Page 56 of LA Reign

Twenty-Two

ALANA

Alejandro has hardly said two words to me since we left the hospital. The doctors told us all to go home and get some rest, that we should come back to see Mateo in the morning. Despite Alejandro’s insistence that she stay with us, his mom went to his Uncle Phillipe’s house. She and Phillipe’s wife, Rachel, are as close as sisters, and it’s where Maria wants to be. I get the sense she doesn’t want to upset Alejandro any further, or have him feel like he needs to look after her, too. Maybe she wants to be able to break down and cry in private. Whatever the reason, we are now alone.

“You look after my baby boy now, Alana, you hear me?” she said as we were about to leave. I assured her I would, but I’m not sure how. He’s been at my side for the entire drive home, but he feels a million miles away.

The tension is palpable, so thick it’s as though you could reach out and touch it. I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, beside the very obvious fact that his father is seriously ill in hospital.

Something in the way his Uncle Carlos was behaving has set a few alarm bells ringing. The man could barely hide his contempt every time he looked at me. Does he know that Alejandro and his father fought about me? Or that I ran away to New York? What if his uncles somehow blame me for Mateo being shot? Maybe they think it wouldn’t have happened if Alejandro hadn’t been chasing me across the country.

Even worse, what if Alejandro himself feels those doubts as well?

We pull up at the house, and I glance at him, wondering where his mind has gone. I know he must be regretting that fight with his dad. He must be worried that he will never get the chance to make up with him. I hate that I played any part in that, and pray that Mateo wakes up soon, that the two of them can clear the air.

Jacob turns off the engine, but Alejandro doesn’t move. His face is filled with turmoil as he stares out at the beautiful landscaped gardens, showing no sign that he’s happy to be home. I don’t know how to reach him, how to comfort him.

“Alex?” I say, laying a gentle hand on his thigh. His head swivels to look at me, and anger is radiating from him like heat from a furnace. I blink but don’t back off. I’m sure that anger isn’t really aimed at me.

“We’re home,” I say quietly. He rubs his hands over his face, like he’s resetting, and nods. “Right. Sorry Alana. I have a lot on my mind.”

“I know. That’s okay.” I just wish I knew what it was.

“Come on. You need to shower, to eat,” I tell him. “You need to keep your strength up.”

He quirks his head to one side, manages a half-smile. “Really, princesa? Now you sound like my mama!”

I laugh. “Well, maybe every now and then, that’s what you need.”

It’s only a split second of light among the darkness, but I’ll take it.

Jacob opens the car door for me, and I step out. Lucia, Kelsey and Hugo are waiting on the doorstep. I realize with a start that I almost forgot about Kelsey. My poor best friend came for a break, and now she’s stuck right in the middle of all this.

Lucia wraps her arms around Alejandro’s waist as he reaches the doorway. “I’m glad Mateo is okay,” she says.

“Thanks, kid,” he replies as he gives her a soft kiss on the top of her head. The look that crosses his face is soft and tender, and I see yet again how this tough-as-nails teenager can melt the iron façade of my Mafia boss husband.

It’s a sweet moment, which makes it even worse when she steps away from him and glares at me. The sheer anger on her face takes my breath away. The next thing I know, she’s turning on her heels and storming back into the house without a single word to me.

I look between Kelsey and Hugo. “What the hell?”

It’s Alejandro who answers. “What the fuck did you expect, Alana?” he says, his tone more weary than mad. Somehow that makes it even worse. “She’s pissed at you, and she has every right to be. You’re the closest thing to family that kid has. Every single person she has ever loved has either let her down, used her or abandoned her, and the minute things got a bit tough for you, you fucked off out of here without a thought for anyone but yourself. These are the consequences. Deal with them.”

Then he walks into the house toward his office, leaving me standing there, blinking like an idiot. He’s taking his frustration out on me, which I can forgive under the circumstances. But what I can’t forgive is myself—because he’s right. I did send her a message, which is more than he got, but from Lucia’s perspective, I abandoned her. I got so caught up in my own woes that I didn’t even consider how my disappearing act would affect the girl I promised to protect.

I am frozen, tears streaming down my cheeks. Kelsey puts her arm around my shoulders and squeezes me tight. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you inside,” she says softly. “Leave that asshole to calm down. I guess he’s had a shitty few days. I’ll tear a strip off him for that once his dad’s out of the woods.”

I smile at her as I wipe the tears away. I couldn’t help crying, I was so overwhelmed. So much has happened in such a short space of time. Finding out about my fertility issues, running away, reuniting with Alejandro, his poor father being shot. Now Lucia being in one hell of a huff with me.

I’m only human, and it’s okay that I cried.

But now it has to stop. I have to put on my big girl pants, and go fix this mess. Lucia and Alejandro are the two most important people in my life, and I hate having any distance between us. “Thanks, Kels, I need to go and talk to Lucia. Will you be okay for a while? I’m sorry this isn’t turning out to be quite the trip you expected.”

“Well, it’s definitely not dull, I’ll grant you that. Of course I’ll be okay. Hugo here will give me a tour of the grounds. Won’t you, Hugo?”

She links her arm through his, and he coughs awkwardly. I can’t help but smile. He looks like a deer trapped in the headlights. He may be huge, but Kelsey will eat him alive if he’s not careful.

“Actually, I’m sure the boss will need to speak with me,” he says. “Sorry, Kelsey.”