Page 115 of His to Bedevil

“I love dogs.”

I grin down at Lucas. “I need a favor.”

Lucas narrows his eyes at me. “What are you thinking,hermano?”

“I need a dog,” I state, then quickly continue before he cuts me off. “I need someone to go into town and find a stray dog. Preferably young, so it can be easily trained. A puppy would be best. I need it taken to a vet to make sure it gets the proper medical treatment and that it’s not going to die shortly after I present it to Irma. I also need everything a dog might need.”

Lucas gives me a smirk but doesn’t give me shit like I expect him to. “I’ll take care of everything.”

“Let me see the dog first though. Don’t bring me an ugly-looking mutt.”

“I feel like the uglier the better when it comes to Irma.”

He’s right, in a way. Irma would fall in love with a dog no one else could love. One deemed unlovable. “If you find a dog with a missing limb or eye or something, that’d be better.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “I got you, Alejo.”

Alejandro

Irma spends the rest of the evening and night in bed. She’s quiet as I hold her to me all night. I don’t mention what happened in the car, and I don’t try to push her to talk at all.

When it’s time for breakfast the next morning, I get her to wash up and sit down with me to eat. “Would you like to go to the beach today, my love?”

She swallows the piece of mango she was chewing. “I’d actually like to go to the gym or at least for a run.”

I gesture toward her food. “Then you need to eat up. You’ll pass out if you don’t have anything in your stomach. Plus, you skipped dinner last night. Again.” I try not to grumble. I hate it when she refuses to eat.

She sighs. “Okay.”

“I’ve taken a few days off, but I do have something that I need to take care of this evening for a couple of hours. Why don’t you spend some time with my mother? She misses you, you know.” Irma has had a couple of meals with my mother, but she refuses to see much of anyone. My mother, of course, is extremely concerned about her.

“I’ll have dinner with her this evening. Maybe outside somewhere.” Her voice lacks emotion, and she stares blankly at her plate.

“Whatever you want, my love. She would love that, and I know you would too.” I know Irma cares for my mother, and they were very close before she left.

The next few hours fly by. When I suggested we race to the training facility, I almost got her to smile. She didn’t feel like getting into the ring to spar with anyone, so I let her have a quiet workout by herself while I pounded on some of my guys.

She didn’t fight me when I washed her from head to toe in the shower, which is a good sign. I let her stay in the shower by herself a little while after I finished washing up. She seemed like she was enjoying it, so I got out and went to get dressed and order us some lunch.

She ended up eating her entire lunch without me asking her to, and when it was time for me to go take care of some things, she was asking to see my mother.

“Sure, my love. Let me see where she is.” I go to pull out my phone, but she stops me.

“Can’t I just go look for her?”

I pocket my phone. “Sure. I’ll find you when I’m done with everything. Then I’m all yours for the next few days. We can do whatever you want.”

“Even leave?” My heart sinks, but she quickly elaborates. “I mean, both of us, Alejo. Like, go somewhere,” she says dryly, but it gives me relief.

“We’ll talk about it.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes. I give her a kiss goodbye and leave her in our bedroom.

Today her mother is being released from rehab. I need to go handle everything to make sure she gets all that I promised her. I pull out my phone and dial the cell phone number I have for her mother then put it to my ear as I descend the stairs, heading to my office.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice answers.

“Benita, this is Alejandro. How are you?” I try to sound as pleasant as possible, but I know how aggressive I actually sound.