Chapter 29

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The loft was an apartment in the middle of the city. It had a great view from the top of the sixteen-story building and it was decorated really nicely. It didn't look like anyone actually lived in it, the couches looked brand new and there wasn't much wear to anything around the house. It was spotless though, so I assumed someone cleaned it regularly.

I stayed back as Sergio fell into conversation with his mother, Clyde and his brother. It was weird; it was like they were two completely different people now. They didn't seem aggressive, threatening or menacing at all. They just seemed like men visiting family.

I felt like I was intruding so I walked into the kitchen because that's where I heard frying coming from.

"Kent!" I greeted, both relieved and happy to see him.

"Hey, Alex." I smirked at him as I leaned against the counter crossing my arms. "What?" he asked.

"You know what." I replied.

"Shut up about that." He hissed glancing towards the hallway wide-eyed. My smirk grew.

"Come on, Kent. She has to know that you want some in order for you to get some." I wiggled my brows.

"My God, Alexander, shut up!" He hissed shaking his head at me. "Make yourself useful and go set the table." I laughed.

"Kent!" Kent's grin grew as Mrs Marquez walked in and hugged him. I gave him a thumbs up and did some thrusting movements making his eyes widen as he rapidly waved me off causing me laugh more as I walked out while David joined them in the kitchen.

"What are you so happy about?" Sergio asked when I walked back into the living room.

"I'm not." I said, "Kent said to set up the table...tell me where it is." He chuckled walking into a room beside the kitchen.

I followed him into the dining room. It was big, what's more is that it had a massive window on one side that overlooked most of the city. I spent a few seconds trying to spot Claire's house since I could see our school and she lived closest to it.

"Who chose this apartment for you?" I asked.

"I chose it myself." He replied. I gave him a flat look. "Kent." He rolled his eyes and I chuckled. "But – but I decorated it." He said.

"Sure you did." I said taking plates from the cupboard as he grabbed some glasses.

"Okay, Kiera and Sasha helped, but it was mostly me!" I laughed nodding as he chuckled.

"I believe you; I mean your room's pretty cool too." I said.

"I could give some pointers on your house; I've heard it looked like children lived there." He said. I was reminded that he sent people to break into my house.

"It's not -! Well, okay, but it looks good when Jordan's not drunk and home alone." I said. We laughed.

"You two having fun?" I stopped laughing as Sergio and I looked at Clyde who walked in holding a bowl, a smirk on his face.

"Alexander's just trying to explain his house."

"Oh, that place is bland, and a mess." Clyde frowned. "It almost makes it impossible to accept that you're gay." He joked.

I frowned as Sergio laughed before I shook my head smiling. "Sorry, I skipped the part where I was supposed to become interested in fashion, interior design, and being flamboyant." I said.

"I think you skipped the part of life where you're supposed to have fun." Sergio looked at me as he fixed a plate beside me.

"I have fun – had fun. And then you happened." I said.

"And you had so much more fun." He winked at me. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Please, stop." Sergio and I laughed as Clyde frowned at us.

Everyone else joined us in the dining room and we began eating while we talked, well, I was just watching everyone. I smiled and added to the conversation occasionally, but I mostly just took everything in.

I guess I could say I felt a little envious of Sergio. I mean, he was bad. He did bad things. Generally he was a bad person, but before I met him I could have sworn I was good. I helped people and animals all the time, I usually did the right thing, mostly lived the right way. I thought good things happened to good people. Karma.

So... why could Sergio have dinner with his family and I couldn't?

"So, Alex. How do you know Sergio?" David's head turned to me.

"I..." I looked at Sergio uncertainly.

"He works with us. How did your exams go?" Sergio tried to change the subject.

"I got through. What work?" David pushed.

"Our work. You got through? Why doesn't that sound good?"

"Maybe because it's not music? It went great, Sergio." The brothers chuckled. "I know it's hard to, but do you like this idiot?" David's focus turned back to me.

"David!" his mother smacked his arm as Sergio frowned at him. I laughed actually glad she had distracted him.

"If you can look past his massive ego, his bad attitude and his many, many – many flaws, I'm sure you'll like him."

"David." Sergio frowned after he hissed through his grit teeth at his younger brother. David just stuck his tongue out earning another smack from his mother and I laughed with Kent and Clyde. They were all entertaining to watch, but it was making me feel worse.

"I heard you –" Kent began but Clyde and Sergio's phones simultaneously went off and I think somehow everyone guessed it was work.

"It's Cooper." Clyde said glancing at his phone.

"Ben. They're together, I'll deal with it." Clyde nodded and Sergio answered his phone as he got up.

Everyone casually resumed conversation like this was a usual occurrence but I kept my eyes on the opening that led to the hall. A few seconds later, Sergio walked into view slipping his phone into his pocket.

"We have to go. I'll try to come by tonight." Sergio kissed his mother's cheek and gave David's shoulder a pat while Clyde got up. "Alexander, come."

I nodded getting up confused. I was sure I didn't have anything more to learn, not right now at least. Oh. The party. Crap, they remembered.

Great.

"It was nice meeting you Mrs Marquez, David."

"See you later." She smiled.

"He'll be busy later." Clyde replied.

I nodded in agreement and was shocked when I got pulled into a tight hug by Sergio's mother before David hugged me too.

"Then we'll see you tomorrow." She said. I gave her a smile.

I followed Sergio and Clyde out, a little relieved to be out of there. It was great, but... I don't know. Sometimes the same thing happened when I was with Jordan's family; the only difference is I didn't feel like I should deserve it more than him – with Sergio, I just felt like it was completely unfair. Yes, Jordan's family felt a lot like family to me, but they weren't.

"The party doesn't start until eight." I said glancing at my watch. It was only 5 PM.

"I know." Sergio replied.

What? He didn't trust me with them? Well, I didn't trust him either but I had reason not to.

"I just can't miss the opportunity to put you into a corner so I can watch you glare at everyone and everything again." I frowned as Sergio smirked.

"I can go four hours early, it is at Shiloh's cousin's house, I've hung out there before." I said.

"Where's the fun in that for me?" He replied.

I sighed climbing into the back of his car while I heard Clyde chuckle.

-----

We walked into the factory and I kept cautiously glancing around. Stupid because there was no way someone would openly be walking around with a bomb. Sergio and Clyde greeted some of the factory workers before we took a flight of stairs underground. I followed them through hallways, Ben and some guy joined us somewhere along the line.

"Alexander, in here." Clyde shoved a door open, Sergio, Ben and the guy kept walking and pushed a door open. As soon as it opened I heard a scream and I froze.

"Was – Is-is that Kyle?" I stuttered in shock.

I didn't get an answer, I got Clyde shoving me into the room and shutting the door in my face.

"Sit down." Cooper frowned at me.

I listened to him because there were four other men around us like I was some sort of threat. I glanced at the door. Why is he here? Did he plant a bomb? Were they torturing him to find out where he put it? Oh God...

I pulled my phone from my pocket as they began to mutter to each other and I texted Claire asking her if she was still going to that party, trying to distract myself. She responded with a 'yes' and then asked about the guy Shiloh had mentioned.

He wasn't joking.

'It's just some guy.' I set back. I watched Cooper and the others talk as I waited for her to text back. my phone buzzed and I looked back down at it.

'The taxi driver? He seems nice. He's really hot.' Seems. 'Are you bringing him tonight?'

Oh man, I hope not.

'I think he's busy.' I sent it before I added, 'And I wouldn't want to go out with him.'

'That's not what Shiloh says.'

'Shiloh knows nothing.' I replied.

'Right, but he knows what love looks like.'

Whoa. Love? Is he crazy? 'I like him. It's nothing close to love.' Besides, Shiloh's only fallen in love once, suddenly he's an expert?

'You admit it!'

Goddamnit. She played me right into that one.

I texted Claire a while more before I frowned looking up from my phone. It had been two hours. What the hell was going on?

Cooper and the other men were now seated drinking casually as they talked or texted.

I was beyond relieved when the door swung open and Clyde walked in.

"Let's go." He looked at me.

I nodded getting up but I slowed seeing a stain on the sleeve of his white dress shirt. I followed him out of the room, my eyes stuck on the stain. I couldn't mistake that... Kyle's?

"You have blood on your sleeve." I mumbled as I caught up with him.

Clyde looked down. "Ah." He unbuttoned the sleeve and rolled it up to his elbow before doing the same with the other. I wanted to ask if it was Kyle's but I wasn't stupid. Of course it was.

We got outside and climbed into Sergio's car. Which was already occupied by Sergio in the back and Ben at the wheel. I looked at Sergio as we drove. He was smiling as he texted. I could see David's name at the top of the screen. My eyes moved to Ben. He looked relaxed as he drove.

They didn't kill him. They couldn't possibly be this okay if they killed him...

We reached the house and I went to my room. I took a shower before I got dressed for the party.

"Ready?" I looked at Sergio as he walked into my room holding a backpack. Well. I couldn't stand out as a dealer more with that.

I grabbed my phone and the bag from him.

"What's wrong?" he frowned.

"What did you do to him?" I asked.

He looked at me. I already knew the answer to that, he knew that. I felt sick as chills ran through me.

"From what I understand it was him or it was you." He said.

"Maybe... but you're not a God. You shouldn't be able to call the end of someone's life." I said.

"You're right. I'm not a God. I don't give a fuck about forgiveness and second chances, especially when someone or something I care about is threatened." He replied.

I stared at him in disbelief. "Your 'business' means that much to you?" I asked.

He didn't reply. He just stared at me blankly for a few seconds before he gave a sigh and walked out of my room.

I turned to look at the mirror above my dresser disgusted by myself. He killed someone, or he gave orders to have him killed and all I could think about was how much I had hoped his answer to my question would be, 'No, you do.'

I was so selfish, it was disgusting...

I ran my hands through my hair before I covered my face. I didn't know who I was anymore. I couldn't seriously like someone like him... but... I did... How could I be attracted to him like that?

"Hey, you said it starts at eight. Come on."

I nodded at Clyde and followed him out.

*****