Bound by my blood

Chapter thirty-four

Alexa's p.o.v:

I stand against the wall, blending into the shadows, using the dim lighting to my advantage. My heartbeat pounds in my chest as I listen to the low murmur of conversation between the two men. The tension is palpable, and I feel my pulse quicken as I wait for the right moment to step forward.

Jax, who hasn't left my side since the attack, suddenly takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently. The contact grounds me, and I give him a grateful look, a silent thank you for his steady presence. He doesn't say anything, but his protective grip speaks volumes.

I know I'm about to face the men who have dominated my life in ways I never expected. But the alliance... I've convinced myself that's all I need. He doesn't remember me. I just need to keep moving forward, to keep everything at arm's length.

I inhale deeply, trying to calm the nerves that are threatening to undo me, before stepping out from the shadows. The sharp click of my heels echoes through the space as I move towards them, and both of them whip around to face me.

Vincenzo, ever the Sicilian Don, has a gun pointed at me in an instant. My breath hitches, and my mind flashes back to the hospital room, where he had been searching for his gun—dangerous, intense, and terrifyingly familiar.

I instinctively raise my hands in surrender, trying to show him that I'm not here to fight, but his gaze is locked onto me, calculating, searching. Slowly, he lowers the gun when he sees it's me standing there. His eyes trace down my body, and I feel the weight of his scrutiny—dressed in a revealing black, lacy bralette and tight suit pants, paired with one of Nico's oversized suit jackets. I didn't care about the way I looked, but the flicker of darkness that crosses Vince's eyes doesn't go unnoticed.

"Gentlemen," I greet them stiffly, as if I'm at a business meeting rather than standing here with two of the most dangerous men in my life. The words taste foreign on my tongue, as I realize how much I've changed. I don't know how to act around them anymore.

"Alexandria," Angelo smiles, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around me in an embrace. I hesitate for a moment, unsure, before my arms instinctively find their way around his neck. It's not the warmth I once had, but for the first time in a long while, it feels somewhat familiar.

Unlike Jax, who has frozen, glaring daggers at Vince from behind me, Angelo pulls away with a friendly grin. Vince raises an eyebrow at Jax's reaction, a ghost of a smirk playing at his lips, though his posture remains tense.

"I've missed you too," I reply with a half-smile, trying to hide the discomfort that builds in my chest, "Now come on, it's not safe around here."

Angelo nods in agreement, but Vince's voice cuts through the tension.

"Where are we going? How do we know this isn't a trick?" he asks, his tone suspicious, his eyes narrowing as he assesses the situation.

"What would be the point in tricking someone as stupid as you?" Jax snarls, stepping protectively in front of me, pushing me slightly behind him. I see the way his posture stiffens, ready for a confrontation, but I can feel the tension in the air—it's dangerous to insult Vince, and Jax knows that.

Vince sneers, taking a threatening step closer, "Are you sure? If you got rid of me, you could have my wife all to yourself."

The words hit harder than they should. I stiffen, my heart twisting painfully. His voice drips with something bitter and dark, and I can almost feel the weight of his anger behind it.

"That's enough!" Angelo snaps, his voice sharp, as he notices my shocked expression, "Stop behaving like children and let's go."

Jax grumbles a brief apology to me, and then, with no further words, interlaces his fingers with mine as we lead the way back to where we hid the car.

When we reach the vehicle, Jax opens my door, and I slip into the passenger seat. He leans down, his forehead pressing against mine briefly as he whispers his apology again. His words are soft, genuine, and I nod in acknowledgment before he goes around to the driver's side.

Vince and Angelo stand by the car, their expressions unreadable. I roll my eyes in frustration at their hesitation.

"Open the door, then," I snap, unable to keep the irritation from my voice. "We don't have all day."

It's like my words snap them back into reality. They climb into the back of the car, and once the doors are shut, Jax presses down on the accelerator, the car jolting to life.

The silence in the car is suffocating. No one knows what to say. How could they? What can anyone say after everything that's happened?

Trying to ease the tension, I turn on the radio, letting the music fill the air. It's a small attempt to make this feel less like a hostage situation and more like a group of people trying to survive.

Without realizing it, I begin to sing along softly, the familiar lyrics filling the space. By the time the song finishes, we've pulled up to an abandoned house, one I had acquired under a false alias. It's our safe house—our hideaway—and the only place that feels remotely like sanctuary right now.

"Stay here, I'm going to check the perimeter," Jax says as I go to open the door, his tone commanding. But before I can step out, he gently pushes me back into the seat, shaking his head.

"I can help too," I protest, my voice strained as I glance at him, my eyes pleading. I can't sit here with him alone. Not after everything. Jax doesn't relent, though.

"No, stay here. Vincenzo can protect you," he replies, his voice firm as he gives me no choice. When he realizes I'm not going to argue further, he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my brow. Then, he and Angelo move off in opposite directions, guns drawn, their movements sharp and practiced.

I watch them disappear into the darkness, the silence creeping in again. My muscles tense as I sit in the car, my eyes flicking to Vince. He's watching me intently, his gaze piercing, like he's trying to unravel every part of me.

"Guaio" he says finally, his voice rough and frustrated. "Talk to me."

I don't answer him. I won't. Instead, I keep my gaze averted, refusing to look at him, knowing that if I do, I might crumble.

Vince reaches over, his large hand capturing mine in a familiar touch. For a moment, I let myself savour it, letting the warmth of his hand envelop mine, before I remind myself of the cruel truth. We aren't together anymore. His family despises me. It was my fault he was shot. He forgot me.

I yank my hand away, the sudden motion sharp. I turn to face him, my teeth grinding together as my fists ball at my sides, my body trembling with restrained rage.

"Baby," he sighs, his voice softening as he reaches for me again. I press myself into the car door, my eyes hard as I stare at him, refusing to let him come any closer.

"Don't touch me," I snarl, my tone harsh, the words like a slap to his face. His body flinches, but he doesn't pull back.

We fall back into silence, his eyes flicking to me every so often, studying me in a way that makes my skin crawl. His jaw clenches and unclenches, and I can feel the tension building between us, thick and suffocating.

When Jax and Angelo finally return, signalling that the coast is clear, I practically jump out of the car, my heart racing. I don't even look back as I rush up the three levels of spiralling stairs, finally reaching the attic—the safe room that I've claimed for myself, the only place that feels even remotely like home right now.

I slam the door behind me and lean against it, my breath shaky as I try to steady my racing thoughts.

All I wanted was peace. But peace, it seems, is the one thing I can never have.