Page 35 of Hostile Secret
My heartbeat takes off, panic jumping through my veins. “No… he’d murder me.”
Literally.
“My big brother is a killjoy too.” Ana grabs my bicep and squeezes. “Don’t worry, we won't take any incriminating photos.” Her giggle is wicked.
I shake my head and reach down to my backpack on the floor, pulling it onto my lap. “Not a good idea. Maybe some other time.”
“Some other time won’t be your eighteenth birthday, India.” Ana scowls, her gaze flitting to Valeria for moral support.
“Yeah, girl. Seize the day.” She chimes in. “Fabian might come if we ask him. He never invites anyone to hang out––unless he’s into them and you appear to be on his radar. I bet he’d bring his buddies if you're happy for a bunch of hot guys to hang at your place. I mean, that would be like…the dream, right?”
“The dream,” Ana repeats with a love-struck sigh. “Have you seen Zac and Sebastian? I swear their families had first class access to the freaking pool of perfect genes or some kind of divine elixir that made those three boys gods.”
“Look… I don’t want to piss off my brother.” I unzip my backpack and stuff the book inside. “He’s good to me. We have an understanding.”
We stand when the bell rings. “You’re so adorable, India.” Ana hooks my arm with hers. “Come back to my house, then. I’ll lend you a dress and we’ll go to Elysian for cocktails.”
I frown, thinking over the consequences. “What is Elysian anyway?”
“It’s a really cool bar north of here. Fabian goes there every weekend. His uncle owns it. Which makes it difficult to get in unless you’re personally invited. And we all heard the invitation, didn’t we?”
“I don’t know—”
“You’re an adult now. A woman has every right to celebrate her birthday Ana Vargas style. Your brother is probably screwing some hottie in a rooftop jacuzzi, ordering booze, and snorting cocaine while you’d be miserable and home alone.”
If only she knew how deep her words sliced. Those were the antics I’d expect from André, Letterman, and even my Reno. Giovanni—he’s not the stereotypical drug lord. And if he is, the guy keeps it well hidden. Then again, he keeps everything locked down.
Despite knowing he’s different, I feel a heaviness in my chest at the thought of him with another woman. My steps become stiff, and a weight sits on my shoulders.
This is a nightmare.
He can screw whoever he wants, and I can party on my birthday. It’s not like I’d woken up to any fanfare or a mountain of gifts.
“There’s one problem. The pilot is going to tell him I didn't get in the helicopter.” I bite my lip, considering the absurd idea of going AWOL and checking the time on my phone. “He’s outside now. Maybe it’s best if I just go home––”
“I have a plan.” Valeria interrupts, fingering the tips of her hair. “You leave with Ana now. I’ll charm the pilot and tell him you’re having a girly sleepover at a friend's house. If he’s anything like my father’s lapdog, he’ll follow my car thinking I’ll lead him straight to you. But I’ll go home first and throw him off the scent. Then I’ll meet you guys at Elysian later.”
My heart rate is off the charts at this point. My hands are tied. Do I risk the girls digging deeper into my life, or play along and run free for the night? I know which I’d prefer.
“Okay––tell the pilot I’ll meet him here tomorrow morning at ten thirty.”
Ana throws her arms around me. “This is going to be the best night ever!”
My stomach knots. Reno would be disappointed in me for pulling a stunt like this. Then again, he was my brother, my blood, and Giovanni is none of those things. I’m basically an inconvenience who was forced upon him. One night out won't disrupt his life.
“I hope it’s worth the hassle,” I mutter.
“There won’t be any hassle, India.” Ana takes me by the hand and leads me in the opposite direction of where the helicopter is waiting. “My driver is over here. The sooner we get ready, the faster we can get this birthday celebration underway.”
We moved from daylight into a blacked-out vehicle after a smartly dressed chauffeur opened the Bentley passenger door and shut it behind us.
Guilt tumbles in my belly like hot coals over the short journey to Ana’s mansion. Not only did I disobey Giovanni, but I’d left Daenis behind too. She’d need to be fed, exercised, and cuddled. What sort of selfish woman have I become?
Hopefully, Lola likes dogs. Blistering panic batters against my guilty conscience. What if she doesn’t? What if she locks her up in a cellar or chucks her outside all day? What if I never see her again?
Though Daenis had been in Blackwater all week. I would have known if she wasn’t happy.
I groan inwardly and check my phone. No missed calls from André—or Giovanni.
