Page 216 of LA King

He nods, unaffected by my outburst. “I know that. But I seem to recall you swearing that this was purely a business deal. That she wouldn’t change you or your life in any way. And now …”

“And now, what?” I scowl at him.

He flashes me a grin. “Now … You’re different. More considerate? And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But you have changed, amigo. Six months ago, you would have squashed Foster Carmichael like a bug for the way he spoke to you.”

He’s right, and of course I’ve considered this myself recently. “You think people will think I’m weak?”

Jax shakes his head. “No. I never said that. I think the new, slightly more mellow you is good for business. But you’ve been distracted and pissed off the past few days. All I’m saying is if this is only about Carmichael, then let’s deal with him. But is it?”

I only wish that it were. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “No.”

While my meeting with Alana’s father was the catalyst for my bad mood, it’s more than that. It’s the phone call I overheard a few nights ago; it’s that he told me I will never be able to trust her, and I can’t seem to let that go. I refuse to share my bed and the rest of my life with her if I can’t share my secrets with her too.

“I thought it wouldn’t matter, Jax. As long as she was with me, I thought it wouldn’t matter why. But I can’t do this half-assed with her. I need all of her. I need to know whether this is real or whether it’s all an act and she’s waiting for the right time to run back to her father. What if she is spying on me for him?”

Jax runs a hand across his jaw and shakes his head. “I don’t know what to say. What does your gut tell you?”

“My gut says it’s real. But she’s skilled at telling people what they want to hear. It’s why she’s so good at her fundraising job. Not to mention, she had that narcissistic prick parading her in front of the cameras for every photo opportunity that could make him a quick buck or win him a few votes.” I snarl with anger, mostly at myself. “Besides, I’m not sure I trust my gut around her. She messes with my head, amigo.”

Jax sits back in his chair and laughs.

“Just what is it about this situation that is so fucking funny to you?”

“The invincible Alejandro Montoya, in pieces over a woman. Never thought I’d see the day.” He winks at me.

Fuck, he’s right. What the hell has she done to me? There are only four people in the world who could get away with laughing at my misfortune—my parents, this man here who’s like a brother to me, and Alana.

“What the fuck am I going to do?” I ask him with a sigh.

“Maybe you need absolute proof that you can trust her.”

“And how do I get that, Jax? I can’t keep testing her. If she is for real, it’s not fair. And I couldn’t bear it if I ever hurt her by playing stupid fucking games.”

“Well, that, amigo, I can’t answer for you. Only you know what proof you need. And only you know if you’re prepared to do whatever it will take to get it.”

He’s right, and I know what I have to do. The trouble is I’m not sure I want to do it. I’m not sure I’m brave enough. Because there’s every chance I’ll lose her if I go through with it.

I leave the hotel as soon as my last meeting has finished and go straight home. I’m sure I’ll regret what I’m about to do, but I wasn’t lying earlier in my office—I need Alana for real. No more lies.

She’s sitting on the bed in our bedroom, brushing her beautiful dark hair, and my cock twitches at the sight of her. Then she turns and gives me one of those killer smiles, and my heart leaps into my throat. I almost toss aside the paperwork I took from my office safe and fuck her instead, but she notices the envelope in my hand.

“What have you got there?” she asks.

I hand it to her. “I need to talk to you.”

Her brow wrinkles, but she takes it from me. “Alex, what’s wrong?”

I take a deep breath, my heart racing. This is necessary. If she’s loyal to him over me, isn’t it better I find out now? I will give her my undying loyalty, but for that, I demand hers in return. “I need you to know that your father is not the man you think he is, Alana.”

“My father? What do you mean?”

“I know what he told you. How he convinced you to marry me. But that is everything I have on him. Everything he told you I’ve been holding over him to blackmail him.”

She opens the envelope and peers inside. “Why are you giving this to me now?”

“Because I want you to have it. You can do whatever you like with it. Destroy it or keep it. It’s up to you.”

“Why would I keep it? Shouldn’t we destroy it?”