ALEJANDRO SERRANO

"You need to stop watching that." A deep, husky voice sounded from behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder to find him leaning on the back of the sofa, shirtless. Her eyes ran over his bare chest, tight abs and strong arms, lingering on the way his muscles flexed at the action.

Willing herself to look away, she blinked to snap out of the daze. "What?" The news was still playing on the TV but she couldn't bring herself to pay attention to it, her ears drowning out the voice of the news reporter as she tried her best not to focus on him. Which was very difficult to do since he was all but breathing down her neck.

Alejandro smirked, fully aware that she was just checking him out. Walking round the back of the sofa to take a seat next to her, he repeated himself.

Layla leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Since you guys don't tell me anything, I have no choice but to watch the news."

He sighed and ran a hand down his face. "You're better off not knowing."

He was probably right and she knew that, but she hated being left in the dark. Especially in matters which concerned her.

"You don't know that."

"If I tell you what's really happening, you'll stop watching the news?"

She nodded and grinned before reaching over for the remote to turn off the TV. "Depends on the quality of the information." She propositioned him. If she so much as suspected that he was lying or holding back information, then she would turn the TV back on and watch the news to her hearts content. She would make him watch it with her, too.

He watched her with a dark look and stretched his arms over the back of the sofa, her blonde hair feeling soft as it brushed against his skin. He subtly leaned closer, inhaling in the sweet floral scent of her shampoo.

"Where do you want me to start?"

The beginning. "Have you guys figured out what they were trying to steal from the vault?"

"As you know, only the rich, famous and those with connections high up are given access to the vault." She nodded and waited patiently for him to continue. "They took a couple bags of money and some bars of gold."

"Bars of gold?" Her jaw threatened to drop. "That's actually a thing?"

He chuckled. "More than you think."

"So, it was just a robbery gone wrong then?" Even before she had finished the question, she knew it was more than that.

He rubbed a hand across his jaw, pondering over the right choice of words. He didn't want to scare her with the harsh truth. Any way to sweeten it, he would. "That's what we thought at first but 2 days ago, they found a man watching the bank. He was staking it out in a non-descript van and when he got caught, they found tapes and cameras inside it."

"He was watching it."

Alejandro nodded. "I think it's more than just a robbery. There's something in there that they want, something which they didn't manage to take with them the other day."

"Any idea what it could be?"

He shook his head. "There's more money and bars of gold but I doubt they'd risk it for that. Some expensive jewellery and designer things, but nothing that we think they could be interested in."

"I didn't see any of that on the news."

Alejandro nodded. He had been watching the news too, but on his phone so she wouldn't find out. It was good practice to pay attention to what was released to the media; it helped to stay ahead of the game. He wouldn't be able to protect her if he didn't have all the information. "Detective Hardy wants to keep that information secret. If it's all over the news then the criminals will know that we figured out they left something behind." That was another reason too.

"You suspect they're going to try break in again." It was a statement.

He nodded and ran a hand through his hair, frustrated with the lack of results. "We're not sure where."

"And that man they took in?"

"He isn't talking. He's facing 15 years in jail and he's still tight lipped." He scowled. "From what we've gathered, he's pretty low on the food chain which probably means he doesn't know very much anyway. But we're keeping an eye on him in case they try to get in contact with him."

Layla sat in silence, her mind running a mile a minute trying to process all this newfound information. He was right. She was better off not knowing.

She needed to make a habit of actually listening to him.

While Alejandro had indulged her in what was going on, she suspected he was still holding a few things back. Not that she blamed him. Having learnt the little that she had just now, she was already very worried. Perhaps learning everything would just be too much to handle.

"That's why having a bodyguard or going to a safehouse is so important. They're still out there and they're not finished. They're going to strike again and we need to be prepared. My role in this is to make sure you stay safe. The fact that they took you as hostage puts you at a higher risk, Layla. Do you understand that?" He turned his body so he was no angled towards her, his arm still stretched out behind her, his fingers playing with a strand of hair. His eyes shone with seriousness and the gravity of the situation.

She nodded. She did.

"I don't like Byron. He scared too easily which makes him a liability. I've assigned Neil to him, one of my bodyguards but even then, if he tries to get in contact with you, you need to tell me straight away." He pleaded with his eyes.

"I will." She promised him. She had no intention of breaking any rules in this dangerous situation, especially if it put her life at risk, not to mention her family's too.

If something ever happened to either her brother or father just because of her stubbornness and inability to accept help, she would never forgive herself.

"Has Simone said anything about you?"

"Like what?" She asked, cautiously. Had her therapist spoken about their session with Detective Hardy? Or even worse, with Alejandro? Her skin flushed at the thought of it. How utterly embarrassing that would be!

"She recommended to Hardy that perhaps a group session would be good for you guys." He shared with her, not completely on board with the idea of it himself.

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise at that. "I thought we weren't allowed to talk to each other."

He rubbed his jaw again. "I thought that too, but Simone is pretty convincing."

Layla nodded but she didn't say anything further on the matter.

Alejandro must have picked up on her mood as he got up from the sofa and stretched. He held back his smirk and pretended not to notice when she raked her eyes up and down his bare chest, leaving a warm trail on his body where her eyes travelled. Not wanting to get his clothes dirty while cooking was just an excuse. Secretly, he liked the way she looked at him when he walked around shirtless. It was one of the times that she broke her otherwise confident and put-together persona, and he was glad that he was able to get her to slip up every now and again.

Her ogling his body was just an added bonus.

He wasn't even sure she was aware that she was doing it, but he wasn't going to make it known and burst the bubble. He was enjoying it too much to make her self conscious about it.

She wanted him, nearly as badly as he wanted her. And he wanted her bad.

"Come on," he reached down and grabbed her hand, tugging her into a standing position. "Help me with the garlic bread to go along with the Albondigas."

She complied. Cooking would be a great idea to get her mind off things.

By the time they had finished cooking and changed into a fresh set of clothes, her father and Levi had arrived. When she stepped out of her bedroom, she found all three men sat on the sofa and watching a baseball game, a beer in each of their hands.

When it got to half time, they took a break from the game to plate up their food and sit around the coffee table in the living room. Her father and Alejandro on the couch, Layla on the arm chair and Levi sat on a pillow on a floor.

It was pretty comical.

Before Alejandro, it had just been the three of them and they had managed perfectly without a dining table, but perhaps it was about time she started thinking of investing in one.

When a knock sounds on the door, they all glance up. Levi wiped his mouth on his napkin and stood up. "I'll get it." He informed them, already on his way there.

Layla cocked her head and watched curiously, though couldn't see anything as her brother was blocking the view. "Who is it?" She called out to him, curious. It wasn't often that she had people knocking on her door, unless it was Hailey with her beautiful son, Max

Levi sent a look of distaste over his shoulder. Couldn't be Hailey then. "It's that scum bag ex of yours. Want me to send him away?" He called out to her from the doorway, not even bothering to be careful with his words despite Kevin being on the other side of the door.

Layla groaned, annoyed and stood up, ready to send Kevin away. He always seemed to turn up at the worst times.

She would be pissed if he ruined their dinner.

But before she could make a move, Alejandro reached out and grabbed her arm. When she turned to face him, he had a determined look on his face.

"Let me deal with him."

She pursed her lips and pondered over the thought for a second. "Don't do anything stupid."

He flashed her a panty-dropping, bewitching smile before he bounded towards the door, ready to get rid of the parasite which was Kevin.

Patting Levi on the back, indicating that everything was okay, Alejandro stepped out of her apartment and closed the door behind him. He crossed his arms over his chest and shot a dark look at her pathetic excuse of an ex.

What had she even seen in him?

"Look, man. I don't know who you are but this is none of your business." Kevin began with a tight smile. He straightened his back and stood taller, attempting to look intimidating but even then, Alejandro was much taller than him.

Alejandro couldn't help but chuckle. "Anything that concerns Layla, is my business."

"Since when?"

"Since I started living with her." Well, technically, he wasn't lying. Staying in her apartment to provide her protection round the clock was part of the job, but Kevin didn't need to know that. In fact, the less he knew the better.

Hopefully that would be enough to keep him away permanently. Her ex turning up randomly at any time of day was starting to irritate him.

"You're lying."

Alejandro merely smirked in response, neither denying or confirming it, more than happy to let his mind play with the endless possibilities.

"We dated for 2 and a half years and she still wouldn't move in with me." He complained, vexed.

He shrugged. "She hasn't had that problem with me."

Kevin shook his head, disbelieving. "I know Layla. She would never go for a guy like you."

"A guy like me?" His voice darkened; the words heavy in his mouth. "Care to elaborate?"

If Kevin was smart – which he clearly was not – he would have kept his mouth shut, turned around and walked away, not aggravate the brute of a man further.

"One, she's into white guys."

Alejandro scoffed and shook her head. "You'd stop right there if you know what's good for you."

Unfortunately, Kevin did not take heed to his words. "You're just a rebound while she's getting over me. Once she's done with you, she'll come crawling back to me." He smirked. "I know Layla. We've been together for 2 years; she isn't just going to throw that away. Especially not for you."

Alejandro snorted, humoured by the situation. "I don't see that happening any time soon, big fella."

"You making fun of my weight?" He asked, his voice rising. Clearly the man was self-conscious but according to the story Layla told, it was all on him.

Alejandro rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw. "I haven't got time to play these childish games with you." He turned around with the intention to head back inside, but it appeared that Kevin wasn't finished.

"You can't seriously think she likes you!"

He turned back to face him, taking three calculated steps towards him with the intention of being overpowering and intimidating.

Being nice didn't seem to be working anymore. For the best, probably.

He was never any good at playing the nice guy.

"Whether she likes me or not, is none of your business. But remember when you came round last week?" His lip upturned in a snarl. "You saw us. She was wearing my shirt. How do you think that happened?" When Kevin scowled but didn't respond, he continued. "She was riding my dick, all night long and after you left, I took her on the kitchen counter. Bet you've never done that with her either."

Kevin clenched his jaw and puffed out his chest in an attempt – a failed attempt – to appear unfazed. "Layla doesn't like being on top."

"Not anymore." Alejandro chuckled. Honestly, he had no idea what sex positions Layla preferred but if he had to lie to get rid of the man in front of him, then so be it. It was better than throwing fists. That would just get him in trouble with Hardy, even more so if Kevin pressed charges which he most likely would. "She's not with you anymore, buddy. Get over it."

"She'll never love a brute of a man like you." He spat, his eyes burning with fur.

"We'll see about that." He scoffed. "But you seriously need to get over it and leave her alone. She doesn't want you. You need to understand that. The sooner you do, the sooner you can move on with your life. Let her do the same."

Surprisingly, his words must have gotten to him as without another word, Kevin turned around and walked down the hall without so much as another word. And to think he had managed to get him to leave without any threats.

He considered that a win.

When Layla asked him what had happened, he had grinned and stuffed him mouth with a whole meatball from his plate of Albondigas. When she laughed at the mess he had made around his mouth, he had deemed the action effective in dodging her question. Well, until she got him alone, anyway.

They all finished off their Albondigas – Levi even going in for a second plate – and enjoyed some warm churros for dessert. With a few beers knocked back and a couple of episodes of Dead to Me watched and discussed, the father and son duo decided to call it a night and head out, leaving Layla and Alejandro to themselves.

She sat on the kitchen island, swinging her legs and enjoying the last churro as he washed the pan in the sink.

"I thought you said you didn't cook well."

He threw a smirk at her over his shoulder. "My mum made sure my brothers and I are able to cook some staple Spanish dishes. Something about not losing the culture."

He had 4 brothers. He was the second eldest. The parents always joked that after the first, all they had wanted a daughter.

She smirked. "I would pay for this in a restaurant."

"Now that's a Michelin-star compliment coming from a great chef like you." He dried his hands and laid the dish towel on the counter.

"What did you say to Kevin?"

He knew she wouldn't drop it.

He came to stand in front of her, resting his hands on the island next to her legs. She found herself spreading her legs slightly to make space for him to stand in between. He turned his head up and tilted his head slightly, studying her. "I told him to stay away from you." That was the short version.

"And he listened?"

He nodded.

She snorted at the lie. "I doubt that."

He couldn't hold back his grin. "Well, he's gone now and that's all that matters."

Her breath hitched as she finally took in their close proximity, gazing at him from under hooded eyes. Her throat felt dry and she felt this innate desire to jump his bones and crush her mouth against his.

Instead, she ate some more of her churro.

Alejandro had other ideas for that mouth.

"What are you doing?" She asked when his hands came to rest on her legs, squeezing her thighs gently before trailing up her body before coming to a rest on her hips.

"Whatever you want me to do, beautiful." He leaned in and placed an open-mouthed kiss against the base of her neck. When a quiet moan passed her lips, he smiled against her neck before going in for a second taste, sucking gently, the sound of her moan spurring him on.

The remainder of the churro slipped from her fingers as she wound an arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer. He pulled her forward so she was sitting on the edge of the island, and she hooked her legs around his waist, dragging his lower half into her core where she ached for him, her folds already slick with desire.

"The balls in your court." He pressed his hardened length against her core, unabashed.

She threw her head back and moaned again at the brilliant sensation, welcoming him to do with her body as he pleased.

"I've never met a man as sinfully handsome as you." She found herself admitting amidst the cloud of passion that hung over them as he bit and licked his away up her neck, leaving tantalising tingles in his wake.

"Sinfully handsome?" He grinned against her jaw, biting gently followed by his wet tongue to soothe the spot. His hands tightened on her hips when she moaned and arched her back into him.

"Not sexy?" His mouth travelled up, his tongue licking the seams of her bottom lip. When she pouted and opened her mouth for more, he bit into her fleshy bottom lip, sucking on it.

"Definitely sexy." She admitted brazenly, her hands pulling on his hair and guiding him to where she really wanted him, his mouth against hers.

-

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Layla Knight

16.05.2020