CHAPTER 86

CHAPTER 86
ALEC'S POV
“Now, you’ve got to tell Mommy all she has missed. I want to hear everything.” Carla said to her twins, who hung on to her words.

I ran my fingers through my hair and walked to the kitchen. I got myself a cup of water when all I wanted was Vodka. I wanted to get shitfaced and forget everything. I felt shitty. I felt like I’d been scrubbed raw with an iron sponge. I hated feeling like this, especially when there was a maniac out there, intent on ruining my family’s hard work.

Almost on cue, a text came in from my father – Call me, which was immediately followed by a call. I stifled a groan and picked it up.

“Father,” I said in greeting.

“Alex. You’re alive.” He noted and I nodded, “Yes, father.”

“I have missed our dinners. Now that your brother is around, we need to reinstate it.” He declared, and I shrugged, “Alright.”

“Be more careful. You are very important to the family. Also, I think it’s high time you find a wife. No more dillydallying. You didn’t want any of the women I found for you, so find someone for yourself. I’ve been hearing some rumours about you and that Ivanov girl. I don’t like it.” He articulated, and I gritted my jaw, holding in my response.

I could finally breathe properly when the call came to an end. I didn’t have a good relationship with my father. He was cruel to us as children, but now, it was obvious that he was trying to change, which made me feel even shittier. I was no one to deny him his absolution and atonement when I’d committed worse crimes.

I heard someone walk in and glanced up to see Vivian.

“You are hiding here. Carla is not speaking about you. Something maddening must have happened. I need the gist.” She winked at me, smiling widely.

I chuckled lightly at her excitement, “Sorry to break your heart, but I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Playing dumb, I see. You have no idea how alike you and Carla are.” She smiled at me as she walked to the fridge.

I ran my tongue over my teeth as I thought about it. I didn’t think Carla and I were the same.

“Carla is a better person than I am,” I alluded, and she glanced at me, our gaze holding for a moment. I was shocked to find something that looked like pity in hers. She knew something I didn’t, and it made me so uncomfortable.

“Cut yourself some slack.” She finally said and poured us two cups of orange juice.

I stared in amazement.

“You are not allergic, are you?” She frowned, and I chuckled, “I’m not. Just stunned by the overflowing quantity.”

She scoffed and waved me off, “You get used to it,” and pushed mine towards me. I nodded at her and drank it all at once. I realised I was starving, which was my cue to leave. I couldn’t be here.

“Thank you for keeping Carla safe, by the way, and for returning her in one piece, even though it looks like something happened.” She beamed at me, and I nodded, ignoring half the sentence, “You’re welcome. You did a good job with the children.”

“I love them. They’re very lovable, and it looks like they like you now. Alex is upstairs talking Carla’s ear off about you.” She winked, and I nodded slowly as warmth settled over me.

I loved Carla’s children. How could I not? In the weirdest of ways, I saw myself in them, in the ways they were, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I was projecting my loneliness and hopes.

“Well, this has been fun, Vivian. I’ll see you soon.” I rinsed the cup and returned it to the rack.

I walked out of the kitchen, knowing my soldiers were waiting for me. We needed a safer option in protecting Carla and the children. This house wouldn’t do, but I’d keep that to myself.

“You’re leaving just like that? Won’t you say goodbye to Carla and the children?” Vivian stopped me, and I exhaled, my head throbbing with a headache. I knew she was teasing me, but I couldn’t back down, not when I wanted a final glance at Carla before leaving.

I nodded and walked upstairs, noticing the stack difference between this home and mine. Mine was more of a house than a home, but this place was filled with children's laughter and beauty.

I knocked on her bedroom door and waited. There was no response, but I could hear muffled sounds inside, so I knocked again, harder this time.

“Alex! Alex! NO!” I heard Carla yell, and then, the door opened to reveal the culprit, smiling wide like stressing his mother was the best thing he could have done. He was also naked, which was probably why Carla had been yelling.

Carla was staring at me.

“It’s good to be back.” She smiled even though she was panting.

I nodded and said, “I just wanted to tell you I was leaving.”

“Oh? O – I thought you’d stay for breakfast.” She frowned at me, which ticked me off because she didn’t want me to be here, and yet she was asking me to stay? How did that make any sense?

“No. I have to meet up with Mila, then get to work. Take care of yourself.” I said with a note of finality, then bent down to Alex’s height.

He was still grinning, such a naughty boy.

“I’m Alex, too, but with a C. You’re a very troublesome boy, Alex. I was, too, as a boy, but cut your mother some slack, yeah?” I smiled at him, raising my fist so he could bump his with it. To my delight, he did, and I chuckled.

I ruffled his hair and stood up. “Can I say goodbye to Rosa?”

She nodded, and I walked into what I assumed was Rosa’s bedroom. I found her on the bed doing Pictionary. She beamed when she saw me and met me halfway.

“I’ll see you soon, little lady.” I gave her my pinky finger, and she hooked hers with it.

Ten minutes later, as I drove out of her home, I wondered how deep a grave I was digging.