Page 79 of LA Reign

Yes, so will I.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

ALANA

Later that day, Lucia and I are sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. She’s eating a bowl of ice cream and I’m flicking through a magazine. It’s all totally normal…until the second Alejandro walks into the room. He throws his car keys onto the counter and stands leaning against it, glaring at me, arms folded across his chest.

Right. Here we go.

Lucia looks from him to me and back again. “I’m going to go to my room and have a look at my history homework,” she says, slipping off the stool. Wise girl.

“Goodnight, Lucia,” Alejandro says, his voice low and smooth, all his anger reserved for me. I know what this is about, and I’m as ready as I can be.

“Night guys,” she replies, making a quick exit. He waits a second until we hear her footsteps on the stairs, then turns back to me. I clear the ice cream bowl, which seems to irritate him even more.

He takes it from me and throws it into the sink. It smashes, predictably enough.

“Do you have something to tell me, princesa?” he growls.

“Well, by the look on your face, I assume Hugo has already told you that Bobby Conroy paid a visit to the shelter today. And before you start, I did try and get hold of you to tell you myself, but you seemed to be in meetings back to back.”

“Okay,” he says, closing the distance between us so he’s right in my face. “I accept that. What I don’t understand, though, is why you asked Hugo to leave the room. What the hell went on between you two while you were alone together?”

“We talked,” I say simply.

“Talked? If all you did was talk, why the fuck did you send Hugo out of the room?”

“Because I wanted to have a private conversation, Alejandro. You know what one of those is, don’t you? You get to have them all of the time. In your meetings, at work, out in the big wide world.”

He leans his face closer to mine, his breath warm against my skin. “Don’t push me, Alana. This is not about me.”

I meet his challenge. I have done nothing wrong, and I refuse to behave as though I have. He’s not even really giving me the chance to explain. “No? What is it about then? Because it feels very much about you.”

“Stop avoiding my question. What was so private that you couldn’t have Hugo in the room?”

I can’t help it. I roll my eyes. Shit! I’m in trouble now. That was an eye roll that even Lucia would be proud of.

He wraps his hand around my throat before I can even blink. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“Yes,” I say. I feel a slight pressure on my windpipe and a flash of heat between my thighs. What the hell is wrong with me? Was Bobby right? Do I like the danger?

He pushes me backwards until I’m pressed against the breakfast bar. He runs his thumb along my jawline, every touch like fire. “Answer the fucking question, Alana. What did you two talk about.”

“He was there because he’s making a donation. Plus, his corporation is going to fund my post for the next five years.”

He drops his hand to his side and frowns at me. “You’re a volunteer. Your post isn’t funded.”

“I know. But it should be. And having a properly funded post gives Kristen some protection in case I stop working there for some reason.”

“Good. Because that’s happening right away. You won’t be setting foot in that place again.”

“The hell I won’t,” I scowl at him. “I love that job.”

“This is not up for negotiation, Alana,” he snaps.

“I know it’s not. I’m not negotiating. Because I am not giving up my job.”