Beautiful Dangerous

by Michelle Betham

  “I thought you liked hanging out with me?”

  He arches a brow. “Is that what we do now? Hang out?”

  I smile and sink a mouthful of beer. “What would you call it?”

  He just smiles and shakes his head, briefly dropping his gaze. “I should get back to the clubhouse.”

  “You said you weren’t in any hurry before.” I start checking the optics, making sure all the bottles are full enough.

  “I’m not, not really.”

  “Then, why go?”

  He looks at me, and he smiles again, and I love that this man makes me feel so comfortable. So safe.

  “Come on. Let’s go grab some air.”

  I signal to Nora to make sure the bar’s covered, and then Angel and I head out across the back terrace and down onto the street below. There’s a small park across from the restaurant, a pretty green area with benches and a tiny playground just big enough for a handful of kids to play in at any one time. All the bushes and trees are flowering now, adding more color to the greenery, and we sit down on one of the vacant benches overlooking a sprawling Jacaranda tree.

  “Thank you, for this morning. I might not have looked it at the time, but I’m really grateful to you and Eddie.”

  “I know.” He drops his gaze, his hands clasped together. “Sometimes we can be the good guys, too.” He looks up, his eyes locking on mine, and he smiles. “When we need to be.”

  “Yeah.” I smile too. “I get that.”

  He shifts his gaze to a small group of children playing by the tree, running around it, screeching in delight as they chase each other.

  “Javier wants us to try for a baby.”

  That causes Angel’s head to spin back around, his eyes narrowing slightly. “He does?”

  “Yeah,” I sigh, sitting back and fiddling with my wedding band, twisting it round and around my finger. “He wants this brand new start for us, a whole new beginning.”

  “And that’s the last thing you want, huh?”

  He knows that’s a rhetorical question.

  “If me and Lucca want to get out of this alive, Angel, we’re going to have to move fast.”

  That’s a realization I’ve slowly been coming to over the past few days.

  “And do you guys have any idea how that’s gonna happen?”

  I let out another sigh, shoving my hands in my pockets to stop me from playing with the ring. “I wish I did, but I don’t. I mean, it’s not like we can just shove a bag in the car and make a quick getaway undercover of night. The estate has twenty-four-seven security, armed guards with dogs, it’s impossible.”

  “What if that was a risk you had to take? The only option you had?”

  “I’d take it.”

  Because I would. Probably. As each day goes on, I know that a life without Lucca isn’t one I want to live anymore, so, yeah, if risking everything was the only option we had, then I would take it.

  “Would Lucca? Would he take that chance, too?”

  “I can’t answer for him, Angel.”

  “I think he’d take it. In a heartbeat. I know Lucca, and if he wants something he’ll fight for it. For them. And he’ll fight for you.”

  “Even if that fight could kill him?”

  Angel drops his head, but he doesn’t say anything, because he knows the risk we’re taking, it’s immense. Falling in love shouldn’t be a crime, but in this world, it can be. It is.

  “If you love each other, Olivia, you’ll find a way.” He raises his head and his eyes meet mine, and he smiles the smallest of smiles. “And we’ll help you. Remember that. In any way we can, we’ll help you try to find the life you really want.”

  Behind this man’s tough exterior there’s a heart of pure gold. “You’re going to make some woman incredibly happy one day, do you know that?”

  He arches an eyebrow. “You think?”

  Another shrug. “I know.”

  “You could kill my reputation with talk like that.”

  I laugh quietly. “Your reputation’s safe, don’t worry. I mean it, though. You’re a good guy, Angel.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t go spreading that about, okay?”

  I stare out at the Jacaranda tree, it’s bright purple foliage beautiful and bright against the cloudless blue sky. “I should get back to the restaurant. Javier and Lucca will be here any minute.” I look at Angel, and I really wish he’d stay for something to eat. This dark, dangerous man has a real calming influence on me, and I need him around more than I’d like to admit. “Are you sure you don’t want to hang around for some of Alvaro’s fish stew? It really is something else, and his homemade poppy seed bread… it’s the best!”

  “You really know how to sell shit, huh?”

  “I do my best.”

  “Maybe I’ll get some to go. Might be nice to eat some proper food for a change.”

  “Go see Alvaro. He’ll give you something to take back to the clubhouse.” We stand up, face each other, and I rest my hands palm down against his leather cut, leaning in to drop a quick kiss on his rough cheek. “Thank you.”

  He frowns. “For what?”

  “For everything you’ve done. And everything you still might do.”

  “Just doing my job, kiddo.”

  “And we both know that’s not true. You’re willing to go above and beyond for me, and for Lucca, and you need to know how important that is, and how grateful I am. I don’t like putting you and the club at risk, I kinda like having you around.”

  He laughs, and his whole face lights up, and it strikes me how very different he looks when he laughs like that.

  “Well, you know, hanging out with you isn’t the worst thing I’ve been asked to do.” He places his hand over mine, his eyes suddenly turning serious. “And we told you, Liv, we know the risks. But nothing’s going to happen to us, if you need us, we’re there. Okay?”

  I smile. “Okay.” I pull my hand away and step back from him, crossing my arms against myself. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  We make our way back over the road, and back into the restaurant.

  “You need anything, you call me. Alright?” Angel slides a cigarette between his teeth, and I nod, smiling as he throws me a wink before heading out front, where his bike’s parked.

  I go back into the office, contemplate one more small shot of tequila but then decide against it. Instead, I go over to the window and look outside. The sun is still beating down, the weather’s been kind to us today, meaning both the front and back terraces have been full of people wanting to sit outside and soak up the sunshine. I always think the atmosphere is so much nicer when the sun’s shining. People seem happier, like any cares they might have are somehow far away, in the backs of their minds.

  Across the street I catch sight of Javier’s black Jaguar pulling up, and I watch as Lucca gets out and opens the passenger door. I take a deep breath as Javier steps out, my handsome husband. A man I still love, in my own way, I just can’t be with him anymore. I can’t. He left, and too much happened. And I really don’t want to be here anymore.

  Fixing a smile on my face, I head out to meet them, just as they come through the door.

  “Mi amor!” Javier raises his arms in the air, flashes me a huge grin, and comes toward me, and it’s all I can do not to flinch as he pulls me closer. But I have to play along, so I wrap my arms around his neck, I kiss him, and I smile and I act like I’ve missed him today, but the truth is, the man I’ve missed is the one standing by his side. “Have you had a good day?”

  “I’ve had a long one.” I step back from him, and glance quickly at Lucca but he’s now over by the bar and he has his back to me. “What about you?” I ask, my focus back on Javier. “How’s your day been?”

  “Very productive.”

  “That’s good.”

  “But now I’m ready to spend some time with my beautiful wife, and eat some amazing food. Come. We’ll take a table out on the back terrace, it�
��s too nice to sit indoors… Nora, can we have a bottle of tequila for the table? Thank you.”

  Javier and I make our way outside, Lucca’s hanging back at the bar, he’ll bring the tequila with him.

  “I went to The Beach Bay Resort this afternoon.” Javier – ever the gentleman – pulls my chair out for me and I sit down.

  “I was there last week, to see how the fourth floor room renovations were coming along. Is everything okay?”

  It irks me that he’s visiting all of our businesses, one by one, it’s almost like he needs to make sure I didn’t fuck anything up. I didn’t. And I resent that he feels the need to do this, to check up on me, because that’s what he’s doing. And it’s pissing me off. I didn’t ask to be put in the position I was left in, that was all on him. All of it.

  “Everything’s fine. And the new rooms, they are stunning! That hotel is pure heaven, Olivia. What we’ve created there is a beautiful place, that anyone can afford.” Not everyone. It’s not the most expensive hotel around, we wanted to make it as accessible to as many people as possible, but it isn’t the cheapest either. “It’s always been one of my favorites.”

  Mine too. Javier and I, we spent many happy weekends there, it was a place we regularly took some time out in, a little bit of escape close to home. Maybe if we tried doing that again, tried taking some time out, alone, could that not fix what’s been broken…?

  What are you talking about?

  You don’t want to fix it, you don’t want him anymore.

  Maybe I just want an easy life.

  A safe life…

  “Olivia?”

  His voice yanks me from those thoughts and I swallow hard and fix that smile back on my face.

  “I’m sorry, I think hanging out here all afternoon, helping out behind the bar, it’s tired me out.”

  “You shouldn’t be helping out. It’s not your place.”

  “I think it’s very much my place, actually. Don’t you think?”

  He looks at me, his brow furrowing, all of a sudden he’s pissed at me for giving him attitude? It was what attracted him to me in the first place, that’s what he told me on our second official date. Something that feels like a whole other lifetime ago now.

  “You are not part of the staff, Olivia, we own this fucking restaurant, so this is the last time you “help out”, as you put it. Having you behind the bar, waiting tables, it isn’t the image I want to portray. It doesn’t look good.”

  “It was ridiculously busy in here this afternoon, did you expect me to just sit back and watch everyone struggle?”

  He leans forward, his voice now little more than a low hiss. “That’s exactly what I expect you to do. And if it appears that our staff are struggling at peak times then hire more.”

  “Just like that?”

  He sits back and shrugs, picking up the fork next to his folded-up napkin and tapping it lightly against the edge of the table. “Money isn’t a problem. Create some part-time work. The locals will be more than pleased to hear we’re creating even more employment.” He glances briefly toward the open French doors that lead back into the restaurant, he’s probably wondering where Lucca is. I know I am. And I know I said I’d had enough to drink – and I probably have – but I could seriously do with another one right now. “How did the meeting with Eddie go?”

  I’m surprised he doesn’t already know, he seems to be checking up on everything else I’m doing. “Fine. I’ve looked into the new clients he’s lining up for the next weapons shipment, and it’s all good.”

  “You did well, making the decision to go all in with the bikers. I’d never considered gun-running, I didn’t think we needed to go there, but I trust your judgement.”

  Again, I’m surprised. But whether he means it or not, I’m still not sure. In fact, my paranoia levels are pretty much sky-high at the minute, and I think I need a breather. A moment to pull myself together.

  “I won’t be long.” I push my chair back and stand up just as Lucca arrives.

  “Was it something I said?” He accompanies that retort with a smile, and he has no idea how much that smile pierces my heart with a pain it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

  “Pour me a shot of that, will you? I’ll go see how dinner’s coming along.”

  I escape back inside, but head straight back out again, onto the slightly quieter front terrace, this one hasn’t got the sun on it anymore. I just really need that moment. It feels like I’m slowly losing control of everything, and it’s terrifying, but I don’t know how to claw it back. And for the first time ever I’m truly scared of Javier. Of what he could do if he ever found out about me and Lucca. Betrayal isn’t something that’s tolerated in this world, and what Lucca did… He knew Javier was alive, and he still let it happen, and if I’d known… If I’d known I would never have touched him. Ever. I would never have put his life at risk, I love him too much for that. I love him, too much.

  Taking another long, deep breath I head back inside, remembering to make a quick detour into the kitchen to grab a basket of bread and a plate of butter before rejoining Javier and Lucca, who seem to be happily sinking tequila and laughing at some story Javier’s recalling. Lucca is doing a much better job than me of pretending none of this shit is happening.

  Setting the bread down in the center of the table I sit back down, next to Lucca, my thigh accidently brushing his as I push my chair in, and just that brief connection is enough to start my heart beating wildly, I can feel my cheeks flushing.

  “Dinner won’t be long. I hope you’re both hungry, Alvaro’s made a ton of stew, just for us.”

  Javier looks at me, and he smiles the most beautiful smile, and I allow it – just for a second or two – to bring back the many happy memories we share. We had a good life, before he chose to disappear, a life I’d loved. But everything’s changed now. And I can’t pretend it hasn’t.

  “Are you okay, Olivia?” His expression swiftly switches to one of concern, and I look at him. Right into his eyes, no, I’m not scared of this man. I’m not. He made me the woman I am now, strong and fearless, and I’m not afraid of him. I’m not.

  But you’re afraid of what he can do…

  “I’m fine.”

  “If you’re tired maybe I should get Lucca to take you home.” He glances around the terrace, as though he’s looking for someone. “Is there no-one from the Devil’s Creed here? I thought I’d made it clear that someone should be with you at all times.”

  “Angel was here a little while ago, but with you two coming there was no need for him to stick around. He’s back at the clubhouse now.”

  Javier sighs, his fingers turning his phone over and over on the table, does he even know he’s doing that? Has my husband suddenly developed nervous tics?

  “Are you too tired?” His eyes are back on mine, and there’s a hint of frustration in his voice that I have never heard before. Almost like he’s exasperated, and I don’t understand why.

  “Maybe.”

  “Lucca, go get Alvaro to pack you up some food and take Olivia home.”

  Lucca doesn’t even look at me before getting up and heading off to the kitchen.

  “We can’t leave you on your own,” I say, trying to ignore the nervous excitement welling up inside of me. Some time with Lucca, alone, that’s a gift I wasn’t expecting. But it’s a welcome one.

  “You should know by now, Olivia, that I am never alone in any of my establishments. I have all the protection I need, don’t worry about me.”

  Does he? Have all the protection he needs? We do have security here at the restaurant, of course we do, but the men and women we use are all from an agency in town that supplies all the security staff for all of our hotels, restaurants and clubs, they’re not cartel members or bikers. Security at the casinos is another matter, there we use our own people, but not here. Has he changed something, without telling me? At this point, do I even care?

  Lucca arrives bac
k at the table with a bag of food, and Javier stands up, taking my hand and pulling me up, too.

  “Come here, mi amor.”

  I step into his arms, his hand sliding onto the small of my back as he leans into me, his mouth brushing my earlobe as he whispers into it. “Wait up for me. I shouldn’t be too late.”

  That isn’t a request, it’s an order, and I swallow hard as he lets go of me and sits back down. And I watch as Javier signals toward a tall, dark-haired man I’ve never seen before, and who seemed to materialize from out of nowhere.

  “Cillian will look after me.”

  Who the fuck is Cillian? And as I glance quickly at Lucca it’s obvious he’s thinking the same thing. And that’s enough to make me wary, extremely wary, if he’s keeping shit from Lucca then something isn’t right. And yet, still I’m choosing to ignore the cold shiver that’s creeping up my spine.

  “Come on,” Lucca murmurs as Javier is joined at the table by this mystery man, and I can’t help feeling like any control I thought I still had here, it’s dissipating by the second.

  Lucca

  “This doesn’t feel right, Lucca. I don’t trust him.”

  Her eyes are flitting this way and that, almost as if she’s expecting Javier to appear from behind one of the palm trees out here on the terrace.

  “Why would he happily send you away like that? With no hesitation?” Her gaze finally rests on me, and I hate that she looks so sad. “I didn’t even think about it before, because I was so desperate to get away from him. To be with you…” She drops her head and shakes it, her arms wrapped around herself. “No. I did think about it. I did wonder, I just…” She slowly raises her head, her eyes back on mine. “All I wanted was to be with you. I ignored everything else.”

  I get it. I do. I understand that her trust in Javier is waning, but how much of that is down to nothing but paranoia?

  “How much does he know, Lucca?”

  I don’t know. He may know nothing, he may know everything, he isn’t always an easy man to read. Which means this could also be a trap. He could’ve sent us home together because he suspects there’s something going on, he could have eyes on us, people watching, and I hate that I’m feeling that paranoia creep up on me, too. Ever since his return things have slowly started to spiral downward in a way I don’t like, and I need to get a grip on that. And then leave this entire fucked-up world behind.