Page 129 of Betrayed

I turned back, blushing. I did, because AJ had been patient, caring, protective, and loving. And somewhere along the way, I’d fallen madly in love with him.

After dropping Paige off, AJ told me John had assigned someone to watch the house until the police released it. Apparently, Priscilla had tried sneaking past the police tape. Dallas PD hadsent her away, but they didn’t have the manpower to watch the house.

I wanted to be mad they'd called John instead of me, but in reality I was happy I didn’t have to worry about it.Though I should be mad he'd added services without my permission.I doubted he did it to take advantage of me, but still.

Maybe he talked to AJ, and he volunteered to pay for it.

“What’s wrong?”

I wasn’t sure how to ask it, so I chose the direct route. “Are you paying for the person watching the house? I’m only asking because John didn’t clear it with me, and I doubt he called my father.”

He laughed. “No, though I offered when I talked to him. He brushed me off, which is John speak for he’s not charging you.”

Not charging me? “But, why?”

“You’ll have to ask when we see him.” His grin suggested he knew.

That made no sense. Before I could worry about it anymore, I got a call from my attorney.

“I have to take this,” I said as I hit the answer button.

I felt AJ’s eyes on me as I listened to my lawyer. She told me my father had given me full Power of Attorney, to act in his place should anything happen.

Like being incarcerated?

I don’tremember signing the POA paperwork.I groaned, thinking he'd expect me to handle his accounts.

“Thank you.” I stared at my phone after I hung up, shocked by the responsibility dropped on my shoulders without warning. Responsibility I didn’t want.

“Everything okay?” AJ asked as he reached for my hand.

“My father named me as his primary beneficiary and gave me full Power of Attorney.”

“Is that bad?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. It’s just… a lot and unexpected.”

“He didn’t tell you?” he asked. “Don’t you have to consent to being a POA?”

“You do. He must’ve slipped it in with other legal documents, and I signed them without realizing it.”

I’d been so trusting. So naïve.

How could I have been so blind?God only knew what else he’d had me sign. What if I’d signed something linking me to his crimes?

Tears pooled in my eyes and threatened to spill over.

“Blake.” AJ’s voice cut through the thoughts. “None of this is your fault.” It was like he could read my mind.

“I trusted him.”

“And he violated that trust, but that’s not on you.” He squeezed my hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

Tell me it’ll all be okay. Trust that I’m innocent, if I get accused of being a criminal.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked.

I looked him in the eye, wanting to trust him, but I’d trusted my father.And look where that got me.

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