Page 37 of LA Reign

“I mean, I thought he was my friend, I thought he loved me, but all he ever did was use me,” she says as tears form in her eyes.

I squeeze her hand tighter.

“He was as bad as my father,” she sniffs. I feel Alejandro stiffen beside me and wonder what that’s about. What was her father like? “Is it bad that I feel kind of relieved that he’ll never come after me or my baby again? It is, isn’t it? I really am horrible!”

“No, no, that’s not bad at all, sweetheart. In fact, it’s perfectly understandable,” I assure her. “Do you think I’m a horrible person, Lucia?”

“No. Alana, you’re one of the best people I’ve ever met.”

“Well, let me tell you something…I’m also glad that he can’t come after us again. You, me, your baby. I think we’re all better off without him in the world. I genuinely do think that, so either we’re both awful human beings, or neither of us are.”

“Me too,” Alejandro chimes in. “For what it’s worth.”

Lucia nods and wipes the tears from her cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater. We seem to have convinced her that her feelings are valid, and that’s helped. “What happened to him?” She directs her question to Alejandro.

He looks at me first and then he sucks in a breath. “He was buried alive in cement.”

I wince at the thought of such a horrible death, but Lucia simply frowns. “Wow. Classic. Do you know who did it?”

“Not yet,” Alejandro replies. “Any ideas?”

She gives it some thought, but then Lucia shakes her head. “He was an asshole. But he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t usually piss off the type of people who would be likely to bury him alive in cement.”

Alejandro raises an eyebrow at her and she snorts. “I guarantee you that if Blake had realized Alana was your wife, he would never have laid a finger on her. He only goes for easy prey. Like me, once my family was all gone. Not that my dad gave much of a shit about me, but for the sake of pride he’d have skinned anybody who hurt me alive, just to save face. But without him? Yeah. Easy prey.” The way she refers to herself as easy prey and how accepting she is of that fact breaks my heart. I hold her hand tighter. I can’t even comprehend what this young girl has gone through in her life and how she is still this sweet, lovable kid after all of it. How did that side of her survive all the trauma? I already know the answer, and it’s because she’s incredibly strong as well. Stronger than she knows.

“Well, you’re far from easy prey these days,” Alejandro says with a wink. She rewards him with a smile, even though tears are still shining in her eyes.

“You never were, Lucia,” I add. “You survived the night your family were killed, when you were supposed to have died with them. You survived on the streets. You escaped from Blake even though you were alone and scared. You found a safe place for you and your baby, even though you had to lie to find it. You did whatever you needed to do, and you’re still here to tell the tale. Your father isn’t. The men who killed him aren’t. Blake isn’t. Who’s the weak one, honey? Who’s the easy prey now?”

Her smile gets bigger, and the tears start to dry.

“Yeah. You have a point. Want to watch the rest of the movie with us, Alejandro?” Lucia asks. “It’s really funny.”

I guess she’s reached her limit for the big emotions, and that’s okay. Alejandro looks at the screen, which is paused on a still of kids in a high school hallway. I know that he hates these kinds of films. In fact, he barely watches TV at all. I’m surprised when he sits back against the sofa and puts his arm around me. “Why not? I could do with a distraction,” he says, weariness and relief both present in his voice.

I sit back too and lean against him, placing one hand on his thigh and keeping hold of Lucia’s with the other. Against all odds considering the conversation we’ve just shared, within a few minutes the three of us are laughing at the movie. It’s a dumb movie, but it’s just what we need. I turn to Alejandro, looking up at him. He smiles down at me and squeezes my shoulder. It’s a simple thing. A simple moment. But it’s also perfect, and I don’t think I’ve ever loved him quite as much as I do right now.

Chapter

Fourteen

ALANA

It’s been almost two weeks since that first encounter with Dr. Kelly, when I accidentally discovered there might be a potential issue with our fertility. She carried out a few tests on the day and then called me back for some more as well. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the results, which has been harder than it sounds. I’ve done my best not to obsess. I’ve kept busy at the shelter doing the work I love, and I’ve spent lots of time with Lucia. She is proving herself to be a completely problem-free houseguest and is really good company, especially as Alejandro is so busy with work. I don’t blame him for that, but I do miss him.

But while I’ve not been obsessing about the tests, my low-level anxiety about the results has never completely gone away. I was reassured by Alejandro’s reaction, and by his total confidence that it will all work out for the best, but that doesn’t mean my mind has been put completely at ease. I’m reading by the pool when I finally get the call from Dr. Kelly telling me my results are in and asking if Alejandro and I can come in later this morning. I tell her that of course we can and I am looking forward to seeing her, which is maybe an exaggeration. I need to see her, I know, but I really wish I didn’t have to. I really wish I wasn’t in this situation at all.

I hold it together while I talk to her, but as soon as I put the phone down I almost throw up with nerves and anxiety. If she needs to see me straight away, it can’t be good news, right? Nobody ever wants to get that kind of call from a doctor, because it never means anything good. I’m not stupid. If everything was okay, she could have just put me out of my misery and told me over the phone.

No, it’s got to be bad. Or maybe I’m overreacting, overthinking. It’s a good clinic, catering to the elite of LA, so maybe this is standard? Maybe they like to give all news face to face, good or bad? Oh God, why is this happening…

My fingers tremble as I pick my cell back up and dial Alejandro.

“Hey, princesa,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. The sound would normally have me panting with longing.

“Hey. So, Dr. Kelly called. She has my results, and she’d like us to go in this morning if we can. Are you able to make it?”

“Of course. I’ll move some things around.”