Page 85 of LA King

“Foster Carmichael is a lying, cheating cabrón,” I snarl. “He’s done nothing but manipulate and use Alana her whole life, and yet she thinks he’s some kind of fucking hero.”

“That’s politicians for you.” He downs his Scotch and holds up his glass. “You fancy another, amigo?”

I shake my head. “It’s late. Need to get home.”

Jax pats me on the back. “I’m going to find me some prettier company then. See you tomorrow.”

I recall a time I would have joined him in his bar-crawling and how I swore I could never be fulfilled by just one woman. Now one woman occupies my every waking thought. How does that even happen? Can one person really change another so much?

The answer is staring me in the face as I pass the mirrored lobby wall on my way to my car, eager to get home to my wife. Yes, they absolutely can.

Chapter

Forty-Four

Alana

I’m having a rare lazy morning, relaxing by the pool with a good book. It’s Hugo’s day off, and I’m not needed at the shelter. I can make the calls I need to make later from here. My phone vibrates on the table beside me, and panic grips me. Lucy has never called me before.

Quickly, I answer.

She sobs my name, and my heart lurches into my throat. Things have been so chaotic with moving to the new center and getting everything up and running that Lucy’s situation has been put on the back burner. While I still check in with her a few times a week, I haven’t managed to come up with a solution to her problem yet. I should have made her a priority though, and now I’m struck by an immense feeling of guilt.

“What is it, sweetheart? Where are you?”

She sobs again. “I’m not sure. Somewhere close by the shelter. It’s Blake. He’s found me.”

I run into the house, keeping my phone pressed to my ear. “How far from the shelter are you? Can you get back there? You’ll be safe there until I can get to you.”

“No,” she sniffs. “He’ll be watching for me to come back. He’ll take me away, Alana. I can’t put anyone else in danger. Please. Can you bring Hugo and come get me?”

“It’s Hugo’s day off, sweetheart. He’s visiting his mom in the hospital. I won’t even be able to get hold of him.” I’m thinking out loud more than talking to her as I try to figure out the quickest way to get to her.

“Alana, what am I going to do?”

I don’t know, but I do know what I’m going to do. “I’m coming for you. Stay where you are and stay out of sight. Does Blake have you your new phone details?”

“What?”

“Your cell. Does he have this number?”

“No.”

“Good girl. Then drop a pin and I’ll come find you. Be there as soon as I can, sweetheart. Just stay out of sight and stay safe. Okay?”

“Okay. Please hurry.”

I end the call and run upstairs to get dressed. Jacob has taken one of the cars for a maintenance check. Alejandro has a garage full of others, but he doesn’t keep the keys in there with them.

Damn! I have no idea where he keeps the keys. How can I not know that? Hank would probably drive me, but then I’d have to explain what’s going on, and I don’t have time for that.

I could get an Uber, but I’d have to tell the guards, and I’d get the third degree about where I’m going. I have to get to her now. My heart slamming against my ribcage, I order an Uber and request pickup down the street. As soon as I’m dressed, I run through the back door and around to the front of the house before sneaking out of the side gate. The guards are more concerned checking for people getting in than getting out, and fortunately nobody sees me.

A few minutes later, I’m in the back of the Uber, my palms sweaty and my blood thundering in my ears.

When we come to a stop, I ask the driver to wait for me while I go grab my friend, but he shakes his head. “Can’t do that, ma’am. Against regulations.”

“What if I book another trip back to my house?”