Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Alejandro
The mere thought of sending Joey into the middle of that bullshit trafficking ring without anyone I trusted as backup made my skin crawl.
I wasn’t in the business of really caring about what happened to anyone so long as I reached my end goal, but from the moment I’d laid my eyes on Joey, something about him had called to me.
I’d never given much thought to my sexuality.
I liked who I liked, and I was too rich and powerful to ever give a single fuck what anyone thought about who I stuck my dick into.
But I wanted more than to just fuck Joey.
I wanted to own him and claim him as badly as I wanted to have Elaina.
He’d been confused when I’d snapped at him a few minutes ago, especially since my reputation had me known as a heartless, soulless asshole.
But I couldn’t stomach the thought of something happening to him.
It made me… murderous.
“What was that?” Miguel asked as he stepped out the back door, where I’d disappeared to after leaving the table and that dumb as fuck discussion.
“Nothing,” I muttered as I stared at the tree line that loomed just ahead.
He huffed as he took a seat on the step beside me. “That wasn’t nothing, Alejandro. You never lose your cool, yet you lost it at the thought of Joey getting up close and personal with Giddons. What the hell is happening?”
I scrubbed my hand down my face and gave a heavy, weary sigh. “I don’t fucking know, Miguel.”
He shook his head. “You do. You’re just trying to avoid answering me.
” I shot him a dark glare, my gaze filled with annoyance.
He didn’t back down though. Miguel and I were brothers in every way but blood, and he’d known me our entire lives.
I couldn’t get shit past him, and he wouldn’t stop prying until he had the answers he was looking for.
He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Alejandro. Spill.”
I turned my head away from him, staring at the forest again.
He waited patiently, staying silent. I contemplated trying to get him to walk away and leave me alone, but I knew that wasn’t going to work.
The more I pushed, the more he’d barge his way in until we were both aggravated.
Miguel wasn’t the type to let me suffer in silence, no matter how much I tried.
“There’s something about Joey that makes me feel… volatile when I think of him going into danger, especially without people I, personally, trust to watch his back.”
“That’s new,” Miguel mused. “You don’t give much a fuck about anyone.”
I snorted. “I do. You and Elaina.”
Miguel scoffed. “Such a long list, hermano.”
Huffing, I turned just enough that I could lean my back against the pole next to me that held up the awning over the back porch to the clubhouse. “Joey is straight. So this is my own shit to deal with. But I’m not agreeing to the plan he’s concocted up.”
Miguel frowned at me. “It’s the best we’ve got right now, and we need to make a move soon.
” I knew that, but there had to be another option.
We just needed more time to think. “Every second is vital,” he gently reminded me.
“If Joey is confident he can get inside, then let him. He’s smart, and he’s stayed alive this long. ”
“He’s only twenty-seven,” I muttered. “He’s barely fucking lived.”
Miguel rolled his eyes at me. “Joey has lived more than probably both of us. He built this club from the ground up all by himself. He kept him and Jessie off the streets, kept them fed, and kept the officials off their asses as they grew up so they’d never be separated.
He’s been in war after war, and he’s survived, Alejandro. ”
“How do you know all this?” I asked, hating he knew more about Joey than I did.
Miguel smirked. “You thought I’d allow you to drag us here around a bunch of people I don’t know without doing my homework? I did deep dives into everyone here before we ever pulled up onto this lot. I had to make sure we were safe.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you saying I’d do something to put us in danger?”
He shook his head. “I’m saying you were distracted by a pretty as fuck blonde with wounded eyes and a soul crying for help. Nothing wrong with that. It’s why you have me to cover our bases, hermano. It’s literally my job, remember?”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I think I need a nap on something that’s not a couch so I can face this all with a clear head.”
Miguel chuckled and smacked my leg before standing. “Use my bed. Elaina’s door is locked anyway. I tried to check on her before I came to harass you. Pretty sure she wants to be alone.”
I sighed. I was pretty sure she was unraveling, but I wouldn’t barge in. Not yet. I needed her to trust me more before I forced myself into her space and tried to comfort her. I was glad Miguel had done the same and respected her locked door.
Standing, I asked, “Can you keep an eye and ear out for her? She needs to at least attempt to eat when she emerges from her room. She barely ate breakfast.”
Miguel nodded. “Sure. And I’ll let Joey know you’re thinking about his suggestion.”
“I’m not,” I snapped at him.
Miguel hummed. “You will, even if you don’t want to, because that’s how you operate, Alejandro.” With that, he walked inside, shutting the door behind him and leaving me outside alone once more.
And much more annoyed than I’d been before he’d bothered me and forced me to open up about feelings I couldn’t act on.