Page 201 of LA King

Jax is going to think I’m pathetic now too.

“Shit! Who? Is she okay?”

I’m touched by Jax’s concern for my wellbeing. He’s Alejandro’s closest friend, but I’ve barely spoken to the man.

Alejandro squeezes my hand. “Some cabrón. He’s being handled as we speak. Alana’s okay. She’s here with me now.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“I’m going off-grid for a few days. Can you cover everything?”

He is? And where is off-grid?

“Of course I can, amigo,” Jax answers without pausing to think. “When will you be back?”

“Two days.”

Jax says, “Not a problem. I’ve got you covered.”

After Alejandro hangs up, he does something I’ve never seen him do before—he switches his phone off. “Now we’re both uncontactable.” He winks at me, and I’m not sure whether I should be terrified or delighted. I opt for the latter.

Chapter

Forty-Six

Alejandro

Irisk a sideways glance at Alana as we drive along the coast. It’s a risk, but not because I should keep my eyes on the road. Seeing that mark on her face makes me want to turn this car around, find Blake Fielding, and smash every bone in his body. The redness under her eye is turning purple, and I swallow down the violent rage that feels like it’s all the way up in my throat. It’s made no less bearable at my annoyance that my wife was reckless enough to put herself in danger like that.

I don’t know the full story yet, and I’ll wait until we get to where we’re headed before I get the truth from her. I’ve been a man on the edge from the second the hotel receptionist interrupted my meeting to tell me my wife was on the phone. I didn’t believe it could be her at first. Why wouldn’t she just call my cell? But I couldn’t risk ignoring it. As soon as I heard her voice, I knew something was very fucking wrong.

I left the hotel without a second thought, leaving Jax to finish my meeting for me. Fueled by desperation and fear, I could think of nothing but getting to her and making sure she was okay. The terror that someone hurt her because of me warred with my anger that someone dared to lay a finger on her. I was ready to kill someone with my bare hands.

Then I walked into that diner and saw her sitting there, hurt and alone, nursing a cup of coffee, and the wave of relief that washed over me almost knocked me on my ass.

I was so fucking angry with her. Am so fucking angry with her. But the long drive has allowed me to come to grips with the fact that my lifestyle is an adjustment for anyone. She gave up her whole life and her identity to marry me. While it didn’t bother me at the time, it does now. This woman has captured my heart, and I can’t do a thing to get it back. In fact, I don’t want to. If she’s unhappy, then it’s my responsibility to fix it.

Marrying me was a sacrifice she made for her father and had nothing to do with me. Still, her loyalty to the people she loves endears her to me in so many ways. Her father is undeserving of her loyalty and her love, but she gives both freely anyway.

I don’t deserve her love, but I feel it regardless.

So I intend to be the husband—and give her the life—that she deserves. If only for a couple of days.

Chapter

Forty-Seven

Alana

We’ve been driving all afternoon, and I no longer feel any unease about where we’re going. Alejandro seemed to get more relaxed the farther we drove from LA. We stopped for a late lunch and got gas and groceries a few miles back.

We listen to the radio, and I enjoy watching the scenery go by. When we hit Santa Cruz, I wonder how much farther up the coast we’ll be going. I must fall asleep because it’s dusk when I open my eyes at Alejandro’s prompting.

“We’re here, princesa.” He squeezes my thigh, and I look around to find us parked next to a beautiful little house on the beach.

I rub my eyes. “Where are we?”

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he says with a wicked grin. Then, seeing the look of bewilderment on my face, he adds, “This is my secret hideaway. Nobody knows about it. I don’t get out here as much as I’d like, but one day I might just come out here and never go back.” He stares through the windshield at the ocean.