Page 69 of Forbidden Hearts

Mom!

I sit up and ask Alonzo what day it is. I have to be at The Den by Sunday night if I want to keep Mom safe.

“It’s still Saturday,” he says. “Almost midnight.”

“And the girls?”

“I told them I would take care of you,” he says. “I brought you here and asked Santiago to take a look at you. He has some medical experience.”

“My brother likes to exaggerate,” Santiago says. “It’s nothing too fancy, just a few things I learned on the job.”

Brother? Is he Alonzo’s brother?

And by job, does he mean mafia stuff? Is Alonzo’s entire family involved with the mafia?

That doesn’t matter right now. I have to get home and figure out what needs to happen next. I need to get ready to return to The Den.

“I should probably get home,” I say.

“It’s fine,” Alonzo says. “You can spend the night here. It wouldn’t hurt to have Santiago around, just in case you have another panic attack. Do you remember what caused it?”

I shake my head.

Alonzo studies my face. He doesn’t believe me, but it’s not like I can tell him what’s going on.

“I’ll stay, but can I be alone for a bit?” I ask. I pray that he won’t try to pry information out of me because I don’t know what to tell him.

“I would rather stay here with you,” he says.

“I…” my voice grows heavy. I’m about to start crying any minute now, and I want him and his brother out of the room before that happens. I want to cry alone and let it all out. I know I’ll feel better after I release the tears bubbling behind my eyes. “Please.”

Alonzo sighs.

“Fine. But Santiago and I will be right outside in the living room. Shout if you need anything.”

I nod. That’s the only thing I can do now. My voice is gone.

Alonzo looks at me for a few more seconds before he and his brother leave the room. As soon as they’re gone, I pull the bedsheets over my face and let loose. Somehow, I have turned into my mom, crying in silence so others won’t hear.

I cry until I fall asleep.

Chapter 33

Alex

“Alex.” Alonzo lightly nudges me awake. He smiles and places a cup of coffee on the nightstand. “I feel bad for waking you up, but it’s almost noon. You need to eat something.”

“Noon? Shit!” I sit up on the bed and force myself to drink a few sips of coffee. The warm liquid feels nice in my throat.

“Slow down,” Alonzo says. He pauses to look at me and says, “Your eyes weren’t red last night. Are you feeling sick?”

I cradle the cup of coffee in my hands, wondering what bullshit story I’m going to tell Alonzo this time. I have grown tired of lying to him. It feels wrong and gross.

“It’s my mom,” I say. “She hasn’t been feeling well these past couple of days.”

He studies me. I feel like he’s going to spot the lie in my face. And why does he have to be so damn handsome?

He grips my chin and pulls me in for a kiss. His lips are warm and have the lingering taste of sweet coffee. “Is there anything I can do to help? I have money, I can fly in experts from all over the country.”

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