Page 92 of Beautiful Dangerous

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Hey, believe me, kiddo, we know this is far from simple. This is something that could kick up in all our faces, I’m keeping secrets from Javier now. Just like you, just like Angel. Just like Lucca. And that isn’t something I’m comfortable with. Because this secret is a killer.”

“So why get involved? Why not just forget you heard anything?”

“Because, contrary to all belief, we aren’t all stone-cold and emotionless, we feel things too.”

This time I smile, because I’ve never really heard him talk this way.

“We all have people in our lives that we love, Olivia. People we would take a bullet for. People we would kill for.”

I look at Angel, but his expression is giving nothing away.

“You’re one of those people, Liv.”

I look back at Eddie. “I’m sorry…?”

“If you and Lucca want to get out, we’ll help you.”

Seriously? This man knows the consequences if Javier finds out they knew this secret, and they didn’t tell him. He knows.

“At great risk to the club, Eddie, no. No. It’s too dangerous. Javierwillfind out, and he’ll make sure he finds the people who helped us escape, and if anything blows back on the Devil’s Creed…”

“We know the risks. They’re crystal clear. And you may not even need our help, I’m just saying, if you do – if you do, Olivia, you know where we are.”

I drop my head and close my eyes and it’s hard to ignore the deafening thud of my heart.

“Please don’t tell anyone else about this, Eddie.”

I’m almost begging him now, and I know he’s already told me he won’t tell another soul but I’m terrified that, somehow, this secret is going to come out before Lucca and I have had a chance to do anything.

“Olivia, you have my word.”

“Okay.” I throw my head back, exhaling slowly because it feels like I’d been holding my breath for way too long there. “Okay.” I look at them, both of them. “This conversation’s over now.”

Eddie shrugs and flicks a cigarette into the corner of his mouth. “Like I said, you know where we are. Now, are you staying for a burger?”

“Yes.” I crack another smile, although, I’m still a long way off feeling anything even close to relaxed. “I’m staying… Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“Thank me when it’s over, kiddo. When you’re out of here and holed up somewhere safe. Thank me then.”

Lucca

Sitting back against a palm tree outside The Beach Bay Resort, I light up a cigarette, close my eyes, and let my mind drift; try to shut it down for a few, blissful seconds, but switching off isn’t something I find easy. Especially now.

Javier’s inside, I’m under instruction to stay out here and keep watch, he seems slightly more paranoid than I remember him being before he went away. Maybe he’s got his own secrets, reasons for looking over his shoulder more than usual, I don’t know. It's not my job to press him for information, he tells me what he wants me to know. The rest, I find out for myself.

“All done.”

I jump to my feet at the sound of Javier’s voice, but he just laughs, and for a moment he’s the Javier I remember. My brother in everything but name.

And you betrayed him…

“You’re allowed to relax, Lucca.”

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