The Keeper: Alexa LeGardien by Kaytie Reade

desires.”
    “Uh-huh,” Alexa said with her mind set on her phone. She was trying to beat her high score on Two Dots. “So what happens when we touch it?”
    “Only the Keeper can touch it without getting affected. Think of yourself as immune. The artefact is in the possession of very powerful people. People powerful enough not to touch it themselves. They hired expert thieves. It was stolen five years ago and now we finally have its location.”
    Alexa had a weary look on her face. Expert thieves, powerful people, getting affected?
    “This artefact isn’t one to fear. It’s why it’s been given to you for your first mission,” Leeman said, noting her concerned look.
    “Okay, then. If it isn’t harmful, why don’t you guys just do it yourselves? I’m sure you’ve been doing alright on your own.” She was starting to second guess what she’d gotten herself into.
    “We are Guardians or keepers as some say, but you Miss. LeGardien, are The Keeper.”
    Great . She nodded, accepting that she had to go through with whatever this was. She had to know just what it was that made her parents so damn important. Because it was also the reason she never got to know them.
    “By the way, how is your Italian?” Leeman asked.
    “It’s borderline non-existent,” she answered. “I know a few phrases and that’s all.”
    He shook his head and raised an eyebrow. “Well, you’re going to have to brush up on it before you go.”
    “How the hell am I supposed to brush up on an entire language within a few hours?”
    “You’re The Keeper,” Leeman stated, as though that was nought to give her the answers she craved.
    Alexa leaned on a counter. “Thanks for reminding me,” she mumbled under her breath. “Tell us more about the artefact. We know what it looks like, and that it’s not dangerous, but what exactly does it do?”
    “It toys with one’s emotions,” Leeman replied. “As long as you’re holding it, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.”
    Alexa gave up pondering about the artefact. She had to believe that this man whom she’d never met before would not put her life in danger. She just had to. “ Okay , not very helpful. Her expression turned serious. When I come back, we are going to have a talk about my parents. A real one. Everything from how you knew them to what they took for breakfast.”
    He lit up his pipe again but he didn’t reject the idea.
    She saw Leeman fiddle with two pieces of paper and requested, “What is that?”
    “Tickets,” he answered.
    “Wait, no private jet?” she jokingly asked. She knew he had sad no before, but Leeman was the strangest person she’d ever met.
    “Business class tickets to Italy.” He held them out to her. “Hold on to these and your passports.” He sent a stare to both Alexa and Matt. “Don’t lose them.”
    “Don’t worry, we won’t,” Matt said.
    —             —             —
    “S O, we check in, head to Italy, and then what?” Matt asked as he leaned into Alexa’s ear.
    She shrugged. “He said someone would meet us there and let us know what our next steps are.”
    “I can’t believe we are actually doing this.”
    “That makes two of us,” she said as their check-in queue got shorter.
    “This is still pretty crazy to me.”
    “Yeah.” She fumbled for her ticket, her fingers couldn’t stay still. For some odd reason, she was a little nervous.
    Matt clamped his hand around her fidgeting one. “First time on a plane. That’s got to be nerve wrecking, right?”
    She sighed, trying to force herself to remain relaxed. “Um . . . let’s just get this over with.”
    After hours of waiting in line before finally being able to board, Alexa’s nerves were finally under control. But she remembered the plane was going to take off soon. All she could think about was being suspended in the sire for several hours with no way down.
    “Don’t forget to breathe.” Matt said to her as they took