Page 97 of LA King

“From you? Always, Alana.” His tone is tender, and it makes me feel safe enough to admit the truth.

“Then yes. I meant it.”

Will he be annoyed at me for complicating things, or will he laugh at me for being so foolish? Alejandro Montoya doesn’t do love, and here I am declaring my feelings.

Then he kisses me softly. “I love you too, princesa.”

My fluttering heart stops beating, frozen in this moment. “But I thought you didn’t do love?”

He makes a low growling noise. “That was before I met you.”

I swear I don’t think I have ever felt happier in my entire life. Blissful contentment blooms hot in my chest. Resting my chin on my hands, I stare at his handsome face. How can this even be real? “Why me, Alex? Out of all those women you’ve dated, why do you love me? The same woman you could barely stand to look at on our wedding day?” I admit I could barely stand to look at him either. My feelings have changed so much though; it stands to reason that his could too.

He runs a fingertip down my cheek. “When your father and I came to our business arrangement, I had no idea who you actually were, Alana. Certainly you aren’t the woman your father portrayed you as.”

Why would my father paint me as anyone but who I am? It hurts to think that he felt he had to. But I focus on the deep timbre of Alejandro’s voice, and it anchors me back in this moment—one of pure joy.

“But you are perhaps the kindest person I have ever known. You’re intelligent. A little too stubborn for your own good. You treat everyone with compassion, and that’s a quality lacking in my world. You are stunningly beautiful, inside and out. But more importantly than that, you make me happier than I could have ever imagined possible. And you make me want to be a better man for you.”

Tears of sheer happiness burn behind my eyes. “Alex, why haven’t you ever told me this before?”

“Because you told me you didn’t want my love, remember?” The grin that follows lets me know he’s teasing me. “And I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with you, Alana. Love is messy and complicated, and I didn’t have time for that. And then there you were, and I find myself wishing that all my time could be spent with you and you alone. I may have stolen you, but you have stolen my heart, princesa. You are the most precious thing in the world to me.”

This feels much too good to be true. Like some kind of fairy tale. “You love me while we’re here, in this place where nobody can reach us, but what if you feel differently when we get back to the real world?”

“I won’t, because I didn’t feel differently in the real world. Maybe I never told you any of that because I thought you could never love a devil like me.”

I rest my hand on his cheek, and he leans into my touch. “You’re not a devil. Not to me.”

He pulls me tighter to him and kisses me so hard I forget my own name. Here, in the arms of the most ruthless man in Los Angeles, I find my home.

Chapter

Fifty

Alana

It was a lovely drive back to LA. We talked and laughed and stopped for food and listened to cheesy eighties music that Alejandro said his mama raised him on. But it felt like the closer we got to LA, the more tense Alejandro became. I can understand why. Returning to LA means returning to reality. For me, that reality is needing to check in with Lucy and to set up a meeting for tomorrow with Kristen. There’s no way things can get fixed without her being in full knowledge of the facts. And for Alejandro … I suppose that means dealing with Blake and whatever else my husband might have missed while we were away.

When we’re an hour outside the city, Alejandro calls Jax and lets him know he’s back, and after that, his phone starts ringing off the hook. He answers each call and barks orders at people—sometimes in Spanish and sometimes in English. Through these calls, I learn that Blake hasn’t been found and while that makes me worry about Lucy’s safety, Alejandro also confirms that his men have been watching the shelter in case Blake returned. Not only did he not turn back up, but Lucy didn’t leave. The mere mention of Blake’s name and the fact he’s still out there somewhere seems to enrage my husband further.

I look out the window as the evening turns to dusk and contemplate the last few days. There’s no way we can be that same couple from the beach house out here in the real world. He’s no longer the carefree man who ran barefoot on the sand and made love to me in every room of the house. He’s Alejandro Montoya again—the king of LA.

As soon as we pull up at the house, Jacob comes to take the car and to inform Alejandro that Jax is waiting for him in his study. Alejandro turns to me, looking almost apologetic that he has to rush off. But I do understand. He has things to take care of.

“You go see Jax. I’m tired anyway.” I force a smile. “I’m going to check in with Lucy and then grab a quick shower before bed.”

His response is only a tense nod before he follows Jacob into the house. I head to our bedroom alone. Is life so unfair that it would give me a taste of something so special and then snatch it away?

After a call to Lucy, who confirms she’s safe and happy and hasn’t left the shelter all weekend, and an email to Kristen requesting a meeting tomorrow, I hop into a hot shower. I expect Alejandro will leave with Jax to deal with Blake soon, so it’s a surprise to see the door opening and him walking into the bathroom as I’m washing my hair.

“Any room in there for me?” He pulls off his clothes without waiting for my answer.

“Of course,” I reply anyway.

He steps under the running water with me and grabs my ass, pulling me to him and pressing his hardening cock against me.

“What about Jax?” I ask.