Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Alejandro
Elaina went to sleep not long after her anxiety attack passed.
It’d been almost two hours since she’d escaped to the room we shared, and I couldn’t go another damn second without checking on her.
I needed her to know—and understand—that she wasn’t alone anymore.
She had a support system here, and at the very least, she could lean on me when she was tired and wanted help easing the burden from her shoulders.
Slowly, I twisted the knob to our room, then eased the door open, thankful the hinges didn’t creak or squeak.
When I peered into the room, she was in the middle of the bed, the blankets pulled almost completely over her head, and I could see the comforter slowly rising and falling in time with her breaths.
She was still sleeping.
Good.
I eased the door back shut, making sure not to let it click before I released the handle.
Turning, I frowned when I spotted Joey at the end of the hall, his shoulder braced on the wall and his arms crossed over his chest as he scrutinized me.
I arched a brow at him when he said nothing and only continued staring at me.
“What?” I finally asked, my frown deepening. I’d never met anyone capable of unnerving me, but Joey did it effortlessly. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Trying to figure you out, Garcia.” What was that supposed to mean? He jerked his chin in the direction of the door I’d just shut. “How is she?”
“Asleep,” I informed him. “That panic attack took quite a bit out of her.”
He nodded. “That’s normal. She’ll probably sleep a while.” He pushed off the wall. “Adelaide and River are on their way. But before they get here, you and I need to talk… about her.”
I assumed the her he was referring to was Elaina, so I silently followed him up the hall and into the chapel.
“Shut the door,” he ordered as he dropped into the chair at the head of the table.
I didn’t like taking orders, but I’d take them from him.
Only him. Wasn’t sure if he realized the power he wielded when it came to me, but if he wasn’t aware, he would be soon.
I was at his beck and call, and he was the only man I’d bow down to.
After shutting the door, I took a seat next to him, then looked around the room for a moment. “You should invest in building an office so you don’t have to do all your work in here,” I suggested.
“If I wanted an office, I’d have an office,” he retorted.
My lips quirked at his smart-ass remark, but I didn’t let the smile form.
He leaned forward and braced his elbows on the table before steepling his fingers together in front of his lips.
His dark eyes pinned me in place as he scrutinized me once again.
This time, I just relaxed back into the soft leather of the chair and let him.
I didn’t know what he was looking for, and I doubted he’d find the answer anyway.
I didn’t keep my emotions on my sleeves.
A man like me didn’t gain all the power he had by being an open book.
“I need to know where you stand with Elaina,” he finally said.
“As in…” I drawled, letting my voice trail off. I wouldn’t give more than that if he didn’t elaborate. I had a feeling I knew where he was going with this, but I needed him to come out and say it. I needed him to prove me right—that he was developing feelings for her.
“You seem… deeply invested in her,” he finally settled on. “And I need to know how that transcribes for you. Do you have feelings for her, or are you just trying to put her at ease until she can be a free woman?”
“Bold man,” I said, cocking my head to the side. Not many would have the balls to be that forward.
Joey’s smirk was cold and calculating, and fuck, my dick swelled to half-mast behind the zipper of my slacks at the sight of it.
I wanted to put him on his knees and fuck that pretty smirk right off his perfect face.
Watch as that calculated little smirk turned into swollen, red lips coated in drool and saliva as I fucked into his undoubtedly tight throat.
“I’ve never backed down when I need to know something,” he said calmly.
I hummed and leaned forward, resting my arms on the table in much the same manner as him. “What do my feelings for Elaina have to do with you?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Because if you’re not making moves, I will.”
That time, it was my turn to smirk. His eyes widened and flashed with heat as his tracked the slow curve of my lips. He felt something for me, even if he didn’t know what that something was.
“Why can’t we both make moves?” I asked. “Why can’t we both have her?”
His eyes narrowed once more, and he frowned as he cocked his head to the side, trying to figure me out. He looked predatory, and damn, it was a good look on him. This man had no idea what the fuck he did to me, but I had a feeling before we left this room, he’d know.
And then, the ball would be in his court. But I just hoped that no matter what he decided, there wouldn’t be any getting rid of me. I’d wear him down eventually.
I always got what I wanted. And I wanted Elaina and him. I wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less.
“You’ve been thinking about this,” he finally said. When I just hummed, he ground his teeth together. “Stop fucking humming, Alejandro, and be straight up with me. I don’t fucking like games.”
“You don’t like games?” His pupils blew wide when I stood to my feet, then leaned over him.
He backed up from me until he was caged between me and the back of his chair.
His mask fell away once he realized he was trapped.
His jaw tightened, and he swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, nerves burning in his eyes that he couldn’t seem to hide.
Not from me. “I don’t like games either, Joey. That mean you want it straight?”
“Preferably,” he rasped, trying to keep up his strong front, but I’d affected him too much, and it was clear he had no idea what to do with how he now clearly felt.
“I want Elaina. I want her as mine.” I let a smirk tilt my lips. “But I want her as yours, too.”
He waited for me to continue, but when I said nothing, he huffed. “Why?” he snapped.
“Because I plan to have you as well, Joey.” His nostrils flared, and his cheeks colored with anger.
I’d expected that reaction. As far as Joey was aware, he was straight.
Absolutely no interest in men. But I was hoping that would change.
Hoping that, at the very least, he’d eventually want me.
And if I was the only man he’d ever want, then even fucking better.
I was selfish like that.
“Like fuck,” he growled, reaching up to shove me back. I let him, staying steady on my feet since I’d been expecting it. “It’ll never fucking happen, Garcia.”
I smirked. “We’ll see about that.”
I turned for the door, and just as I gripped the handle, he snarled, “When this shit is taken care of, I want you to get the fuck out of my territory. And if you ever return, Garcia, it’ll be war.”
Just because I knew it would annoy him, I hummed, then opened the door, stepping out. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I heard something crash into the wall right beside the door.
Miguel was standing behind the bar when I emerged from the hall, and he arched a brow at me. “Everything good?”
I nodded. “Everything is fine. Joey is just throwing a tantrum.”
Miguel frowned. “What did you do?”
I chuckled as I took the glass of whiskey he offered me. “I laid my cards on the table.”
Miguel smirked. “I can’t wait to see how this plays out.” Reaching over the bar, he patted my shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Who needs luck?” I asked, lifting the glass to my lips. “I always get what I want.”