Page 124 of Claimed By a King

“You want what you had back. Orgasms and all,” Alana says, successfully defusing the cheese with her bluntness.

“Orgasms and all,” I agree. “If I ever get there.” The last part sounds wistful which I suppose is appropriate.

“You will,” Alana says. There’s so much conviction in her tone I almost feel it.

“Oh?”

“Yep,” she says, popping the P before taking another sip of her coffee. “You’ve come so far in such a short amount of time, Z. In the beginning you could barely stand having anyone that wasn’t me or Gray around, and now you’re training with Cara, putting Tio in his place, claiming your rightful title, and you stayed to watch me and Slasher dry hump like teenagers.”

When she puts it like that it sounds a lot more impressive than it’s felt to me. But as she lists out the things I’ve done, I have to admit it isn’t half bad.

“You even sat in that meeting with Baz and Dante who you’ve never met before. And talk about scary dudes. Those two could probably bleed the state dry in a single night if they really wanted to.”

I have to admit that my friend isn’t making me sound half-bad. If someone told me they’d done all those things within a month, I’d be fucking impressed. Maybe I just need to give myself time and stop trying to force the issue.

“Okay,” I agree. “I get it.”

Alana pretends to pick a piece of something off her bare shoulder before inspecting her cuticles.

“Fine,” I laugh. “You smart, me dumb. Happy now?”

She flashes her teeth at me in an innocent smile. “Very. Thank you for saying it out loud, Mama Z.”

I flip her off and finish the remainder of my coffee before refilling our cups. As I slowly drink it I remember that I never got to ask Cara why she didn’t know about the Cunts being scared of Gunner. I had every intention to, but she worked me so hard I could barely remember my name after our session.

“Alana?”

“Hmm?” she hums.

“I want to ask you something and you have to promise you’ll be straight with me,” I demand.

She quirks an eyebrow. “When am I not?”

Fair point.

I take a deep breath. “Why didn’t you or any of the Cunts ever tell Cara that you were scared of Gunner?”

“So we’re jumping straight in with no lube,” she smarts. “I think that’s mostly my fault. Back before Rocco and Cara formed the Cruz Kings, they were part of Dante’s Crew. Me and Rose were there. So we know how Cara doted on Gray and Gunner.”

What the hell?

“I mean they were very close. Gunner’s the one who designed the Kings’ logo together with Cara. So I guess both me and Rose always wondered if she somehow knew and turned a blind eye to the entire thing.”

While Alana sounds so matter-of-fact like we’re discussing the weather, my heart bleeds for her—for all the Cunts.

“Do you still think that?” I ask, gently.

Shaking her head, Alana says, “I don’t think I ever really believed it. It was more a… fear. Like you being scared of Gray’s touch even if you claim to know he won’t hurt you.”

Well, with that comparison there’s no way I don’t understand where they came from.

Alana yawns and stretches. “I think I’m about to crash,” she says.

When she makes to move out of the chair, I quickly take her hand. “Just one more question.” I grimace at the harshness of my voice and add, “Please.”

“One,” Alana clarifies, holding her index finger up for good measure. “Then I need to get some beauty sleep.”

I don’t know why I’m nervous to ask my next question. Maybe it’s because I don’t know how she’ll react. “If Rose was Cara’s second in command, why did she ask you to help set me free back when I ran?” I ask.

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