Chapter 14 Intel !
Alex’s POV
The minute I close the door, Mother’s voice echoes up the stairs.
Dios, women and their theatrics.
I take the stairs one at a time, Luca walking quietly by my side.
“Luca, why the hell does my mother scare you so damn much? We grew up together, for Dio’s sake grow a pair!” I growl as we descend to confront the chaos in the foyer.
Luca sighs. “She is a force to be reckoned with when she’s angry, Alex. Only you can calm that woman down.”
I smirk. “Somebody has to be able to do it since Father is gone.”
I feel a pang of sadness when I think about my father and how he died, but I shift my thoughts aside. Now is not the time for that. Feelings make you confused and weak.
I compose my face into a tight mask as I reach the bottom of the marble staircase.
“Alex!” Mother snaps in her impatient voice.
Merde!
“Welcome back, Mother.” I give her a kiss on each cheek before stepping back and giving a nod to my sister, Isabella.
Mother stands in her full height, wearing a long black fitted gown, her hair in a perfect updo, her eyes filled with impatience. Beside her, Isabella wears a deep velvet silk gown, her expression doe-like and fragile, as if one more word and she’ll break into tiny pieces.
“Mama, how was your trip? I hope-"
She waves her gloved hand in the air, cutting me off. “Don’t try and Mama me, Alexandre! Who is the whore you camped in the guest bedroom?”
Everyone freezes. I feel my jaw tighten as anger rises in my chest, but I push it down, trying to respond calmly. After all, she is still the matriarch of this family, even if I am the head now. This home belongs to me.
“Mama, lower your voice,” I growl, looking around at the maids littered about, watching the whole fiasco. Great. Just great. This will give them enough to gossip about for weeks. I hope Alessia didn’t hear that. I refuse to think about why I would care if she did.
Not now, Alex. Focus.
“Mama, this is not the right place for this conversation.”
“Of course it is!” she spits, her eyes blazing. “Why would you bring in a stranger to stay under our roof without doing a background check?”
I keep quiet, trying to calm the raging storm in my heart. Isabella folds her arms across her chest.
“Mama’s right, brother,” she adds softly. “It’s not safe. We don’t know if she’s a friend or foe.”
I give her a look. “Isabella, be quiet.”
Inside, my anger is steadily rising, and it’s getting harder to hide it. How dare my mother question me like this? Alessia flashes in my mind her eyes fierce and unyielding as I held her chin and she pulled away. How can anyone think she’s a threat?
Mama steps closer.
“Tell me why you trusted her enough to bring her in? What is her story? Who is she? Has she bewitched you somehow? I just left for a week in the Alps and I come back to hear you brought a stranger into our home.”
“Mama, last I checked, I am still the king of this castle. Watch it.” My voice sharpens to steel.
“Then why won’t you explain?” she shouts. “Tell me why you carried a stranger into our home in your arms a girl who doesn’t look fit to even lick our shoes, much less sleep on our sheets! What kind of man are you becoming?”
An eerie silence follows as my anger finally reaches its crescendo. I take a deep breath before speaking.
“Her name is Alessia, and she is mine.”
I say louder, “Mine! Under my protection,” my voice even and low, “and she will remain in this house until I say otherwise.”
Marguerite scoffs. “She is under your protection? Why? My son the savior,” she mutters.
My hand comes down hard on the entrance console.
“Mama, that’s enough!”
The vase on it trembles and crashes to the floor with a loud bang. Everyone goes silent.
I glance at the maids and guards. “Get out. All of you. Now!”
They scatter like frightened chickens. Once we are alone, I gesture toward my office. “Follow me. Now.”
They follow quietly, their heels clicking on the marble tiles.
Inside my office, I shut the door and settle into my chair, leaning back. “Sit down,” I tell them.
Once they’re seated, my mother, still unrelenting, starts, “I don’t think it’s right for you to- ”
I raise my hand. “Shut up, Mother, and listen. I will only tell you once.”
She draws in a deep breath, as if I punched her, and nods her head. Finally, she shuts up.
“Her name is Alessia Molano. She used to work as a maid for the Serranos.”
She exclaims, “Dios! Alex, what have you-”
I wave my hand again. “Let me finish, Mother. You’ve had your say.”
She leans back quietly.
“She was the keeper of La Rosa, and it was stolen under her watch.”
They both gasp, their eyes wide with surprise. We all know my father died trying to capture it. We all know how important it is.
“I believe she is the key, and she will be here until she leads me to it.”
“Oh Dios, Alex, she is tainted with Sirrano blood. You cannot trust her.”
I shake my head once. “She is not. I am a good judge of character.”
“But Alex,” Isabella snaps softly, “how can you trust her? What if she did take it?” Her words hang in the office like a curse.
Mama turns to me. “Isabella is right. What if?”
I hesitate. Managgia. I can’t let them doubt her, not even for a bit, or they’ll make her life here miserable.
I slam the table. “She didn’t take it! She was framed, and she barely made it out alive. Now, end of discussion. The both of you will be civil to her as she helps me find the jewel.”
Isabella pouts as if she wants to add something, but I give her a cold glare, and she shuts up. Good girl.
She doesn’t know I can tell it’s jealousy driving her. Silly girl. You’re like a sister to me even if not by blood. You do not set me ablaze, not like a slender redhead waiting above with eyes like the dark blue sea.
Alex, focus.
I turn my gaze toward my mother again. “I’m not stupid. Alessia is the key to La Rosa.”
They both stare at me as if I’ve grown two heads.
“How do you mean, Alex?” Mother leans forward, her eyes filled with questions.
Before I can answer, my phone rings in my pocket. Oh Dios, thank God. I was starting to develop a headache talking to these women.
I pick up the call quickly. It’s John, the guy leading the team hunting Gio. This better be good news.
“Start talking.”
“Boss,” his voice comes through the line, “we’ve found Gio. He was spotted camping near the east docks, close to our old shipyard.”
My heart races with excitement. Ah, finally -a lead.
“Do not initiate contact,” I bark into the phone, already grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair.
“Alex!” my mother cries, standing up and trying to block the door. “We are not done talk-"
“Mama, I need to go right now.” I put my phone in my pocket. “We found someone who was working in the Sirrano household on the day of the robbery. Maybe he can shed some light.”
“Are you sure you want to pursue this?” My mother asks, worry in her eyes.
I face her, shocked she would even ask. “You know how important this is. My father might have started it, but I’ll make sure I finish it.” She gasps softly, moving out of the way and holding on to Isabella’s hands for support. But I don’t stall.
I walk out, finding Andre and Luca waiting in the foyer.
“Keep them all home. Tempers are high. No one lays a hand on Alessia. Lucia should stay with her at all times.”
Andre nods. “Yes, sir.”
“Luca, let’s go,” I mutter.
He grabs his jacket and falls in behind me. I glance once at my mother, still holding Isabella like a lifeline, then I walk out, slamming the marble double doors behind me.
If the intel is correct, and Gio is alive, then the tides are about to turn in our favor.