The Law is Hard

Chapter 16

Alec's POV

I fumble with my cell phone as I hastily call her back. After a few rings, she picks up, "Hi, Alec."

"Izzy, what's wrong?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.

"I wish I could say nothing, big brother. But... I don't know... I could be making a big –" She begins and breaks off hesitantly.

Izzy is normally so confident, it worries me to hear her indecisiveness.

"Just tell me Izzy," I order, but hopefully not unkindly. "Whatever it is we'll get through it together."

I begin quickly packing up my things and powering down my computer as I see the time and realize I need to get going to catch the subway to Santiago's.

"Yes, of course," she takes a deep breath. I can picture her squaring her shoulders. Despite being quite short, she always exhibits so much strength. "Well, I suppose Magnus Bane is now one of your clients?"

I open my mouth to answer, my phone balanced between my cheek and shoulder as I shrug on my backpack and heft my briefcase.

She plows on before I can say anything, "which by the way I am so mad you didn't tell me! You meet the most famous fashion icon in New York, you should've called me immediately!"

I chuckle softly as I push through the front doors of the law firm and walk out onto the sidewalk lit by streetlights. Despite the late hour, there is still plenty of traffic in cars and on foot.

"I—" I begin.

"Although, it'd be just like you to not even know your client was famous until it was too late," she muses.

"Well—"

"Or even why he was famous!" She exclaims with a laugh.

Hearing her laugh makes me smile. Just wait until I tell you that I have a date with that most famous fashion icon of New York, I think. The thought fills my stomach with excited butterflies. However, I haven't forgotten her uncharacteristic uncertainty at the beginning of the call.

"Izzy, is this why you called?" I ask. I want to continue asking questions or better yet spill my guts with the exciting news of my romantic life, but I know it is better to give her space and time to say what she needs to.

There is a careful pause. "No," she says more subdued and sighs softly. "Alec, I think people are starting to put together your identity, like there are speculations that Alec Wood is really the lost Gideon Lightwood."

The words are like a punch in the gut. I stumble and grab on to the railing outside the subway stairs. People brush past me but I barely notice their annoyed glares.

I have worked so hard at keeping my identity a secret while still staying in the same city to look after Izzy and Max. Even Jace. I had hoped that I would be able to pass under the radar and maybe be able to reunite with my siblings one day. That I would hard so if they ever needed anything from me or if Maryse kicked one of them out, I would be able to help them. Maybe even that my mother would see how hard I have been working and be...I don't know, proud? Forgiving? Understanding? It was a foolish hope.

I start to see all my hopes disappear.

With stiff legs I continue around the railing and make my way down the subway stairs.

"Alec!"

"Yes," my voice sounds strained.

"Big brother," Izzy's voice is so full of sympathy it hurts. "It's going to be okay."