Page 61 of Ashes

“Because it was the only place where they could be together,” he says.

I stride toward him because I hear the sound of laughter coming from the tablet.

It’s Alex who’s laughing.

Tears fill my eyes.

Victor and I sit on the bed as we watch the video.

Alex is lying on this same bed and holding his phone up. Rodrigo is right next to him.

“Tell me that you love me,” Alex says as he presses himself closer to Rodrigo.

“Of course I love you, you dumbass.” Rodrigo laughs. “Stop recording. If someone finds it, they’re going to use it against us.”

“No one will find it. We’re safe here. No one knows.” Alex leans forward and presses his lips to Rodrigo’s.

“I wish we didn’t have to hide and do this.” Rodrigo’s smile fades. “We should run away. Somewhere far from here. To some nice beach. Far away from our families.”

“I like that idea,” Alex says. “But not yet. I can’t leave my sister. She needs me.”

I can barely see through the tears clouding my vision.

“I don’t like to wait,” Rodrigo says. “Come here.”

He pounces on Alex, pulling him into a tight embrace. Alex laughs as the phone falls out of his hand.

So happy.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy.

And I didn’t even know.

He never told me.

Why?

Why didn’t he trust me with his secret?

“Fuck,” Victor mutters.

“Did you know?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“I didn’t either. Do you think... Do you think our fathers found out?”

His gaze meets mine. “Probably.”

“Do you think they...” I can barely say the words. “That they hired someone to kill Alex and Rodrigo? That they faked the whole thing?”

“I think they did it themselves because they didn’t want anyone to know. Involving someone else would be a problem.”

“Is that why they came up with a peace treaty so quickly and easily? Because they were already working together?”

“Probably.”

“How are we going to figure out the truth?”