“Public visibility equals safety,” Ryker said simply.
“He might be right,” Jace agreed reluctantly. “I still think we should consider bodyguards. But if you two become the nextitcouple with everyone watching your every move … that makes it harder for a hit man to operate. And harder for them to do it under the radar.”
Ahit man. How did that term belong in my life?
“So, if he kills the city’sitcouple, that’s bad for business,” I said.
“Exactly. Might bring even more speculation on them.”
“So, you don’t think we’re in danger?” Hope crept into my voice.
“Oh, no.” Ryker’s frown was grim. “I think you two are completely screwed.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it or anything,” Axel muttered.
Well, at least he’s honest.
“But even if Tony Romano is fuming,” Ryker continued, “there’s one thing he absolutely won’t want: the investigation and heat that would come from taking out anitcouple.”
“I love how you discuss murder investigations like Sunday brunch plans,” I said. “Not disturbing at all.”
“When a beloved, famous couple gets murdered, the media scrutiny is relentless. That means the investigation puts massive pressure on his organization.” Ryker’s eyes were deadly serious.“At the end of the day, he’s a businessman who weighs risks and opportunities. I have to believe that rationality will win.”
“Have to believe? As in we’re still guessing.” Axel pinched the bridge of his nose.
“We don’t know anything for sure,” Ryker admitted. “But out of all your options, your best shot at staying safe is selling this fake engagement like your lives depend on it.”
“There has to be another way,” Axel pushed.
“You can’t just sell the engagement,” Ryker continued. “You have to become theitcouple that everyone follows and talks about. And you need to change the narrative about Axel flirting with Victoria Webb. If you sell this as a love story where you were never pursuing Victoria, the PR crisis effectively goes away, and her husband’s PR team will smooth the wrinkles of any portion of her flirting long before the press digs into criminal family ties. If you can manage that, hopefully, the Romano family will lose interest.”
Hopefully. Our heartbeats depended onhopefully.
The room fell silent again. Rain continued its assault on the windows, and I could practically hear everyone’s minds racing.
Well, nothing says romance like mortal terror.
Thunder cracked overhead, and I had the distinct feeling our fake engagement was about to become a lot more complicated than either of us had bargained for.
18
WHEN SHE LOOKS AT YOU LIKE SHE’S ALREADY PLOTTING YOUR DEMISE AND YOU’RE WEIRDLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. #REDFLAGATTRACTION
AXEL
Was pranking Dakota a good idea or a bad idea?
Hopefully a good one.
Two nights ago, everything changed. The moment we learned about the danger, I caught something in Dakota’s eyes, just for a second. Terror, quickly buried under her usual confidence.
Yesterday only confirmed what I’d seen. We’d had another scripted public appearance as the happy couple, this time lunch at some trendy bistro. Dakota played her part perfectly, smiling at all the right moments, but I knew her tells. She was quieter than normal, picking at her salad instead of devouring it. Every few minutes, her gaze would drift to the entrance or sweep across the other tables, those beautiful eyes just a little too watchful. When our server appeared suddenly at her elbow with the check, her fingers tightened on her water glass.
Back home, where she should have relaxed, she still seemed on edge. I noticed her checking her phone obsessively, standing by the window a beat too long. When I accidentally bumped intoher in the bathroom doorway while she was brushing her teeth, she flinched. Just slightly, but enough for me to notice.
I’d been racking my brain all night trying to figure out how to make it better. Talking about the danger would only make it worse, force her to acknowledge the fear she was working so hard to hide. What Dakota needed was to laugh, to forget for a while, to feel normal again. The only thing I could think to do was lighten her mood.
Maybe a prank would accomplish that? After all, the last time I’d seen her genuinely smile was when she’d pranked me with her public display of—let’s call it what it was—soft-core porn disguised as yoga.
