As the plane lands on the runway at LAX I turn to Matthias and squeeze his hand. He’s looking out of the window—he cried when I told him we had to leave. Molly cried, too. Then I cried. I even saw a tear in Harvey’s eye. Jax promised that we can go back in the fall and I really hope that we do. I love the ranch; it felt like home to me in a way that I never thought possible. Even though I was only there for a few days, I feel like I’ve left a piece of myself back there.
“Are you ready to see Papa, Nana and the boys?” I ask my son, plastering a huge smile on my face and feigning my excitement. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to seeing my family, but I know that as soon as we get off this plane, Jax is going to disappear somewhere with my father and I don’t know how this thing between us is going to work in LA. He spent most of our journey back making calls and checking his laptop. I feel like he’s slipping away from me already.
The stewardess helps us collect our things and just before the plane door opens, Jax puts an arm around my waist. “I’m sorry I’ve been distracted,” he says quietly.
“That’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” he sighs. “Now that your father has the man responsible for trying to kill you, well my life just got as hectic as it used to be is all.”
“I know,” I lean against him. “We’ll figure this out though, won’t we?”
“Of course.” He winks at me, then the plane door opens and we pull back from each other. My father is waiting on the runway beside two cars and I know that one is for me and Matthias and one is for him and Jax. I might be part of their organization now, but it’s clear this is still their domain and I don’t have the energy to argue with them about it right now. It’s early morning and I haven’t had any sleep. Matthias slept a little but he’ll be tired and cranky soon and I need to get him home. I don’t think I want to come face to face with the asshole that tried to kill me today anyway.
“Matthias,” my father shouts, holding out his arms.
“Papa,” my son replies as he begins to clamber down the steps.
“Be careful,” I say but he is way too focused on his grandpa and a few seconds later he’s being scooped up into my father’s arms and swung around in the air.
As I reach the bottom, my father wraps his free arm around me and kisses my forehead. “It’s so good to have you back, mija.”
“It’s good to be back, Papi.”
“Your mom is waiting for you at the house.” He nods to the silver SUV behind him where Raoul and another of his security team sit waiting for me.
When he hands Matthias to me, he hugs Jax briefly. “I have missed you the most, amigo,” he laughs. “Doing this job without you is no fun at all.”
Jax laughs too but I know he is feeling as guilty as I am right now.
“I’ll see you tonight, mija,” my father says to me. “You’re staying at the house, right?”
“Actually, Papi. I’d like to go back to my apartment,” I say, avoiding looking directly at Jax—I can see him watching me and if our eyes meet then we just might give ourselves away.
“But…” he starts.
“You have the man responsible now. Jax said you put in some additional security. I just want my own bed. Please?”
“As you wish.” He frowns at me. “I’ll have a man outside the building too.”
I roll my eyes.
“Just until we speak to this cabrón today and find out why he targeted you. You could still be in danger, Lucia.”
“Okay,” I sigh.
“Come on,” he says to Jax who nods. As they walk to the other car Jax turns and glances at me and it is a look full of longing and desire and everything that we can’t say out loud, and I almost melt into a puddle on the asphalt.
