Page 71 of LA Reign

“We’d had an argument,” I reply. That isn’t important right now, and I refuse to go into detail.

“About what exactly?” Carlos persists. “About the business?”

“No. It was personal,” I reply dismissively.

He scowls at me. “Your wife again, perhaps?” he spits. He looks like he’s about to go on one of his tirades, and I feel like launching myself over the desk at him.

“Choose your next words carefully, Uncle. Because if you ever call my wife a puta again, I will cut out your fucking tongue,” I say at him. I don’t even raise my voice.

He closes his mouth, and I see Jax smirking from the corner of my eye.

“What do you need us to do? How can I help?” Phillipe asks, keen to change the subject.

“Head back to San Diego and see what’s been going on there. Maybe there’s something he’s involved in there that we’re missing?”

Phillipe nods his agreement, staring at Carlos. There’s a wild energy radiating from him, and I can tell Phillipe’s worried about leaving him behind.

“Until we find out who was responsible, trust no-one outside of this room,” I warn the three of them and they all nod in solemn agreement. “Whatever any of us find out, we share only with each other. Understood?” Carlos seems to settle, and nods in my direction before he gets up to leave.

“I’ll go call the car around so we can pay Joey Ortega a visit,” Jax says before he leaves the room.

Phillipe hangs back, and I suspect I know what is on his mind. “Carlos is just upset about your father,” he says with a shake of his head. “Go easy on him.”

“He’s still in one piece, isn’t he? I did go easy on him, but I won’t be spoken to like a dog. And I will never tolerate him disrespecting my wife. That said, Uncle, I hear what you are saying. Tempers are frayed. Things are said. But I know we are still family.”

My Uncle Phillipe is a classic middle child—always the peacemaker, trying to smooth things over.

“Thank you, Alejandro. If anything happened to Mateo, it is Carlos I worry most about. He has no-one but us, and he thinks the world of your father. I fear for his sanity if he loses him.”

“I know that too, Uncle. Papa has already spoken to me about it, but he’s going to be fine, and we’re going to find whoever is responsible for this.”

He nod, and embraces me, hugging me fiercely in his arms.

“You are a good boy, Alejandro. Your father chose wisely in making you his successor.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” I tell him, sincerely. It means a lot to me to have his support. I have a feeling I’m going to need all the help I can get.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

ALEJANDRO

It’s a sweltering hot day, and the sun is shimmering from the tarmac as Jax and I step out of the car. We’re at the shipyard, and my men are holding Joey Ortega in one of the many containers we can see stretched out before us. The Montoyas own a considerable amount of them, as well as several key shipyard employees. I have no doubt that our privacy will be respected.

Inside, Joey is strapped to a chair, and as per my instructions, he is unharmed. Physically at least.

“Buenos días, Joey,” I say as I approach him.

“Alejandro,” he replies, his voice trembling.

Jax walks to the table nearby and picks up a pair of long-nosed pliers before passing them to me.

“You can leave now, gentlemen,” I say to the three men who have been holding Joey for me. They nod and exit the container without a word.

I hold up the pliers, and Joey looks at them before he pisses himself in the chair. He was scared before. Now he’s terrified.

I smile at Jax, who shakes his head with silent amusement.