Page 20 of Beautiful Dangerous

“AngelRuiz?”

“Si. They took Señor Delgado’s motorbike from the garage. They told me they were going to fetch some pastries for breakfast.”

“Jesus… She’s supposed to tell me where she’s going. She’s not supposed to just take off like that.”

“She’ll be fine.” Celine dismisses my concern with the wave of her spoon. “She’s not alone. Help yourself to coffee. Do you want me to make you some eggs?”

“No, thank you, I’m good.”

I head outside, onto the terrace, and stare out at the ocean. I have no idea why Olivia’s acting like this, it’s out of character for her to do something so reckless, she has no idea of the danger she’s in. And then I sigh, dropping my gaze, of course she knows. She isn’t stupid. But what she’s doing here, taking off with Angel like that, I’m worried. For so many fucking reasons.

Voices coming from inside tell me they’re back, from wherever the hell they’d decided to go, so I turn around and make my way back into the kitchen. And there he is, talking to Celine. Angel Ruiz. I watch as they exchange a few words before she switches off the stove, pulls the pan off the heat, and leaves the room.

“What did you think you were doing?”

Angel turns around and looks at me, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his mouth, which irritates the fucking hell out of me. “Olivia wanted some company, that’s all.”

“She doesn’t go anywhere without me knowing first.”

He holds up his hands and backs up against the counter, but he’s still smirking. “Hey, brother, this is what she wanted, okay? This wasn’t my idea. She called Eddie, she asked for me, I’m only doing what I’m told. But, you know, this is no chore. I’m all ready to do whatever she wants me to do.”

“She doesn’t need any extra protection. She hasme.”

Angel laughs, his hands now in his pockets. “What’swithyou, man? All this over-protective bullshit, I mean, what’s going on with you, Luc? You feeling a bit more than just loyalty for your queen, huh? Your dick itching for some action now her old man’s out of the way…?”

I’ve got him against the wall before he can get another word out, his hands up in a heartbeat, he knows he’s crossed a line.

“Hey, hey, I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”

“You disrespect her – or me – like that again and I’ll make sure you lose the ability to even swallow properly. You understand me,cabron?”

“I’ve said I’m sorry, Lucca, come on, man!”

I let go of him, throwing him back against the wall just as Olivia walks into the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” she asks, placing a bag of what I’m assuming are those pastries she was so desperate for down on the counter. “Well?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Didn’t look like nothing to me.” She glances from me to Angel, and then back at me, raising an eyebrow in question, she wants answers.

“It was just a misunderstanding, that’s all,” Angel says. “Wasn’t it?” He throws me a look and I nod. And Olivia, well, she appears less than convinced.

“The last thing I need is people on the same side fighting, so whatever shit was going down when I walked in here, sort it out. Fast.” She turns her attention to me. “There’s a parcel outside on the table. Take it to the Blue Bay casino; make sure Carly gets it. She knows what to do with it.”

“Can’thedo that?” I jerk my head toward Angel, who just shrugs.

“I askedyou. Can I see you outside for a second?”

We step out onto the terrace, and she slides the open glass door panel shut behind her.

“What the fuck are you playing at, Liv? Going off like that, without telling me?”

“You mean to say you’re not tracking my phone?”

I frown. “Of course I’m not tracking your fucking phone. But I need to know where you are, okay?”

“Okay,” she sighs, raking a hand through her hair, which I’m guessing is messed up the way it is due to the helmet she’s worn over it, a mass of unkempt, loose dark curls cascading over her shoulders.

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