. "Go get this from-"

I point towards the exit.

She raises an eyebrow.

When I grab her arm, she mom-handles me away from her. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Don't you notice anything suspicious?" I ask.

She looks away. I do too.

"Are you still there?" Bri asks.

I pick up something from the shelf, examining it. I'm such a good actress. "Yeah. I'm looking now. Go ahead."

Silence. The girl tries to pick between two things. I run my fingers along some price tags. Hurry up, guys. This is so awkward.

Krys sighs. "... I can't find you."

"Me either," Bri says. "Stand closer."

I shake my head. "No."

"Why not?" they ask in unison.

"That's creepy." I don't wanna get in her personal space.

I hear Krys whisper to Bri, "Should we tell the brothers?"

"I'm not sure," Bri tells her honestly. Then she asks me, "Do you want us to call the brothers? I really don't want anything to happen to you."

I can hear the hesitation in her voice. I know Carson'll chew them out. Aiden'll give them a speech. Axel'll look disappointed for several days. I don't think it needs to go there yet. "Let's see if this works first." I stand beside the girl, reaching for something beside her. She moves only enough to get out of my way. No quick movements. I assume she's trying not to wake the baby.

The only thing keeping the aisle from being silent is the sound of the child struggling to breathe. It doesn't sound like it's dying. It just sounds like Charlie when he gets a cold. A struggle in and a struggle out. Poor thing.