<b>Chapter </b><b>90 </b>
His expression was unreadable, but his eyes, sharp and icy,nded directly on the women
The taller woman faltered due to the pressing weight of his stare.
“We just…we wanted to speak to Miss Elton. That’s al
“About <b>what</b>?” <b>he </b>asked coolly, which caused the women to shift ufortably.
“Please,” the shorter one tried. “Mr. <b>Garcia</b><b>, </b>we’re sorry. We really are. We just want our lives luck
Alejandro tilted his head. “You want her to undo your consequences? Because you think you deserve it?”
One of them opened her mouth. “Please, Mr Garcia,”
“No,” he cut in, sharp and absolote. “You don’t get to say my name.”
They flinched.
“You made a choloe. A very public one to hit my woman,” he growled,ying <b>emphasis </b>on my woman, which caused Nivera’s breath to hitch
How was he able to say such <b>things </b><b>easily</b>? The way he said it so convincingly was starting to blur the lines between what was real and what wasn’t
“We made <b>a </b>mistake,” the shorter woman whispered. “We were wrong”
tes, Alejandro said smoothly. “You were. And now you’re living with it. That’s called ountability.”
The second woman looked to Nivera. “Please…
But Nivera only smiled faintly as she grabbed Alejandro’s hands, intertwining it with hers, ying along with him.
“I’m sorry.
but whatever my boyfriend says goes, and he isn’t on board with forgiving you.”
As she spoke, she felt Alejandro squeeze her hand–giving her an amused before returning his gaze to the women.
Good, two could y that game. If she wasn’t going to get him to stop making her heart race <b>with </b>his words and actions, the least she could do was get him to feel the same way–or at least attempt, as Alejandro had no heart.
“I suggest you find somewhere else to beg. This chapter is closed.”
“You’re destroying our lives,” the taller one cried. “We were stupid, but does that mean we deserve to lose everything?”
Alejandro took a single step closer.
“Yes,” he said simply. “Because you tried to humiliate the wrong woman.”
The women stared at him, stunned. One tried to speak, but Alejandro cut her off with a <b>nce</b>.
<b>“</b>Leave.”
Neither of them moved as they looked at Nivera, hoping she would have mercy on them
“Now”
This time, they listened
They backed away, humiliated and broken, and disappeared down the block
<b>And </b>with that, he turned to Nivera. “Ready to go?”
She nodded, feeling a strange weight lift off her chest.
As they walked away, Alejandro gently ced a hand on the small of her back.
“You really don’t let things go,” she remarked. “You didn’t have to do that, your know”
“I know,” he said. “But I wanted to–and no, I don’t let things go when ites to you.”
She stared at him for a moment longer, something warm flickering in her chest. He wasn’t perfect. He was terrifying when he wanted to be.
But she fell safe<b>. </b>
And that… that was dangerous in its own right.
Because deep down, a part of her liked it. Liked being someone he protected–liked being the one he chose
“Thank you<b>.</b>” She exhaled slowly
Alejandro looked down at her, his mask slipping just slightly “Anytime, Cabezota.”
And this time, when she smiled, it wasn’t forced.
The doors of the sleek ck SUV clicked shut behind them, muting the city’s noise
<b>Inside</b>, the silence stretched–thick with unspoken words
The soft hum of the engine kicked in, but Alejandro didn’t speak.
His hand restedzily on the wheel <b>as </b>he navigated through the streets with the kind of ease that came from years of control.
Meanwhile, Nivera sat in the passenger seat, her thoughts buzzing far louder than the hum of the engine
She stared out the window, thest echoes of the confrontation still ying in her head
She nced at Alejandro and he appeared too rxed<b>. </b>Like he hadn’t just ruined two people’s lives without breaking a sweat
“You’re quiet,” Alejandro finally said, ncing at her.
“Just thinking. Stop staring and keep your eyes on the road,” she murmured.
“I’m admiring<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b>corrected smoothly.
She rolled her eyes. “Eyes on the road!” Thankfully, he fistened.
“What you did,” she said slowly, “back there with those women… It was <b>a </b>lot.”
“Because they deserved it,” <b>he </b>responded, “Do you <b>think </b>it was too much?”
She didn’t answer immediately. Part of her wanted to say yes. That it had been cruel. Excessive. Unforgiving.
But the other part? The one that had felt humlisted in that boutique, the <b>one </b>that had swallowed shame and silence and walked out pretending it didn’t hurt?
That part was still rejoicing.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I should say yes. But i’m not sure I want to
Alejandro made a soft sound that was almost augh. “Honest. I like that”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He turned briefly to look at her, and his smile faded slightly, reced by something quieter. “You didn’t deserve what they did to you!
“I know.”
“They do too, now,”
“Do you always go that far? Destroying people!”
“Hmm,” he said, eyes fixed on the road. “But only for you.”
And there it was again. That tone. That certainty. That terrifying sincerity that made her pulse trip over itself.
<b>Nivera </b>looked <b>back </b>out the window, swallowing down the wave of feelings. He made it sound so simple. So easy. Protecting her, defending her, ttening
whoever stood in her way.
But it wasn’t simple.
It wasn’t safe, she was bing more and more dependent on him. What would happen if one day he decided that he was bored <b>and </b>didn’t need her to pretend to be his girlfriend?
That was a day the dreaded
“You know that most people would ve just let it go, right?”
“I’m not most people.”
“<b>No</b>, you’re really not,” she agreed
He grinned, “Don’t sound to dismayed, Caberota. You’re the one who keeps crawling back.”
“<b>No</b>, I’m not!” She eximed. “You’re the one who is keeping me close to your
“Because you’d be lost without me,” he stated.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I should say yes. But I’m not sure I want to.”
Alejandro made a soft sound that was almost augh. “Honest. I like that.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He turned briefly to look at her, and his smile faded slightly, reced by something quieter. “You didn’t deserve what they did to you
“I know.<b>” </b>
“They do too, now.”
“Do you always go that far? Destroying people?”
“Hmm,” he said, eyes fixed on the road. “But only for you.”
And there it <b>was </b>again. That tone. That
Icertainty. That terrifying sincerity that made her pulse trip over itself.
Nivera looked back out the window, swallowing down the wave of feelings. He made it sound so simple. So easy. Protecting her, defending <b>her</b><b>, </b>ttening whoever stood in her way.
But it wasn’t simple.
It wasn’t safe; she was bing more and more dependent on him. What would happen if one day he decided that he was bored and didn’t need her to pretend to be his girlfriend?
That was a day she dreaded.
“You know that most people would’ve just let it go, right?”
“I’m not most people.”
“No, you’re really not,” she agreed.
He grinned. “Don’t sound so dismayed, Cabezota. You’re the one who keeps crawling back.”
“No, I’m not!” She eximed. “You’re the one who is keeping me close to you!”
<i>“</i>Because y
you’d be lost without me,” he stated.