Page 8 of All Your Lies
“And where’s my princess going?”
“Uh, dinner,” I blurt.
“I’d be proud of how well a lie rolls off your tongue if it wasn’t directed at me.”
I grimace. He’s always been a human lie detector.
“Sorry, Jenna and I are going out to a club.”
“I will arrange—”
“No, Dad. I don’t want any bodyguards. They always hover, and I end up getting a bunch of weird looks from people.”
The mere thought of people staring at me, especially with my dad’s overdressed guards standing beside me like silent sentries, fills me with crippling dread. I’ll be surrounded by watchful eyes, and any movement toward me will be met with an instant aggressive response. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.
It was a miracle I’m able to live by myself now. It took a combination of convincing, prayers, and almost a sacrifice to make it happen.
“Fine,” Dad says, resigned. “Bring a gun.”
“Only if it matches my dress,” I joke. Something my old self would have done. He doesn’t know how badly the incident six years ago fucked me up, and he never will.
Now, I never leave home without a gun or, at the very least, a knife on me, just in case. I know I should have a guard with me. It’s unwise not to, particularly for someone in my situation, but I sensed that if I did, I’d always be plagued by self-doubt. I’m usually able to tamp down the sense of worthlessness until it’s a mere whisper in the back of my mind, but then something likeyesterday happens, and I’m thrust back into the high waters with a brick on my chest and no salvation of shore in sight.
“Alexandria—”
“I miss you and Mom,” I say to throw him off. I don’t want to talk guards, my future capo title, or my failed arranged marriage.
“We miss you too. Only a little longer and I’ll have you back where you belong.”
My mood tanks at the thought of coming home. “I know.”
“I meant to ask,” Dad sighs before dropping his voice. “It seems Rosalinda went missing. Do you know anything about that?”
Silence is my only answer.
Dad lets out another resigned sigh. “Is she safe?”
One thing I admire about my dad is his constant, unwavering support and ability to empathize with Rosie’s situation. He vowed he would never coerce me into an arranged marriage, unlike the situation Rosie is facing, where her consent is not considered. He gave me the option to refuse when Marco was first brought up. It isn’t standard practice, but I appreciated his consideration.
“I-I don’t know. I haven’t heard from her yet.”
She was supposed to call me when she got to California. It was supposed to take around fifty-two hours, and she left two days ago, so she should call me soon.
“She’s made quite the mess. They’re ripping the city apart looking for her,” my dad says as I hear muffled voices on his line. “I have a meeting I need to get to. I just wanted to call and see how my princess was doing. Be safe, Alexandria.”
“I will. I love you.”
“Ti Amo.” I hear a click on his side of the phone.
I continue to drive with thoughts of my own future on my mind. My arranged marriage with Marco is over. Where doesthat leave me? I always thought he would be by my side to help in the categories I would fail in.
Now, I’m all by myself. But I’d rather be alone than with a cheater.
four
Alexa
As I walk through my door, the thought of canceling my plans with Jenna crosses my mind as I sink deeper into exhaustion. The aftermath of yesterday’s episode, combined with the late-night sleeping pill and early wake up, left me in a zombie-like state all day. Dinner in a candlelit bath with a book in hand sounds far more pleasurable than going to a club, but I suspect Jenna wouldn’t approve. Since bulldozing her way into my life months ago, she’s pulled me out of the house as much as possible. She’s the social butterfly to my antisocial moth.
