Chapter 52 – Alejandro
Chapter
Fifty-Two
ALEJANDRO
My blood thunders around my body as I walk out of my uncle’s house with Alana in my arms. I hold her tight, ignoring my own injury. Now I have her back I will never let her go again.
Adrenaline is still coursing through me, and I know we’re not completely safe yet. I glance behind me to see Jax carrying Lucia into the street. She looks unharmed, and I’m relieved. That kid has already been through enough in her young life.
Alana, on the other hand, is covered in blood. Some of it mine, some of it hers. She has cuts and bruising to her face and body, and although they all seem superficial, I’ll get her checked over by a doctor anyway. It’s the psychological scars that will take the longest to heal though.
I feel bitter bile rise in my throat as I recall what Carlos said about his men violating her. I wish that I’d been able to make them pay, but there just wasn’t time. I plant a kiss on her head and make a silent promise that I will never let anyone touch her ever again.
Jacob is pulling the car up when another vehicle approaches in the distance.
I look across at Jax. He’s seen it too. I hold onto Alana awkwardly with one hand for a moment while I take my gun from its holster.
As the car gets closer, I recognize it as my Uncle Phillipe’s Jeep.
He’s either here to help or to kill me. I hope it’s the first one, but he will die too if it’s the latter.
Phillipe jumps out of his car. “Alejandro,” he shouts to me.
“How did you know we were here?”
He holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Your father told me. I came to help.”
Until I know that’s true, I will not trust him.
“Well, everything is taken care of,” I tell him firmly, keeping my hand on my gun.
“Everything?” he asks solemnly.
I nod. “What needed to be done, is done.”
He nods but tears fill his eyes. “Maybe now he will find some peace.”
“I hope so,” I say. His emotions are genuine, and I relax a notch.
“I’m happy to see you all safe,” Phillipe says as he starts to walk back to his car. “Get the ladies back home. I’ll send someone to clean up inside, and I’ll meet with you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agree.
Jacob opens the car doors. Jax places Lucia in the back seat and slides in beside her. I climb in through the other door, holding Alana close to me. “Do I not get my own seat again?” she says with a faint smile. This amazing woman of mine, finding room for a joke under these terrible circumstances.
“No,” I say as I wrap an arm around her waist. “I’m not letting you go. Ever again,”
“Here you go, Boss. For your hand,” Jacob says as he slides into the driver’s seat and tosses me a bandage.
“Allow me,” Alana says as she lifts my hand and gently dresses it with the bandage. Still so tender, still caring for me despite what she’s been through.
“You still okay, kid?” I nudge Lucia beside me, who hasn’t said a word since we left the house.
“Um, yeah. I suppose,” she says as she rubs a hand over her belly.
“And your little guy?”
“I think so. He’s probably doing better than me. He’s wriggling around right now,” she murmurs.
“As soon as we’re home, I’ll have a doctor check you and the baby over.”
“Home?” she mumbles with a faint smile.
Alana finishes securing the bandage. Then she leans back against my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck. I keep one arm around her waist as I reach for Lucia’s hand with my bandaged one. Her fingers curl around mine.
“Yeah, home.” I say with a sigh as I lean back against the seat and close my eyes. It’s been a hell of a day, but both my girls are safe, and that’s all that matters.