hapter 0270
**Josie’s Pov **
POV
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The woman on the other side of the glass is the image of his mother and looking at her makes me feel as though I’ve been transported back through time, to when her mother was younger, and we attended high school together.
Rochelle was a friend of mine. She lived on my street, and we travelled to school together. At just 15, Rochelle fell pregnant. It was a huge shock for everyone, but not completely unheard of at our age. She had left school early to have her baby, a little girl she named Annie. I had visited hit right up until I left for college when Annie was two years old.
Five years ago, when I’d finally decided to sell my childhood home, for someone else to make memories in rather than it sitting empty, Rochelle had come to view the place with Annie. She was around 15 years old then, but I’m 00% positive this is her.
“Who is she?” Laike asks.
1 tell the room about Rochelle and Annie and the men growl in anger.
“If this is the same girl, that means we have or had a Grey that got a 15–year–old girl pregnant!” Deacon says with fury in his tone.
“I don’t think it’s as bad as you imagine. The baby’s father was just a teen himself. He was in our class, we have known him since we were 4 years old,” 1 explain, remembering Rochelle’s boyfriend, Chris.
“So either he was a Grey and unaware, or he wasn’t the baby’s father. Let’s see what the girl has to say and then see if we can track down the parents,” Raff nods.
Deacon and Raff leave the room and enter the neighbouring one, just like they had before.
“Hello, Annie, how are you?” Deacon asks as he sits opposite her.
The girl n
narrows her eyes at him, “I’m guessing you already spoke with Lola then,” she sighs.
“What makes you think that?” Dasks.
“How else would you know my name?” She rolls her eyes as if he’s stupid. She thinks he’s made a mistake.
“Oh, no, Lola didn’t tell me. It was your mum’s friend,” Deacon shrugs and pretends to read through something on his notepad.
“Is my mum okay?” Annie asks, suddenly full of concern.
“I don’t know. Is there a reason she wouldn’t be?” Deacon asks.
“They threatened to hurt her. I tried to get away, and they said if I did it again they’d make sure I had nothing to run back to,” she says and my heart hurts for her.
“Luke, will you take me to find her?” I ask.
“Yes, let’s go,” he nods.
“I’ll come,” Axe says.
“D, get me an address for Rochelle, we will go and check on her,” I say into the mind link.
“Annie, I have someone ready to go and check on your mum right now. Do you have an address for her?” Deacon.
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Chapter 0270-
asks.
“How do I know I can trust you?” She narrows her eyes atm.
“I’m coming in,” I tell D, before walking out of the room and pushing into the next one.
Annie looks up at me with curiosity and suspicion.
“Annie, my name is Josie. I went to school with your mum. We grew up on the same street. Westview Avenue. We both attended Priory High School until she became prequal with you. You came with your mum about 5 years ago to view my childhood home. Do you remember?”
Annie is quiet for a moment as if searching her memories before she nods.
“Give me the address and let me go and check on her,” Luce.
“We moved into Granny’s house after she died. She was still on Westview when I was taken, but that was almost two years ago. I don’t know where she is now,” Annie says, her eyes filling with unshod tears.
“She will be there,” I nod. “I’m going to go there now. I will find your mum, but I need you to help me in return. Answer all their questions and give them as much information as you can becaus the people who took you have also taken my daughter, and we want her back. We will keep you safe here, I promise, you don’t have to be afraid
anymore.
“Okay,” she nods.
I leave the room and close the door behind me. Luke and Axe wait for me in the corridor.
“We won’t be long.” I say into the mind link.
“Be careful,” Mace says, and Theo and D make a sound of agreement.
Luke ports us to the street outside my old address, startling an elderly lady walking a small dog that barks at us.
“Sorry,” I grimace.
“It’s okay, Dearie, you gave me a fright is all,” the lady waves us away with a smile.
“Either the humans are becoming a lot more accustomed to us, or she was just an extra–nice one,” Luke comments as we walk the street towards Rochelle’s childhood home.
“I think after all this time, they are getting used to the idea of us just popping up randomly,” I shrug.
“I’m not sure, I still get sworn at a lot, especially if I’m alone,” Luke snorts.
“I had one swear at me yesterday. She threw a spoon at me too, but then again, she was a Grey, she just didn’t know it, so I guess that doesn’t count,” Axel says.
“Why did she throw a spoon at you?” I ask.
Sher
“I don’t know, she called me Steroid Steve too. She reminded me of your mum’s dog,” Axe says with a shudder, making me giggle.
I love how my guys know exactly what to do and say to make me laugh and keep me calm when I need it. They know if we had made this short walk in silence, I’d have gotten lost in my own head. Imagining every possible scenario, and it would have eventually led to a panic attack
The small house is just how I remember it from my teenage years, but the magnolia paint that was once crisp and fresh on the thick stone windowsills is now flaky and peeling, revealing the grey stone beneath it. I raise my hand and knock on the door of my childhood friend’s house, sending up a silent prayer that she is okay.
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