Chapter 38
“Domino”
Istood just outside the hospital room, my hands shoved deep in my pockets, mind running.
I don’t cry. It’s true; I’ve never been that type of person. But when I got the call that Alejandro had passed out? Yeah… I felt something in my chest shift.
In the back of my mind, I had suspected something was wrong for a while now, but standing there in the hallway, the uncertainty loomed larger and heavier. I still didn’t have answers, but I knew I would soon enough. The soft click of the door drew my attention, and I looked up to see Ajori stepping out. Her eyes, usually bright and expressive, were clouded with a heaviness that told a story without the need for words.
Something wasn’t right.
“He wants to talk to you,” she said softly.
I nodded.
“You good?” I asked, cupping her face gently with my hands.
She nodded back, though the subtle tremor in her features betrayed her. “I will be. Go talk to him.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the room. Alejandro was propped up against the hospital bed, but he didn’t look like himself.
“You look tired,” I said, attempting to inject a bit of humor into the moment. It was meant to lighten the weight in the air, but I wasn't sure if it came across as intended.
He let out a faint breath. “I am.”
“You used to hate admitting that.”
Alejandro chuckled lightly. “I used to hate a lot of things.”
Then he nodded toward the chair.
“Have a seat. I need to talk to you.”
I sat and waited.
Alejandro took a second before speaking, then finally, he revealed, “I have cancer.”
Just like that.
No build-up… no warning.
The words hit and sat heavy.
“Before you ask,like Ajori,why I didn’t tell you sooner, well… it’s because a man in my position doesn’t get the luxury of breaking down in front of the people who depend on him. I built everything around strength, control, and stability. The moment people smell weakness, everything starts shifting… and I wasn’t ready for that.”
I nodded slowly. “I get it.”
“I know you do. That’s why you’re sitting where you are.”
“So this explains the spur-of-the-moment trips, the closed-door meetings, and the calls you kept stepping away for.”
Alejandro nodded. “Yeah. I went the treatment route, but it was too far gone. Some fights don’t respond to money, connections, timing or status… they just show up to remind you that you’re human.”
His voice lowered. “I don’t have long. I can feel it.”
My jaw tightened in response, but I forced myself to maintain composure, desperate to remain strong for him.
Alejandro looked at me intently. “As of today, I am officially stepping down, and I want to hand the torch over to you. I don’t expect that to come astoomuch of a surprise.”