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The sound of my cell ringing interrupts the conversation.
Taking it out of my pocket, I see Alejandro’s name on the screen. “I gotta take this,” I say to Shannon as I hold the phone to my ear.
“Hey, amigo.”
“My plane is going to be at the airport in four hours, Jax. Get your ass on it,” he snarls and my heart immediately starts to race. He’s either pissed at me, pissed because something bad has happened, or both.
“Why? What the fuck is going on?”
I hear him draw in a breath, as though he’s trying to keep a lid on his raging temper. I’m not often on the receiving end of it, but when I am it’s usually to do with my wife – his daughter. “Just get your ass on the fucking plane, because if I have to, I will come drag you back here myself.”
“Then tell me what the fuck is going on” I snarl. “Is Lucia okay?”
“No,” he barks and my racing heart kicks up a gear.
“What?”
“She’s not hurt. She’s safe,” he quickly adds, because while he might be pissed at me for God knows what, he wouldn’t let me have a heart attack from worrying about her. “But if she finds out… So, get back here and clear up the fucking mess you have created. Now!”
I swear my heart is about to hammer through my ribcage. “What mess? Stop speaking in riddles. What the fuck is going on over there? Let me speak to Lucia.”
“No,” he snarls. “You do not tell her about this. Not until we know what to do.”
“For fuck’s sake, amigo, you’re killing me here. Tell me what’s happened.”
“This isn’t the kind of thing I want to talk about on the phone. I fucking trusted you to take care of her…” I hear the crack in his voice and it takes the breath from my lungs. “Just get your ass on the damn plane.”
Then he ends the call and I stand in the store with my heart damn near in my throat.
What the hell has happened during the last house since I spoke to her?
I walk out of the store, hearing Shannon calling after me but I don’t hear what she says. My blood is pounding in my ears as adrenaline races through my body. Lucia is safe and unhurt but not okay? What does that even mean?
I dial her number and she answers on the fourth ring.
“Hey,” she says breathlessly.
“Hi, angel,” I try to sound calm while my head spins with a million questions, but I ask her the only one that really matters right now. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just doing some yoga with my mom, sorry. I thought it was supposed to be relaxing. Do I sound out of breath?” she laughs softly.
“Just a little. How is Matthias?”
“He’s fine. I just got back from dropping him at school,” the tone of her voice changes. I mean I only spoke to her an hour ago and everything was fine then. “Why is something wrong?”
I close my eyes and take a breath as I prepare to lie to her. “Yeah, I just miss you, baby. I wanted to hear your voice.” Only a half lie.
“I miss you too.”
“I should let you get back to your yoga before your mom yells at me,” I say. “I’ll call you tonight. Okay?”
“Okay. Be careful, Jax.”
“Always, Luce. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I end the call and put my cell back into my pocket. Speaking to her has calmed my racing heart at least, but I still have no idea what the hell is going on that I can’t even talk to her about it. I suppose there’s only one way to find out.
