“I have a feeling you consider yourselfnotto be a decent man. I disagree.”
“So are you saying that I’m in with a chance?”
I cock my head to one side, and she chuckles softly, the action lighting a spark in her eyes that whips the breath from my body.
“You are a decent man, Julius; you just disguise it well, I’m guessing.”
“You’re wrong, Rose.”
I shake my head, hating this conversation but realizing I must be honest with her.
“Decency is living a respectable life. Playing by the rule book and working a steady job. It’s putting others before yourself and remaining within the boundaries that keep you on the right path. I am not on that path, Rose. I went off-road the moment I could walk and live by my own rules. There is no decency in my life when there is nothing in it for me.”
I wave my hand around at the opulence surrounding us.
“My family takes rather than asks. They demand and they are ruthless in getting what they want. The guy who died — that is on me. I may not have pulled the trigger, but I gave the order. You see, nothing gets in the way of what I want—what my family wants and so push aside any notion that I am decent because I am not.”
She falls back against her seat and nods, her throat bobbing as she swallows hard, and it’s as if I struck a cute puppy. Disappointment flares in her eyes, and she casts them down, a fragile shake to her shoulders as she digests my words.
Eddie appears by my side.
“We land in twenty minutes. You should be prepared for that.”
I point to the seat in front of us, and as he folds his huge frame into it, Rose stares at him with interest.
“When we land, there is a car waiting for you. Customs and border security will be waiting at the foot of the steps, but there will be no problems with that.”
I’m aware Eddie will have made certain of a huge payout to get us through the border, and he holds out two passports and an envelope.
“You are Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan from Orlando.”
I raise my eyes, and his slight chuckle reminds me what a bastard he can be.
“Orlando?”
“Why not?”
Rose glances between us in confusion. “What’s going on?”
I take her hand and grin.
“Road trip. We must lose ourselves while Eddie clears our path home. You wanted excitement, baby girl; your wish is my command.”
“Will it be dangerous?”
“Life is dangerous.“ I snap and then say casually, “Not every corner reveals somebody out to get you. Sometimes life has a habit of dealing a blow where you least expect it. Accidents happen, health matters, disasters destroy and circumstances change. You cannot live life and not be affected by something along the way, but if you hide from it, you miss out on the most amazing gift man could ever receive. So, embrace change and run with it because one year of freedom will become addictive, and after a few days, you will no longer walk in fear of it.”
Eddie rolls his eyes, and I resist offering him my middle finger and growl, “What else?”
“You have the necessary paperwork, phones and credit cards in your new names. There is also enough cash should you require it, and I would advise you to pick up clothes and items you may need for your journey. There is an address you should head to tonight where you will be safe. They are expecting you.”
“What address?”
“It’s a gîte in the middle of nowhere. The couple who run it are clean and unaware of anything outside of theiridyllic existence. Use the time to plan your route and don’t even tell me where you are going. You’re on your own.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I reference the two guys he mentioned would be tailing us, and he shrugs.
