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“I hope so for your sake. I got a daughter your age, and I can’t imagine her around a guy like him. His scene, his lifestyle. It’s not… safe, especially those parties…” he chewed.
“Parties?” I asked, but knew all too well what he meant.
The Pierre.
This was another warning just like Parker’s. I still wasn’t sure what I was missing; Alejandro was the pinnacle of protection; he saw me when others didn’t and held me tighter than anyone had before. To hear this constant and repeated warning felt tiresome, or more so, deafening. I stared back at my reflection, and at my skirt, lingering on Claire’s previous warnings about men like Alex. I refused to believe I was anything like her, misguided by a man who was attempting to steal my heart.
“Yes… parties. I can’t see another girl like you, an angel from Belmont Hills, fall into trouble,” he said, clearing his throat.
“Belmont Hills?” I frowned, unsure of what he meant, or who he was talking about. He got quiet as he realized the figures standing by his side.
All the exhaustion I felt, the crick in my neck and bones, the discomfort of a cold night in a stale, bright room instantly disappeared as I suddenly saw the darkest angel.
“Hey there, good girl…” The melodic and staggering charm of Alejandro rolled across the room, warming me hotter than the boiled tea in my hand. I blushed, reddened by his greeting, almost as if it were the first time all over again.
“Alejandro?” I whimpered with surprise, but was hushed by the comfort of his body as I threw myself into his arms. My god, the heady lure of cherries seeped out from his gold, glowing skin. All I saw was him, his dark ink tatted everywhere, darker than his brows or chocolate eyes. He wrapped himself around me, our position feeling permanent as if carved into stone. I buried my head in his chest, digging myself closer into his body as I fought the urge to cry, cherishing the moment, an embrace that was instantly met with the tilt of my chin. Before he said anything else, he kissed me. Hard. His lips pressed into mine so securely, so definitively, that I questioned if I was even awake.
“Sorry I kept you waiting. Are you ok?” He leaned his head against mine.
“Better…” I laughed more awake, but also eager to fall asleep in his arms.
“Better is good, but not good enough. I’m taking you back home with me,” he dared, teasing the almost eternal rest of his bed. I imagined it was the size of a pool with soft sheets and cool pillows for our hot bodies.
“That’ll have to wait.” A woman in a sharp, black suit gazed at her phone, before shooting a tempered look at the man who bought me donuts. “Sergeant Fields…” she sighed, annoyed as if she just overhead the things he was saying. “I trust you’re leaving my client alone? And more importantly, keeping your mouth shut?”
“Client?” I asked.
“Lina is my attorney, but now, she’s also yours,” Alejandro confirmed.
“It’s my absolute pleasure to meet you, Miss Harrison.” Lina greeted, shaking my hand with a level of professionalism that made my outfit feel even more inappropriate.
“Thank you… I don’t know if I’m in trouble, but I can’t possibly expect you to pay for a lawyer…” I shook my head.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Alejandro grinned. “As if I would ever let anything happen to you. I told you I’d take care of you, and that involves securing only the best of attorneys at your disposal. Lina kept your name out of the papers, even after The Met.”
“That was no easy task, but easy is never fun.” She turned to the apparent Sergeant Fields who scowled with the Honey Bun still in his hands. “You can leave now,” she declared, shooing him away with the wave of her hand.
He listened, but not before taking a moment to look me in the eyes. “Be careful…” he warned, garnering a sincerity I could only imagine coming from a father as he walked away.
Alejandro rubbed his large thumb on the back of my hand, returning my attention. I scanned his perfectly, clean face, unblemished from the awful night we had. Was he used to this, staying up late, being unfazed by the lack of sleep? Maybe it was a side-effect of his supposed wild parties, and how they possibly lasted into the late hours of the night.
“You’re cold.” Alejandro lifted the leather jacket he held in his hand, placing it over my shoulders. Its weight was heavy, covering me in the stale prison musk that masked the summery scent of his faded cologne. I felt little within its wings, but even smaller within Alejandro’s arms. “Shall we?”
“Not so fast,” Lina chimed in. “I can’t have you leave and rest the day away. We have business to attend to.”
“It can wait.”
“No.Thiscan’t.” She waved her phone in the air, “Business in California needs your attention. I’ll need you indefinitely.”
“Is this about the case?” I blurted out, not realizing how nosey I sounded. The natural creases of Alejandro’s face relaxed, amused by my question. Lina’s did not. She raised an eyebrow, appearing more curious about what I may know versus the question itself.
“Other business…” Alejandro corrected. “But you can stay at my penthouse. Whatever you need I’ll take care of it.”
“Actually, I should probably go back home,” I answered, pulling his jacket closer to my chest.
“Home?” He cocked his head, sounding unenthused.
“There are things I need to take care of. You’ll be busy with Lina and work… I still have to finish your suit.” I shrugged, reminding him how our relationship truly began.
