“How about we sit down and talk this shit out?” He suggested, turning to glance at his nephew, who wasalmost out the door.
“How about you deal with that?” Leo countered, cocking a brow towards the ceiling.
He turned, throwing something incredibly fast and aiming it at the lighting fixture on the ceiling. I saw the flash of silver, and I quickly turned my back, my every instinct telling me to protect the child in my arms just as the entire thing came crashing down with a huge clang, the glass shattering. I felt a surge of aura surround me and looked up to see Liam had raised some sort of blue force field, stopping any of the glass from touching me. Once again, that sliver of doubt flittered through me.
Was that Liam?
I looked around at the hall; the anger in Rayhan’s eyes, the way Alejandro was frowning, the look on Marcel’s face... the family had appeared so perfect… but it was clear it wasn’t. Again, the terrifying doubt that it was all an illusion overcame me. I didn’t realise I had stepped back until Alejandro called me.
“Amore Mio, are you okay?” My eyes snapped up to him, and I nodded. Just then, Rayhan came over, taking his daughter from me.
“Ray, a word?” Alejandro called after him as he made to go upstairs.
“Not right now,” answered his quiet yet dangerous reply. Alejandro ran his hand through his hair and looked at Liam, sighing in frustration.
“The fuck you meant to be?” He asked, and I wasn’t able to stop the giggle.
“Spiderman,” Liam replied with a small sheepish smile.
“You mean Glitterman or some shit?” Alejandro raised an eyebrow whilst Darien hid a smirk.
“Yeah, Sky got a little carried away.” Liam bunched his shirt up and began wiping his face, flinching when he saw the purple and pink makeup transferred onto it. Oh, if only he saw the nail polish… some was in his eyebrows, too. Alejandro shook his head.
“I will never get how the fuck you let these girls walk all over you.”
“I think you do, too…” Darien remarked, earning a glare from Alejandro, who turned to Marcel.
“Don’t let it bother you. They’re just kids. They’ll argue and shit all the time. Come on, I’ll get Claire to bring us something to drink,” he said, slapping his brother’s shoulder.
“It’s not a light matter, Alejandro. He must have done something to trigger Rayhan like that,” Marcel mused gravely.
“Yeah…” Alejandro agreed.
All eyes turned on me, and I felt a rush of nervousness as Alejandro approached me, reminding me of a predator advancing on his prey…
“Care to share what exactly went down, Amore Mio?”
I looked at the other three men. Liam gave me a small encouraging smile. Pushing that niggling doubt regarding him away, I turned to Alejandro, taking a deep breath, ready to tell them what had happened.
Later in theday, I finally managed to get a moment alone, and I was planning on speaking to Enrique as I had promised Kataleya. Alejandro’s mood had darkened when he learned that Leo had taunted Rayhan by throwing his daughter up in the air, even though it was clear he had no intention of harming her. He had scared her and succeeded in riling Rayhan up.
Marcel had been apologetic, but Alejandro had told him not to blame himself. Maria had tried to smooth things over. I felt dreadful for saying what happened in front of him; I didn’t know he’d feel so guilty. Rayhan had avoided everyone, and his mother said to give him some space.
My doubt had eased; I could sense when someone lied, and I had to remember Alejandro had not lied to me. Not once had he hidden anything from me, nor had I sensed him lying. I decided I would tell him about the voice I had heard in my head later.
I knocked on the door to Enrique’s bedroom before opening it and stepping inside. The boy was standing by the window, his arms behind his back, head straight up and shoulders squared. My heart ached for him. When his hazel eyes met mine, all I could see was a child who had suffered so much.
“Hey,” I said, smiling softly as I entered, leaving the door slightly ajar.
“Can I help you, Queen Luna?” He asked, his voice sounding dead. Must he leave? Couldn’t I keep him and take care of him? He needed to be loved and nurtured. I smiled, not wanting him to notice how I was feeling, knowing he hated pity.
“I have actually come with a request today,” I explained gently, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. He waited for me to speak. I looked up at him. “It’s about Kataleya.” Instantly a frown flashed on his face.
“What now?”
“Before you leave, will you talk to her?” His anger seemed to rise, and he turned away from me, his heart beating fast as he glared out of the window.
“No. I never want to see her or speak to her ever again.”
