“Because your followers deserve the truth?” he asked, unable to suppress the trace of bitterness in his voice.

“No.” Her dark eyes never wavered from his. “Because I do.”

Gage recognized the line she’d drawn in the sand. If he wanted to move forward with their relationship, he needed to share something of himself. They’d dodged the difficult parts when they’d dated six years ago, and that had resulted in a bond that broke when they encountered the first major obstacle.

Now? He wasn’t sure he was ready for the kind of relationship they’d been building toward back then. The aftermath when it ended had been painful for them both, and being with Elena would mean a permanent rift between him and his family. He’d dodged that kind of break his whole life, hoping that it wouldn’t come to that since it would make things painful for his mother and his sisters.

But he didn’t have to decide the future right now. He only had to decide that he wanted Elena for one more night.

And from that perspective, his choice was simple. Gritting his teeth, he told the most painful truth of his life in the sparest of words.

“Alonzo Salazar was a mentor to me and all the Mesa Falls partners. And he was there for us after one of our friends jumped to his death in an accident that every damned one of us feels responsible for.”

Elena felt Gage’s hurt in those terse words.

Shock delayed her response, and in that stunned silence, their waiter had returned, effectively shutting down the talk. Gage signed his name on the check and helped her from her chair, no doubt wanting more privacy for a conversation that had moved in a completely unexpected direction. She waited while he settled a long satin trench coat on her shoulders—a gift from Mimi, the boutique owner Elena met today, after Elena had posted a photo of the garment.

Wordlessly, Gage escorted her through the casino to the valet stand out front, where the Land Rover quickly appeared. They made the short drive to the private residence Desmond had offered them for their stay, and once the vehicle was parked inside the garage bay, Gage opened the passenger side door for her.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” she told him quietly, not sure if he’d heard the words back at the restaurant when she’d said the same thing.

He seemed to have retreated from her somehow, but perhaps that was only because they’d been in a public space. Now, she kept hold of his hand, wrapping it between both of her own.

“Thank you. It’s nothing I’ve shared with anyone else in my life.” His jaw muscle flexed. “But you wanted to know why I remain loyal to Alonzo, and that time at school with my friends is at the heart of it.”