Page 22 of LA Reign

Jax nods his approval.

“In the meantime, I want you to speak with her. See if there’s anything she can tell us that we might find useful.”

He frowns. “You want me to interrogate a pregnant sixteen-year-old girl?”

“No. Just fucking talk to her. You have a unique way of getting information from people, stuff that they don’t even know is important.”

Before he can reply, we’re interrupted by a knock at the door, and I invite whoever it is inside. A second later Lucia pops her head around the door. “Magda wants to know if Jax is joining us for lunch.”

“I’d love to,” Jax answers. “I’ve barely had any of Magda’s fine home cooking since you got married, amigo.”

Lucia smiles at him. “Great. I’ll let her know.”

“Actually, Lucia, we were just talking about you. Come in.”

Confusion furrows her brow, but she walks into my study and closes the door behind her. Jax pulls up a chair for her, and she takes a seat beside him.

“I’d like you to talk to Jax about what happened the night your father and brothers were murdered.”

She blinks, hands twisting together in her lap. “Okay, but why? I already told you everything.”

“Jax has a knack for spotting things that other people don’t. I want to make sure there’s nothing you or I have missed. Besides, it was a long time ago, and I’m sure you’ve tried your hardest not to think about it too much over the last few years. I get that, Lucia. But the more information we have, the better we’ll be able to keep you and your baby safe.”

She stares at me, like she doesn’t quite believe me. This kid is almost as cynical as I am.

I sigh, and give her some honesty in return. “Look, if you’re at risk, then my family is potentially at risk too, Lucia. Keeping you all safe is my primary goal here. But I won’t bullshit you, any information about our competitors or our enemies is always useful to us as well.”

She stares at me intently, then glances toward Jax, who’s got a lazy half-smile on his face, oozing that easy-going Southern charm he has by the bucketful. Eventually she replies, “Okay, but I’m not sure how much help this will be.”

I shrug. “Maybe none at all. But it can’t hurt to make sure. You can trust Jax. If ever you need anything when Alana and I aren’t around, then you can go to him, okay?”

She nods, a grateful smile spreading over her face. “Okay. He did get me pizza I guess.”

“Plenty more where that came from, kid,” Jax tells her, laughing and putting her at her ease.

“Actually Lucia, I have something else for you.” I pull open my desk drawer and take out a new smartphone. “If you’re staying here, you’ll need one of these.”

Her eyes light up. “Thanks. The Bakers still have my old one.”

I know that, and I’d rather she didn’t bring it here in case anyone has some kind of trace on it. I slide the box across the desk. “Well, this is your new one.”

She takes it and holds it close to her chest. “Thank you. It’s not like I have anyone to call, but I like to play games and search the net and stuff. And they have this app that tells you all about how your baby is growing.” Her eyes are sparkling with excitement. Such a small gift and yet it’s made her undeniably happy. I’m assuming nobody has bought her a gift for a very long time.

I can’t help noticing that her happiness is contagious, and that Jax and I, two grown and very dangerous men, are both grinning along with her.

Chapter

Nine

ALANA

Alejandro waits by the front door like the passing of time offends him. I watch the tight flick of his wrist as he checks his watch again, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Waiting doesn’t suit him at all, and he wears his impatience like a man unused to not getting what he wants.

“Lucia!” His voice cuts through the house, loud and frustrated. “If you’re not down here in two minutes, we’re leaving without you.”

Silence.

He exhales through his nose, the sound edged with irritation, his shoulders going rigid in that way I’ve learned means he’s already halfway to anger. I slip on my heels and walk over to him. “She’s just nervous about what to wear,” I say lifting my hand to his cheek and tracing a fingernail over his stubble. “She’s been excited about this all day.”