Guilty Pleasures (34 page)

“At least the service is good,” Rita said, hoping that Xavier didn't notice her hand shaking when she put down her fork. What the hell was Jinx thinking

“I do not like being disturbed when I'm entertaining,” he said, his clipped tone sending a thrill through her.

Her mouth went dry. She forced herself to smile. “I admire a man who knows what he wants,” she said, hoping to soften the suddenly tense atmosphere. She wiped the corners of her mouth with the stiff white linen napkin.

The hard lines around his eyes and mouth slowly diminished. “I apologize for that,” he said, slipping effortlessly back into the role of polished gentleman.

“I'm sure he was only doing his job.”

His mouth flickered with the beginnings of a smile. “I'm sure.” He lifted his wineglass to his mouth and sipped slowly, never taking his eyes from Rita. “I hope that you will join me for the rest of the evening. I understand there is a wonderful show in the nightclub.”

“I'd like that very much.”

“But I would like to know the name of the lovely woman that I am spending my time and my money on.”

“Rita. Rita Davis.”

*   *   *

Eva closed the cabin door behind her and walked into the well-appointed suite. Now this was living, she thought as she took in the view of the ocean, the lush carpeting, recessed lighting, and chic contemporary furnishings. It was a full apartment, from what she could see.

She stood in the center of the room with her hands on her hips. She'd start with the bedroom.

Eva moved slowly around the room. Her first stop was the built-in closet. The hanger rod was thick with clothes. On the floor were two suitcases. She pulled them out, sat down, and opened the first one, since it didn't have a lock like the second one.

It was filled with folders and an array of passports, all with Xavier's face with different names.

Interesting.
She put the passports back and then started sifting through the folders. All the documents and letters were in Spanish and Portuguese, but they looked important. Many of them carried government or notarized seals—that much she could figure out. She wished she'd paid more attention in Spanish class. She returned the documents to the folders and put them back in the suitcase. She pulled the second one to her just as she heard a noise at the front door.

“Shit.” She zipped the suitcase closed and shoved them both back into the closet. She eased the closet door shut. The front door opened. Frantic, she looked around.

There was no way out.

*   *   *

Jake had been on every level since he'd left the cabin—and Eva. He didn't see her anywhere, and she wasn't picking up her headset.

He'd probably have to sleep on the floor. He deserved it. The least he could have done was respond to her. But he'd been so stunned by the information, he knew that whatever he said at that moment would be the wrong thing.

How could he, in good conscience, bring a child into the world
He couldn't. Wouldn't risk it. Not even for Eva.

His stomach rocked back and forth. He felt ill, weak, and defenseless. All the things he never wanted to be for his wife.

Jake wandered aimlessly through the ship, taking in the happy faces, the families, the couples old and young. He slung his hands in his pockets.

The guilt of Earl's death, fear and trauma of it that he carried around inside all these years was enough of a confession, enough of a breach of his maleness. What little he had learned about being a man came from the street, from watching the OGs, the original gangsters, do their thing. He watched how they lived—on the edge, full out. There was no weakness, no room for compromise. And you never loved anyone more than yourself or the game. If you did, that's when it got dangerous. When you let your guard down, you opened the door for the enemy. And the enemy seeing your weakness could hurt you—through them.

He'd broken the cardinal rule by loving Eva so hard. She was his Achilles' heel, his weakness. One was enough. A child was out of the question. And then there was always the dark fact that any child of his would carry his father's genes—and that he especially couldn't abide—not even for Eva. She'd have to go see someone as soon as they got back. Make it go away. Then they could pick up where they'd left off and put this whole baby thing behind them.

Jake and Jinx made a pact years ago that they'd never bring any children in the world—that the cursed Kelly line would end with them. Until now, neither of them had broken that promise.

“They left the restaurant,” Jinx whispered in Jake's ear, snapping him out of his troubling thoughts.

“Yeah, Jinx,” he muttered, coming to. “Where are they going
”

“Don't know.”

Don't know.
“Aren't you following them
”

Silence.

“Jinx.” Jake hissed the word into his headset. He looked around, found a quiet corner next to a fake palm tree that was at least three stories tall. “What's going on
”

“Maybe you need to ask Rita.”

Jake's thick brows drew together. “Look, what are you talking about
What happened
”

“I'm going to get a drink.”

“Jinx. Where are you
”

“On the pool deck,” he said, his tone devoid of any emotion.

“I'm on my way. Stay put.”

Jake dodged guests, went up escalators and around waiters and waitresses. He spotted Jinx at the entrance to the pool deck.

“What's going on, man
” he asked his brother, coming up alongside him.