bChapter /bb76 /b

The ride home was quiet, but not unconsfortably so

Alejandro drove with one handzily curled around the wheel, veins tark against had all the time is the would

God, he looked unfaldly good like that

Nivera didn’t speak, but her gaze kept

golden borlight. The other arm draped across the doorlike ha

aning to the bruises. They were impossible to miss now, the fading sunlight painting each purpling fine in bold

By the time they pulled up in front of the mansion, the was already unfuckling.

“I’m going to get the first aid kit,” she said simply, stepping out before he could argue, especially as if he did argue with her, she wouldn’t

Alejandro blinked: “We’re still on that?”

“Yes” This bwas /bher simple answer as she got out of the car

She disappeared inside the house, her steps brisk and deliberato.

Alejandro stood by the car for a moment, running a hand down his face bas /bba /bsmile appeared on his face.

When he entered the living room, she was already waiting by the couch, the kit open bbeside /bher. She nced at him, then patted the cushion beside

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the edge of his lips. “You’re bossy,” hemented.

“Thank you, I learnt from you,” she countered, folding her arms.

With a low chuckle, he finally sat. “Give me your hand. He obeyed, wordless.

The room was warm and quiet, bsave /b

ve for th

the hum of the air conditioning and the distant chirp of bbirds /boutside.

She didn’t speak as she disinfected her hands, then pulled out the antiseptic and cotton pa

pads.

“This will sting” She pressed the pad to his knuckle without warning.

“You think I’m scared of Jesus Christ!” He bhissed /bthe moment the cold liquid touched his skin.

“Oh, please,” she said with ba /bbroll /bof her eyes. “I haven’t even started anything yet.”

“That hurt!”

“You

bu /bpunched a man. Multiple times. bIn /bthe face. This is your reward,”

Alejandro scowled when he saw the slight smirk on the corner of her lips. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

She ignored him, dabbing gently but thoroughly at the raw skin across his knuckles. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, lips slightly parted.

Alejandro watched het–watched the way hershes brushed against her cheeks, the way she bit her lip every time the bcotton /bn caught on a rough patch of

skin.

He should’ve been annoyed. He hated being fussed bover/b. But there was something oddly grounding about the whole thing. Her presence was bsteady/b, calming

b“/bYou always do this?” he asked suddenly.

She looked bup/b, puzzled. “Do what?”

“Get this… intense. Over a few’scrapes.”

Her eyes narrowed. “ou call this ba /bscrapeb? /bAlejandro, you probably fractured your knuckle.

“You should see the other guy,” he grinned.

“I don’t want to,” she muttered. “I can imagine what he looks like!

“This isn’t the first time you’ve gotten into a fight, is it?” Nivera asked, but it was more like a statement because they knew the answer to it.

“So?” He raised ban /beyebrow. “This isn’t the bfirst/bb, /band it won’t be the bst/b,”

“That’s not the point she muttered, grabbing a bondage and wrapping it carefully around his hand, “The point is, you act like your body’s

Indestructible. It’s not

Alejandro tilted his head, watching her bfingers /bas they bmoved /bgently over his skin. “You’re worried babout /bme.”

“Don’t push it.”

b“/bYou bare/bb./bb” /b

“I said, “Don’t push it.”

But her cheeks were tinged with faint pink, band /bshe didn’t pull away.

She kept working, a little more carefully now, bas /bif afraid she’d hurt him despite the annoyance in her tone.

Alejandro couldn’t stop staring. There was something different about her like t

When bshe /bwasn’t biting back or rolling her eyes or throwing sass like knives. When she was just… here. Quiet. Still, Present

He liked it too much.

“You’ve done this beforeb, /bit was his turn to ask. The way she knew what to do while she was bcleaning /bhis wounds told him that it wasn’t the first time.

She blinked, “What?”

“You’re not clumsy. You’re careful and precise. You’ve done this before.”

Her hands paused. “Yeah. Once or

twice.

He bwaited/b, sensing more beneath her tone.

“My brother used to get into a lot of fights, and I used to clean up after him. As she spoke, he noticed the speck of sadness in her voice.

“You always clean up after the people who hurt you?” He asked, voice low

bNivera’s /beyes snapped to his, something flickering there–irritation, maybe. Sadness.

She look

looked away. “Only when I care.”

Alejandro’s hand twitched beneath hers.

Silence stretched again.

“You’re bdone/b,” bshe /bfinally saidb, /bstanding. Keep it wrapped, and don’t use it to punch anyone for at least three days.

He blooked /bdown at the white bandage, then back at her. “No promises.”

She rolled her eyes again, though this time itcked the usual bite. “Why am not surprisedb?/b”

Nivera turned to pack up the kit, but Alejandro reached out, lingers grazing her wrist.

She stilled.

He didn’t say anything but just held her there for a second too long. It was long enough for her to feel it–the warmth, the weight of it, the unspokan thing sitting heavy between them.

When she looked back at him, he was already watching her. He bwasn’t /bsmirking or staring at her mockingly, he was just… watching.

Like she was something fragile. She seemed fragile, or perhaps even dangerous.

Maybe both.

“I’ll get you a ss of wine,” she said abruptly, pulling her hand away.

Alejandro let her go, but not before his fingers ghosted down her wrist onest time.

“Only if you’re having one

one too,” he replied, his voice lighter now.

She paused at the edge of the room, then nced over her shoulder.

i“/iFine. But you’re cleaning up the sses.”

“Deal.” He smiled, A breal /bone this time. “Nivera”

She looked back over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

He didn’t say anything for a second. Then “You’re good at taking care of people.”

She arched a brow. “Don’t get used to it.”

Alejandro smiled, soft and rare. “Toote.”

Shaking her head, she turned and walked away.

AD

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