A few hours later, we occupied the second home Joaquin owned under his parents’ name, and I showered, fed the kids, and stood in his office, watching him pace back and forth and yell on his phone. I couldn’t understand all of what he was saying since he was possibly cursing, but he seemed angrier than usual. The last scare of my kidnapping set him on a rampage, and now for his kids to almost be killed, my husband wasn’t the same man standing in front of me anymore. He’d changed, and I needed to understand that getting him back to the guy I fell in love with would be a struggle. The front door chirped, and I looked over and saw Gael and Hugo stalking in with dirty, angry faces. I reached to hug them both, and Cassidy practically leaped into Hugo’s arms.
“You're alive!” Cassidy shouted.
“Cassi, everything is okay.” Hugo held her close, and something tugged at my heart to see Hugo so vulnerable and open in front of me. Usually, it was me being a big baby, but he let his guard down with Cassidy.
“You okay?” Gael questioned.
“I’m fine.”
“Where’s Alessandra?”
“In the kitchen with the kids.”
“Don’t worry, he’s going to be fine,” Gael said.
“I hope so.”
“Let me check on the kids and Alessandra,” Gael said, and I nodded.
“Sofia, you can't get rid of me that easy.” Hugo chuckled, and I slapped him on the chest.
“I’m glad you're safe.”
“Me too.” He kissed me on the forehead.
“How did you get out?” I questioned.
“Prayer, but it was just a warning message.”
“A bomb was a warning message?” Cassidy probed.
“I need to discuss some things with Joaquin.” Hugo gripped his chin and kissed her on the lips.
“How do you live like this?” Cassidy questioned.
“I love him.”
“What are we going to do about Texas?”
“Joaquin won’t let me leave the grounds, let alone finish filming.”
“This is not good.”
“Maybe they can figure out how to get the people behind this sooner.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Cassidy held her hands to her stomach and mouth.
She ran off to the bathroom, and I chased behind her and held her hair as she threw up in the toilet.
“Have you eaten?” I asked.
`She shook her head, flushed the toilet, and went to the sink to brush her teeth and rinse her mouth out.
“Have you and Hugo been careful?” I asked.
Her eyes bugged out. She groaned and covered her face in shame.
“My life can't be this crazy right now.”
“It might seem like it’s crazy, but you're only making it worse. Calm down, I have a test you can take.”
“How do you go day to day in this lifestyle and not freak out?”
“You make it work.” I opened the cabinet, grabbed a pregnancy test, and handed it to her.
“You have these just randomly around here?”
“Joaquin told me about the home a few months back after having Jianna, and I made sure to get everything we would need in case of emergencies.”
“A pregnancy test is an emergency?”
“He wanted more kids, and I didn’t know what I wanted, so we compromised.”
“What do you mean compromised?”
“After Jianna, I said let me have a career for a little while. If we still wanted another child in two years, we could try.”
“And.”
I waved the tears away before they fell.
“After today, I can’t do this again.”
`Cassidy dropped the test on the counter and held me in her arms for a tight hug.
“Talk to him.”
“I will, but first you need to take a test.”
“Hugo and I as parents is nuts.”
I laughed and shrugged.
“I said the same thing about Joaquin, but he’s the most supportive when I’m pregnant and with the kids.”
“Let me get this over with.”
Bang! Bang!
“Sofia!” Alessandra yelled.
“My other child is knocking.” I groaned and opened the door to Alessandra in tears.
“Don’t make me go back.” Alessandra dropped to her knees.
“What’s happened now?”
“She’s friends with my enemy.” Joaquin’s tone dropped low and deadly.
“Huh?”
“I didn’t know!” Alessandra cried out. Gael reached down to pick her up.
“Get her out of here!” Joaquin shouted.
“Joaquin, tell me what’s going on. She’s your sister.”
“She betrayed me.” He glared at her.
“Joaquin, you know Alessandra would never do anything to betray the family.” Gael calmly held her in his arms and brushed a hand up and down her back.
“Get her out of my face,” Joaquin spat.
“Someone tell me what is going on.”
“Alessandra’s report from the drugs found in her system were traced back to a woman named Odessa,” Gael explained.
“So?”
“Odessa Lusting is the sister of Emile Lusting, the man who blew up our home!” Joaquin shouted.
“I didn’t know!” Alessandra begged.
I covered my mouth in shock.
“Alessandra.”
She reached for my hand, and I took a step back.
“Get her out of my sight!” Joaquin yelled.
“We met in class, and she approached me. We became friends with Sofia.” Gael held Alessandra.
“We’ve been set up all along. Alessandra brought her friend to our house.” The right vein on the side of Joaquin’s neck popped.
“I remember her being at the house,” I recalled, closing my eyes.
Flashback.
A month prior.
I was out by the pool, lounging with the kids and running through my lines with Madelyn. Cassidy was there to finalize details of my upcoming schedule.
“Sofia! Sofia! You look amazing.” Alessandra held a mimosa in her hand and stood in front of the canopy lounge chair.
“What are you two doing today?” I dropped the script on the ground and stood to hug her.
“Sofia, this is my friend Odessa. We met in class.” Alessandra introduced me, and I shook her hand. She was a tall woman, with a sharp jawline, heart-shaped lips, and long blond hair.
“Nice to meet you, Sofia. I’m a big fan,” Odessa said.
“Thank you.”
“I told her about your pool, and she suggested we come hang out. Plus, you have the best food,” Alessandra joked.
“Help yourselves, please. Odessa, this is Cassidy.”
“Hi,” Cassidy said.
She ignored Cassidy.
“Those are your two kids?” Odessa asked.
“Yes.”
“Beautiful, they look just like their father,” Odessa hinted, and I didn't know if I should be offended or thankful.
“Uhm… thanks.”
“Odessa’s just joking,” Alessandra said.
“How did you meet again?” I probed.
“In class, I cheated off her design!” Odessa cackled and clinked glasses with Alessandra.
I pursed my lips and glanced at Cassidy.
“She’s joking. We met in class and became friends.”
“Are you the one who keeps her out at all hours of the night?”
She pressed her index finger to her lips.
“Shush… you’re not going to snitch on us, are you?”
“Mommy! Look at me!” JJ called out, and I looked away from Odessa.
“Can I use your restroom?” Odessa perked up, and I nodded.
“Sure, I can show you.” I stood.
“Oh, no need. Just point me in the direction,” Odessa said.
“Right through the doors you came from and around the corner,” I responded and motioned to the house.
“Thanks! Be right back,” Odessa replied, placing her mimosa on the ground.
“How long have you known her, Alessandra?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“A few weeks, why?” Alessandra sipped on her drink.
“I don’t know. Just feel a weird vibe from her.”
“Odessa’s really funny and sweet. Give her a chance,” Alessandra responded.
“Food is ready!” Martha called out.
“Where’s my brother?” Alessandra strolled next to me to the kitchen.
I grabbed a plate of hot dogs and burgers for JJ and a bottle for Jianna as Alessandra fixed a plate for herself. Cassidy came behind and took JJ’s plate out of my hand.
“Thanks, I’ll make you a plate,” I told her.
“No worries, I’m stuffed from the snacks,” Cassidy mentioned.
“Alessandra, I'm sorry I can’t stay.” Odessa stepped into the kitchen with a harsh grimace on her face.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“My guy needs me, and I have to run home to help him get in my apartment.”
“How old are you, Odessa?”
“Why?” Her eyes darkened with her sharp response.
“Just asking. I know Alessandra is twenty-two, and her parents would go crazy if she lived with a man.” I chuckled.
“Well, I’m not Alessandra.” She slid her shades on, and I hugged Alessandra, turning to leave the kitchen.
“Maybe you should do a background check on her?” Cassidy mentioned.
“You two are being silly,” Alessandra blurted out.
“Is she the reason you’ve been out all night and missing classes?”
“Sofia, can we have a peaceful day without all the questions?”
“Does Joaquin know your little friend?” I investigated.
“No, and I don’t want him to know.”
“She seems rude,” Cassidy said.
“Odessa is nice, and I’m done talking about my personal life,” Alessandra said as she dropped the spoon into the salad and marched out of the kitchen to the backyard.