Page 90 of Forbidden Hearts
“You will,” he says. “From now on, both you and her will be under my protection.”
A few minutes later, we arrive at The Den. The four of us stand at the entrance, talking to Ben. He tells us the doctor who works for the reapers can remove Santiago’s bullet.
“Might as well get this over with,” Santiago says. He follows the two reapers to a room at the side of the club. I’ve never stepped in it before, but I’ve heard reapers screaming in there. It’s their medic room.
“I’ll come with you,” Isabella says.
Why is she so invested in Santiago? She just met him.
“You’re not my mother,” Santiago grunts as he leaps to the reapers. “Stay with Alex.”
As they head to the medic room, Ben tells us to follow him to Jacob’s office. He says he’ll call off the reapers from there.
He and Alonzo begin to walk, but my body is frozen, anchored to the ground. I keep thinking that Jacob and his two enforcers will suddenly appear and take me again.
“It’s okay,” Alonzo says, holding my hand. “This will be the last time you set foot in this building, and I’ll be by your side the entire time.”
I squeeze Alonzo’s hand in mine, borrowing some of his strength. Isabella follows us into Jacob’s office, where a dark stain on the floor remains where Sammy’s body used to be.
As soon as Ben calls off the reapers at Mom’s house, I call her from my phone and tell her everything will be okay now.
“Are you sure, Alex?” she asks. “Are you sure those men won’t come back?”
“I’m sure, Mom,” I say. “I promise. And I’ll come visit you first thing tomorrow.”
“What about school?”
“It’s fine. School can wait. There’s someone special I want you to meet,” I smile, turning to Alonzo.
He smiles back at me.
???
It’s Tuesday morning, and I’m eager to see Mom.
Isabella arrived at Alonzo’s cabin a few minutes ago to do my makeup. We are trying to conceal the bruises on my face so Mom won’t freak out.
Santiago lingers in the room, exchanging glances with Isabella.
“Can we help you with something, Santiago?” I ask, looking in his direction.
Alonzo appears behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder. “The ladies are busy. Let’s go.”
With a scoff, Santiago disappears into the living with Alonzo. He limps as he walks away. Santiago got shot helping me, and I’m very grateful to him—which I already expressed verbally—but that doesn’t make him any less of a player. I saw how he treated that girl at the shooting range. I don’t want Isabella to end up as his next bootycall.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Isabella says. She applies powder to my cheek. “I can look out for myself.”
“You’re not the one that worries me,” I say. “It’s men like him.”
“Made men?” she asks with a smile. “That’s what men like him and Alonzo are called. I spent all night researching the mafia.”
“Alonzo is not in the mafia anymore. He retired from that life years ago.”
“Good,” she says. “That lifestyle is dangerous. Just look at what happened last night.”
“Last night wasn’t Alonzo’s fault,” I say. “I’m the one who went to work for Jacob in the first place. I should’ve known better than to work at a biker gang club. Jacob was thedangerous one. Alonzo is nothing more than a college professor now.”
“Are you sure about that?”