Page 11 of Beautiful Dangerous

Leaning back against the doorpost I know I should walk away, but I can’t. She’s a monster, but so am I. She’s also hot-as-hell, and right now she’s naked, but that isn’t the reason I can’t walk away. I’ve seen her naked before, she doesn’t care about shit like that. No, the reason I can’t walk away; can’tlookaway is because she’s showing a rare moment of vulnerability. Her head’s down, her fingers gripping the edge of the basin, she’s allowing herself to wonder what her life would’ve been like if she’d chosen another path. I know that’s what she’s thinking, because I knowher. Probably more than she’d like me to, but it’s my job, to know her. To know what she’s feeling, because that matters. It’s my job to stay close to her, and I’ll never complain about that. Being close to her is the only reason I have for getting through the shitty days this life can throw at you. Javier wanted me to protect her, and I would take a bullet for that woman.

I watch as she moves to the shower, steps under the jets of water and closes the screen, cutting off my view. That’s when I walk away, back to my own room next door to hers. Like I said, I never stray too far from Olivia Delgado’s side.

Closing the door of my room behind me, I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket and I pull it out, answering it immediately.

“Is she okay?”

I walk over to the window, checking the area outside, even though we have several guards with dogs and guns patrolling twenty-four-seven. “She’s fine.”

“Good.”

I lean forward, resting my forehead against the glass and closing my eyes, I’m exhausted. But I don’t sleep well, I never have, no matter how tired I am.

“Are we ready for Endo French’s shipment from Bolivia?”

“It’s all in hand. The plan is to hit them on their way to the port, take them and their men out, collect the shipment, and then contact Endo with a proposal. He’ll be the first of many business contacts we’ll take from Antonio and Emilio Pino. This is just the beginning. How are things over there?”

“Running smoothly. It’s possible we might set up a permanent base here in the future. More business, more clients, more product, and now guns. It wouldn’t hurt to spread ourselves even further afield.”

“Maybe not.”

“Have we spoken to Eddie yet?”

“We’re meeting with the bikers tomorrow. But I don’t think we’re going to have a problem.”

“Let Olivia do the talking.”

It was never going to be any other way.

“Oh, and Lucca? I trust you still understand that, although Olivia is running this cartel, there are still some things she can’t know. Some things she still needs to be shielded from, for her own safety.”

I open my eyes and look back outside. “I know.”

“Good. Just remember what’s at stake here.”

The line goes dead and I close my eyes again.

There are still some things she can’t know…

This world can be a real shitty place. Unfair. Broken. A mess. But it’s the only world I know. The only world I know how to live in. This ismyfucking life, it didn’t have to be Olivia’s. It didn’t have to be hers…

Three

Olivia

“What’s this?” I ask, walking into the kitchen and finding Lucca at the stove.

“Breakfast.”

“Yes, I can see that. Where’s Celine?”

“She’s gone to the store. I told her I’d make us something to eat.”

“And she’s okay with you taking over her kitchen?”

“She loves me, you know that.”

He flashes me the widest grin and for some reason I feel the need to look away; busy myself rearranging a tray of condiments on the counter.

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