Page 88 of Fierce King (L.A. Ruthless 1)

‘And what about your other half?’ I asked.

‘The other half is just glad you’re safe,’ he said with a sigh as he looked around the diner. ‘Let’s get out of here. You can explain yourself in the car.’

He stood up and I stood too, feeling like a runaway teenager who was about to get a telling off from my father. Then he reached for my hand and squeezed it and I felt a rush of love for him that completely blindsided me.

He looked at the empty coffee cup on the table. ‘Who bought you the coffee?’ he asked. ‘And whose cell phone did you use?’

‘Marlene, the waitress at the cash register there,’ I said as I pointed her out.

Alejandro nodded and rubbed a hand over his jaw. ‘Come on, let’s go,’ he said as he took my hand and led me through the diner. We passed Marlene on the way and Alejandro stopped her.

‘Marlene,’ he said with his charming, killer smile. ‘I really appreciate you helping my wife out this afternoon. You have my deepest gratitude.’

‘It was my pleasure, honey,’ she said with a smile.

Alejandro nodded and then took something from his pocket and handed it to her. ‘Well, thank you,’ he said and then we walked out of the diner.

‘Thankyou, Sir,’ Marlene shouted after us.

‘What did you give her?’ I asked him.

‘Just a couple of hundred bucks,’ he said with a shrug.

‘That was very generous of you.’

‘Well, she helped you out, so …’ he didn’t finish his sentence and instead he steered me towards his car. He was driving his new Maserati today and I smiled. I wasn’t really into material things but I loved this car. He opened the door for me and I slid into the expensive leather seat and inhaled.

A few seconds later, Alejandro climbed in too, pressed a button and the car roared to life.

We’d been driving for a few minutes when he finally spoke. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked me.

‘Yes,’ I said as I touched my face.

‘Do you know the name of the guy who did that?’

‘Blake someone. He’s Lucy’s ex-boyfriend, do you remember that young girl you met at the shelter?’

Alejandro nodded.

‘That’s why I went out alone. She called me and she was scared and in trouble and Hugo was on his day off. Jacob had taken the car to the garage,’ I rambled on. ‘I need to speak to the shelter and make sure she’s safe.’

He handed me his cell.

‘Thank you,’ I whispered.

‘The number is in there already. It’s saved as princess work,’ he said and for some reason, the fact that he had my work number programmed into his phone, made me incredibly happy.

I dialed the number and when one of the staff answered, I asked to speak to Lucy. My heart almost burst out of my chest with relief when they told me she was there.

‘Alana! Are you okay? I’ve been so worried. I went back with one of the girls to look for you, but you’d gone. I’m so sorry,’ she sobbed.

‘Lucy, I’m fine. I promise. Are you okay though?’

‘Yes.’

‘Promise me that you won’t leave the shelter until I can figure out what to do about your situation. We’ll need to speak to Kristen.’

‘I know,’ she sniffed.

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