78. Her Ace

ALEJANDRO

Last night I had slipped up and said Amore Mio to her face. That was fucking messed up, especially since I was about to fucking mark someone in front of her.

I needed to take a step back and see where to go from here. She had given me hope, a hope I didn't deserve, and one that I didn't know I couldn't live without.

Seeing her baking those brownies… in my house. I wanted her here forever. I knew in that moment she was the one I wanted to wake up to every morning. The last thing I saw before I fell asleep at night. I wanted her to warm my bed, just how she was fucking warming my heart.

Yeah, I knew I cared for her, but accepting her... That part still fucked me up. She was strong and I knew she could handle me… Not to mention I was too fucking weak to live without her.

So here the fuck I was, after a long run, thinking all night and day about her… I knew I needed her… But I needed to work on the shit I fucked up and to trust the fact that I wouldn't hurt her…

It was going to be a fucking nightmare, but I was ready to at least fucking try.

I told Claire to bring my food to my room as I handled the paperwork for some business issues I had to attend. Although I usually had some of my men handle it, there was some shit only I could deal with. I had just finished eating and was headed to my home office.

Since all the fuckers were gathered here, I guess we would just hold the meeting here.

I opened the door to find Rafael and Darien already inside, both men stopped talking when they saw me.

I bet the fuckers were talking about me.

"Alejandro." Rafael said with a smile.

"Excuse me, I'll be back in ten for the meeting." Darien said, quickly excusing himself.

I gave him a murderous glare as he walked past before I took out a packet of cigarettes and lit one.

"You were out most of the night." Rafael said as I leant against the wall, taking a long drag of my cigarette.

"Yeah? And that's your fucking business why?"

"I didn't say it was. I"m just concerned about you, Al." He said, coming over to me as he crossed his arms.

"Don't be, I don't need you."

"What did I do?" He asked quietly.

I clenched my jaw as I stared off to the side. I didn't need this shit.

"What the fuck do you think you did?" I asked coldly.

"I wish I knew. No matter how different we were… We were there for one another. Why did you start pushing me away?"

"That's your fucking assumption." I said, now glaring at him.

But there it was, the ever so present concern, yet no fucking anger. What happened? Did the anger gene skip him and I got the full fucking brunt of it?

"Then why do I anger you? I see it and sense it. This irritation you feel when I talk to you."

"That's because I hate your fucking fake sympathy and concern that you have plastered on your damn face, twenty four-fucking-seven." I said coldly. My aura swirling around me. Sure, there was a time we looked out for one another and he always supported all my fucking decisions… but that time had long passed.

"It's not fake, I wish I could show you how I feel inside Al... I love you. You're my brother and nothing can change that." He said quietly.

"Oh yeah? Then why is it that you never trusted me? Tell me Raf? Didn't you think I was behind those fucking attacks years ago before the actual fuckers came to light?" I asked coldly. I was finally asking the question that always burned at the forefront of my mind.

He frowned.

"I did think maybe it was you, but what has that got to do with anything? I wasn't locking you up, nor was I trying to get rid of you. I trusted you, I still trust you and I always will because I know that before anything else, you are my brother." He said softly. "Please Alejandro, know I can never hurt you or betray you."

I had nothing to say to that… I had never looked at it like that.

"So, you"re saying, the selfless, good-hearted, Rafael Rossi didn't give a shit that people were dying and maybe his brother was the killer? A brother he wasn't going to even lock up? Wasn't that nagging at your fucking conscience?"

He smiled slightly.

"Can't I be selfish? I"m human…You were family." He said quietly. "I was willing to let it go."

I didn't say anything as I stood there smoking. I didn't know what the fuck to make of that… Rafael patted my arm, a smile finding its way on his face.

"So… Kiara…"

"We're not that fucking close." I growled.

He smirked.

"You know… She calls me uncle. If you two make it work, I think we will need to change that."

"Well, you are fucking old." I said mockingly.

Somehow, the anger I felt towards him had lessened… Maybe I needed to stop making fucking assumptions and actually believe that there were a few fuckers who actually cared.

"Only six years older than you brother." He said, now smiling. "I would never have made the pairing, but when you see you two now, you look great together. When she fell into your arms at the engagement, I won't lie, I actually thought you two went well… Who knew that even the Goddess thought the same thing?"

She had looked fucking perfect… A knock on the door signalled the end of our conversation so I went and took my seat. Time to get some shit together…

-----

Twenty minutes later, Frederick had finished explaining the odd occurrences, tracks and vanishing auras he picked up on in the Galloway Forest. Darien, Elijah, Rafael, Frederick, Indigo and Carmen, although I was still fucking pissed at her, were here as well. Adding their input on everything we had gathered. Not to mention Kiara had said not to go there… I wondered what the extent of her abilities were…

"I"m heading there tonight. Darien will take charge of the pack whilst I"m gone." I said, wanting to tell Elijah to take care of Kiara… If I wasn't around, she was safest with him, although I knew she was strong. I don't think I'd be at ease if she didn't have an Alpha around.

"Got it. How long do you think you are going to be?" Rafael asked. "If you want, I can leave Rayhan here to help."

"No, I rather that fucker isn"t here." I growled.

Elijah smirked and I wondered what the fuck his problem was.

"I don't see anything wrong with that." He said.

"He's very capable, Alejandro." Rafael added.

Yeah, I knew exactly what he was capable of and I didn't fucking want him anywhere near her.

There was a knock on the door and her intoxicating scent invaded my senses. My stomach did a fucking somersault as the door opened and she and Scarlett stepped inside.

"This is a meeting." I said, trying not to look at her, but despite my best efforts, I could see her breasts peeping out of her dark green cowl neck top. I tried not to focus on the silk fabric tugging at her breasts. Glaring at Scarlett instead, something that was a lot easier to do.

"We know. It's to do with these attacks and the obvious target, Kia." Scarlett said.

"Your point?" I said, trying to keep my irritation at bay.

"Well, just because we don't have dicks, does that mean we can't be here?" Scarlett said. Making Indigo and Carmen smile.

"That's not the issue, Red. Alejandro was just sharing his plan." Elijah said, looking suspicious.

"Great, do share." Kiara now said.

I looked at her, the green of her top only made her eyes look greener.

"It's kind of confidential. You don't need to be here." I said as calmly as I could.

Did I have to be fucking nice? I mean, I don't do nice… What the fuck, was I actually considering being nice? This shit was messed up…

"It's to do with me, so carry on." She said challengingly.

Our eyes met and I swallowed, don't look down…I could see her breasts peeking out from that fucking tease of a top and I knew every single pair of fucking eyes were on me. Was this the shit she expected from me? I"m not the type to fucking back down…

She pouted slightly, before biting her lip and then she fucking pulled the ultimate ace to win this shit.

It was subtle, but it fucking did the job… She pressed her breasts together ever so slightly with her arms and batted those damn lashes at me. Sending a wave of pleasure down fucking south.

Fuck.

"Fine. Stay." I growled.