Chapter 183: There’s Always Danger
- LUCIANO -
The resort is a nightmare. A safety and security nightmare.
I hadn’t really given it much thought, honestly. I figured we would be in a hotel for some reason—not in individual "cabinas" that are exposed to the dense rainforest and only like a quarter of a mile from the beach.
Rather than feeling like this is a nice, peaceful getaway where I can see Rory everyday and hopefully get to know her better rather than simply sending text messages back and forth, now I’m worried. I can’t help it. It’s that paranoid awareness of all the dark lurking in the world.
The deep shadows of the rainforest are what catch my attention. The lingering eyes of the guests we passed on the way here. The danger that no one sees coming but that is guaranteed to exist.
And now rather than just being next door to Rory or down the hall inside a building with specific designated exits, we are in little tropical huts with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, virtually no privacy, surrounded by a forest so dense that all it would take is a few minutes for someone to disappear with little trace as to where they went. All it would take is a boat nearby to make someone disappear from this country entirely.
I should have been more involved in the decision-making about this vacation. I should have brought some guys from home.
If Rory and I were staying in the same cabina, it wouldn’t concern me as much. But I sincerely doubt that will be happening. It’s going to take longer than two weeks to get her to trust me to that degree, I imagine.
Instead, I choose the best possible option—the small cabina on the end so Rory will be flanked on either side by Dex and Raya and by me. There’s still access to the cabinas from the ground, but at least when it comes to these damn suspension bridges, she is nestled safely between the three of us.
"Not a fan of the rainforest?" Rory asks, eyebrows raised as she takes notice of the dip in my mood while I lean over the railing and try to anticipate every possible disastrous scenario that might unfold with her in the starring role.
Someone forcing their way into her room. Dragging her away into the forest. Taking her by boat. Throwing her into the ocean. It could be a deranged local or guest or someone targeting me, the heir to the Ricca family.
"It’s beautiful," I mutter.
Her gaze doesn’t stray from me like it usually does, so I push off the railing and wonder if the lightness that suddenly takes over when I have her attention isn’t something else to worry about. I’m smart and cunning and ruthless. I anticipate what could go wrong so that it doesn’t. But if I’m not careful, all of those things that have made me so effective in my position can get dulled with the simple satisfaction of being in this woman’s presence.
There’s a challenging, wicked flash of something that I catch in Rory’s stormy blue eyes before I lose them again, her gaze flitting out to the trees. The dream we were both in rears up in my thoughts along with a sick feeling arriving on its heels—one that whispers the possibility of a threat I will never be able to protect her from. Because that threat exists within her rather than out in the world.
"It’s been a long day. I’ll get our bags, and then what do you say we eat something?" I suggest.
"I’m not really hungry," she shrugs, the Costa Rican breeze caressing her hair and blowing it away from the shadows of her face that is leaning more toward gaunt since I saw her last.
One thing I know is that I want Rory protected. But maybe even more than that, I want her happy. I wonder if I could ever make her happy enough that she would become round and plump and beaming with that uniquely devious, fiery energy that she holds.
"The cuisine here is excellent," Xeni adds with a bright smile. For a moment, I forgot our resort host was even here. "World-renowned, actually. There was a recent article online featuring our chef, Nicolás Castillo."
There’s a twitch of interest on Rory’s brow that makes me chuckle internally. At least that passion she has for food is still there.
"Dinner will be available soon, but you can always order something from the kitchen later. There are local vendors in the area who stay operating after the kitchen has closed, and there are snack bars. But I would highly suggest taking the opportunity to taste chef Castillo’s food."
"That sounds amazing," Raya says, walking out from under Dex’s arm and leaning against the railing next to her sister.
"I will let you all get settled. Let me know if you need anything," Xeni says.
"Thank you so much, Xeni," Dex tells her. "You have been a wonderful help. Everything is beautiful."
My cousin: the perfect gentleman. Which is funny since he dresses like a bum half the time.
"How about we get the bags?" I gesture for Dex to follow me back to the largest cabina.
With one last look at the two sisters who are admiring our surroundings, we both head over the bridge.
"I take it you’re unhappy," Dex chuckles. "It looked like you were doing a mental risk assessment."
"It’s not what I would have chosen."
"You think someone is going to come find you here?" He asks. "I would have thought Uncle Saul would have advised against it, if that were the case."
"There’s always danger."
That’s the truth Dex’s parents shielded him from. With this recent incident with his brother—not to mention Raya’s stalker—I would think he would be more aware of the existence of constant threats like those.
I’m surprised Dex isn’t carrying a gun himself these days, but I suppose someone who has been sheltered their whole life might think that the nightmare is over. If he continues to get closer to our family, he’ll soon realize that’s nowhere near the case.
