Page 41 of Royally Ruined

His eyebrows slid higher. “That’s a relief. If Darien can’t use your family against you, he’ll have no leverage. Neither will my father.”

It was a sobering reminder about how serious this all was. “And you? Does no one have anything they could use against you?”

Instead of speaking, he bent forward and closed his lips on mine. It was a sweet kiss—nothing like the one he’d smothered me with in the hotel room. The wild animal Costello had let loose in private was gone from here.

I gasped for air when he broke away. Together we breathed, chests rising and steam collecting on the windows. All from one kiss. It made me forget my question.

He pulled back, watching me. “Can I ask why you started working at the club?”

Blinking, I tried to regain my senses. “Oh, ah ... well. My friend decided she wanted to audition. She’s kind of like that—gets an idea and has to do it. I went along just to keep an eye on her, cheer her on, that kind of thing.”

Remembering the busy Friday-night crowd screaming for Gina as she did her first—but not her last—twirl on the pole gave me a funny nostalgia. It wasn’t a bad memory. I’d been happy that she’d felt so glorified by the experience. “After she did it, she decided she wanted tokeepdoing it.” I dropped my tone, hugging myself. “I wasn’t going to let her work there without backup. I knew the types of people that club could draw.”

Costello’s face twisted up. “I swear I had no idea about Darien being so unhinged.”

“Relax. No one could have guessed.”

“You did.” He tilted his head. “From the beginning, you could tell he was dangerous. How?”

I waved a hand, trying to make light of his observation. “It was just how I felt. Nothing special about it.”

“Tell that to Gina. Yournothing specialsaved her life.”

“I just did what I had to,” I mumbled with a blush. “There’s right and there’s wrong, you know?”

He propped an elbow on the steering wheel. “Sometimes it’s not easy to tell them apart.”

His intensity woke me up, made me realize what we’d just discussed. “Wait,” I said, starting to tremble. “Gina! We grew up together, she knows who my family is. If they find her ...”

“Call her,” he growled. “She has to hide. Did she use a stage name, too?”

“Sort of.” That calmed me a hair. Gina was short for Ginavene, and, like me, she’d never filled out any official paperwork.

I pulled out my phone in such a rush that my piercing came out of my jeans pocket with it. The hard jewel tumbled into my lap. Absently I snatched it up and shoved it deep in Costello’s jacket as I began to dial. I doubted she’d answer since it was barely sunrise. When her voice mail clicked on, I said, “Gina, it’s me. Listen, stuff has gotten worse. Youneedto hide. You could be in danger. Call me back right away.” Licking my lips nervously, I added, “I love you. Be safe.” I shut the phone and held it tight and hoped she’d get my message. I saw the battery in the upper corner had turned red; my phone was almost dead. It was a grim omen. “Whatever we do,” I said, “part of the plan is getting me a phone charger.”

His smile was a half moon. “Then you’ll let me handle this my way. No cops, yeah?”

Sinking into the leather, I gave the seat belt a squeeze. “No cops.” Thinking about his emotional speech made me shiver. Costello had been so raw and honest.He’d really die before he’d let anyone hurt me?

Costello turned the keys in the ignition with violent determination. “Do you think there are any breakfast places open right now?”

My mouth fell open. “You’re hungry?”

“I need to think. And I need some coffee to do that.” As we rolled forward, he looked over at me. “Thank you,” he said earnestly, “for telling me some of your past. I like getting to know who you are.”

“I like getting to know you, too,” I whispered. Though I smiled with all my teeth showing, deep down I fought back the massive tumbleweed of guilt that wanted to reveal itself.

Costello might know my past, but he had no idea who I really was.

And I could never tell him.

- CHAPTER FIFTEEN -

COSTELLO

I didn’t have a plan.

Ialwayshad a plan.

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