“So how much are you willing to pay to protect your own daughter, amigo? Five million?”
“Fuckinghijo de puta,” my father snarls.
It takes a second, but the shock quickly ripples around the room. “You really think he is behind all of this?” my mom asks.
“It makes sense. He’s been struggling financially since he lost the backing of Montoya Inc. He has Ed in his pocket already. He hates Alejandro for stealing you away from him. He hates me for uncovering his secret. He hates that you chose your new family over him. But we’re all just pawns in his game. Collateral damage. He loves one thing above all else, Alana…”
“Money,” she says, closing her eyes,
“It’s always about the money,” I whisper, wishing I could take away some of the guilt and pain that is written all over my mom’s face. We are not responsible for the actions of our parents.
Jax wraps an arm around me. “It makes the world go round, baby.”
The sound of a text message interrupts the silence and Jax pulls an old cell phone from his jeans pocket. He sucks in a breath.
“It’s him,” he says to my father.
“Ed?” I ask.
“I think so.”
“Do you think Shannon was in on this too?”
“I doubt it,” he says with a shake of his head. “He must have taken those photos of me and her before they even got together and hung onto them. I don’t think she’d have allowed him to keep them. Besides, she always kind of had a soft spot for my dad. I don’t see her agreeing to go along with paying four guys to beat him up.”
“No,” I reluctantly agree. The few times I’ve spoken to her, she’s seemed nice and genuinely happy for Jax and me.
“He’s asked to meet on the diner on the edge of town,” Jax says, slipping the cell phone back into his pocket.
“So, let’s go,” I say about to stand up.
My father catches my eye and I sit down again. “I’m going with you to meet him,” I insist. “He…” I swallow hard. I hate thinking about what he did and the shame and guilt still eats away at me. “I am not sitting this one out.”
“No-one expects you too,mija?” my father says.
“You don’t?” I sit up straighter in my seat.
“If he is the man who took those videos of you, then it only seems fair you get to look him in the eye when you make him pay for it. You go with Jax.”
He’s right, and I love him for it, but I also suspect he doesn’t want to leave my mom right now. I feel a little deflated. I was expecting much more of an argument with him and my husband about it.
“Okay, baby?” Jax asks, his face full of concern.
“Yes. I agree, obviously. I’m just surprised you two are letting me do this, is all.” I look at Jax now. “You’ve both been kind of uber protective lately.”
“Only because we love you so much.”
“You’ll look after her, Jax?” my mom says.
He arches an eyebrow at her in response.
Meanwhile my father laughs softly. “Better than anyone I know,” he says and Jax winks at him.
And now I know that whatever struggles they’ve been having are done with. I suppose killing some guys with your best buddy isn’t everyone’s idea of male bonding, but it sure works for these two.
Chapter30
Lucia