Page 34 of Beautiful Dangerous

“What else is there to talk about? All we’re doing is extending the services we already provide for the cartel, with added power. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right.”

He pats the top of my arm, his smile widening. “Now it’s all official we can start working as a team.” He holds out a hand and I shake it.

“You won’t regret it.”

“It’s a good move for all of us, brother.”

“You should call Olivia. I can tell her myself, but I think she’d like to hear it from you.”

“Today?” He raises a brow.

“Go see her, Eddie. It’s been ages since you visited the house, she’d love to see you. And believe me, if Celine finds out we have a special guest you’ll be leaving with enough food to feed that lot over there for a week!”

“How can I refuse now, huh?” He grins, and I’m already starting to feel better. A little, anyway.

“Why aren’t you with her?” Eddie asks, signaling to Angel that he’s leaving.

“We’re not joined at the hip.”

Eddie frowns, I guess my tone was maybe a touch too defensive there, and I sigh quietly, and all of a sudden I’m irritated and on edge and I don’t know why…

Yeah, you do.

You know why.

You know…

“You and Olivia…” Eddie starts, resting back against the counter. “You’re close, right? Even closer, maybe, now Javier’s gone?”

“You got something to say here, Eddie?”

He shrugs, his gaze holding mine. “I can see it in your eyes, brother. And ifIcan see it…” He leaves that sentence hanging and strides off, and I’m even more irritated now. What the fuck…?

“Your coffee, Lucca.” Merv sets a mug down on the counter, alongside a shot of whiskey. “Just in case.”

“Thanks, Merv.”

“You need anything else, you just let me know.”

He heads out onto the casino floor, and I tip the whiskey shot into the coffee and down a mouthful, it’s hot but not burning. And I needed that shot of alcohol, because I forget how this day can affect me, too. How it all affects me, and I can’t talk to anyone, about any of it. I can’t. And sometimes the strain becomes too much, and I forget the danger, but I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t. I need to stay on my guard, anything else just isn’t an option.

My phone starts vibrating in my pocket and I pull it out, checking the screen first. “Shit!” I briefly close my eyes and raise the phone to my ear. “I thought we agreed, not today.”

“It’s getting harder to ignore what we agreed, Lucca. This isn’t easy for me either, I’m just doing what I have to do.”

“I know,” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. “It’s just been a weird couple of days.”

“Has something happened?”

“No. Nothing that you need to be concerned with.”

“I need to be concerned with everything, Lucca. No secrets, remember?”

“No secrets,” I murmur, signaling to the bartender to get me another whiskey shot.

“Where’s Olivia?”

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