Alejandro was pacing.
Not just walking.
Pacing. Like a man who'd been caged all week with his own demons—and now, they were scratching the walls inside his chest.
Well, Bree had caused it. And he'd make her pay.
He'd replayed her voice notes too many times. Each one shorter than the last. Foolish.
"Hi… just letting you know..." Like he was a hall monitor. Like he was some desperate and scared daddy. Like he wasn't even worth a damn question.
She thought she was being respectful. That wasthe worst part. She was making it seem like he was in the wrong to not like her pattern.
That. Little. Bitch.
He hated the way she said Tiffany all the time now. Like that name had become a safe place. Like he was the problem. Like she knew what lay behind the scenes.
Such a naïve little thing.
He clenched his jaw. The bone popped.
This wasn't just about Bree anymore.
This was about something bigger. He'd seen it in Bree's eyes the last time. He felt it crawling on Tiffany's skin the second she walked into their orbit.
There was something off. Something wrong.
Not just some nerdy new girl with a friendly smile and oversized glasses.
There was a presence. A pressure. A pull.
Alejandro wasn't just angry.
He was convinced.
Whatever it was that had Bree walking around all week like he was invisible, like she didn't feel anything anymore… It had a name.
Tiffany Elmore.
Ashley had been busy trying to convince him with her witchy whatnot but he could never rely on that.
"You need to relax, Jan. I'll check it out."
Like when the hell would that be? During his deathbed?
He stopped pacing. Looked at the time.
6:12 PM.
Everyone had be here soon. Ashley. Rolando. Maverick. Maybe even Erwina if Ashley did what he told her.
Erwina was busy doing her own shit this days. Nobody even had time for him at all.
"Because you've suddenly become that old, paranoid man who's been running after a little girl." His mind out in.
This wasn't just a "sit and talk" kind of night.
It was war council.
Whether Bree knew it or not.
And if that girl walked into his house? She better come clean and shut her dirty mouth or he'd do the worst thing anyone could ever do to her. Or she better not come at all.
Reflexively Alejandro grabbed a glass and squeezed hard. So hard that it burst into pieces.
★★★
★★★
It was 6:45pm
The house was tense.
Ashley and Brielle walked and the living room was empty except for the TV that was left on display of some underwater divers.
Erwina and the others were nowhere to be found yet, and the two ladies had slipped in early, hoping to grab some water and just… breathe.
"Go get water, Bree. I'll just rush upstairs and see Alejandro fast."
Bree nodded, trying to breathe.
Ashley hurried upstairs and she made her way for the kitchen, rubbing the back of her neck nervously.
She didn't expect to find Alejandro there.
She gasped and fear covered her for a short moment. She struggled.
He was standing by the sink, back turned, broken glass on the floor beside him.
He didn't look up when she stepped in. But he heard her.
Of course he did.
"Uh...." she said softly. Her voice felt small in the silence.
He didn't respond right away. Just gripped the counter harder.
"Excuse me."
Another silence.
Then he turned—slowly, deliberately.
His eyes landed on her like a blow.
"You had fun this week?" he asked.
His voice was calm. Deadly calm.
Bree swallowed.
"I told you first."
"Yeah. That's the thing." He stepped closer. "You told me. Like I'm your stupid babysitter who doesn't have any other option but to listen to your sappy voice talk about a senseless outing."
Bree flinched.
"Don't twist things. You're the one who was gripping my neck and pushing me here and there. What's your business with my friendships now?"
That hit him.
He twitched.
And before you know it, he was standing so close.
Now they were standing toe to toe.
Bree's back went rigid.
"You wanna play victim and give your nonsense reason? You think I don't see it?" he growled. "You think I don't see how she's changing you?"
Bree's breath caught.
"No one's changing me. I'm finally breathing. In peace."
And that was it.
That broke something in him.
Alejandro's hand shot up, not rough—just sudden. His fingers grazed her jaw and grabbed. His eyes searched hers like a war he didn't know how to end.
His lips hovered inches from hers.
"Don't fuck with me," he whispered.
And then—he leaned in.
Their lips almost brushed.
Just a second.
Not a kiss. Not quite. But close enough to share the burn.
Bree couldn't think , eyes wide.
Alejandro's grip tightened and he pulled her upwards some more. She gasped. Their lips had brushed.
Dear God....
She was losing her mind.
Alejandro didn't move.
Didn't blink.
He pushed her back frantically, his eyes deeper now. Brooding. Wicked.
"Meeting time."
She stared at him like he was a stranger. Her heart was in her mouth. She wasn't thinking or breathing well. This was all too.... too much.
Brielle blinked.
Then footsteps came from the hall.
Ashley's voice.
"Meeting time."
And just like that—
It was back to war.