On the drive to Scarlet, I call Olivia twice more. Straight to voicemail both times.
If she hates me, I wouldn't blame her.
I spot her yellow car before I even see the club. The sun is still hanging low in the sky, casting everything in gold, softening the edges of the street like it hasn't decided the day is over yet.
I park on a side street and make my way to the front door. The bouncer greets me with a nod, and I return it before stepping inside. The door is already being opened for me when my eyes land on her.
Olivia feels my stare and looks up just as I approach.
"What the fuck do you want, Raul?"
"Olivia, please."
"Please what? You want to keep secrets? Fine. Especially since we're 'just friends,' right?" She throws the words back at me, dragging them out with pure venom.
The words hit harder than her slap from the other day.
"It's not like that."
"Then what is it, Raul?" she snaps, barely looking up from the limes she's cutting for the night shift.
"Can we talk outside?" I glance toward the other bartender.
"Hey, Jess, you got this?" Olivia asks over her shoulder. "I have some unfinished business, apparently."
Her sarcasm isn't lost on either of us.
"Yeah, hun. You're good," Jess says.
We take the path to the side doors and step into the alley. Olivia turns to face me, and my heart stutters. The last light of day catches on her caramel skin and deep red hair, turning her into something nearly unreal. She's breathtaking. Furious, but breathtaking.
"What the fuck do you want, Raul?"
"Listen."
"This is your last chance. I'm fucking done listening. I'm done being treated like an option. Stop fucking playing games with me."
"Wait. You think this is a game?"
"What else would it be?" Her voice rises, sharp with hurt.
"No. Olivia. I'm so sorry." I say her name, and the sarcasm cracks just enough for me to see what's underneath it. Fear. Thesame kind clawing at my own chest. I grab her hands. She lets me. "It's my dad."
"You've said that. What about him? What does that mean?"
"I need you to promise me you'll listen. No judgment. No telling anyone. This is for you and only you."
"What?"
"When I'm not working here with you, I help my dad with his own work stuff."
"What do you mean?" She's peeling me open, layer by layer.
"After my mom died, my dad got wrapped up in some shady shit. He and some of his business partners own a storage unit outside of town. And what they're doing… it's not always legal." I leave the rest unsaid. I've never been much of a liar, but omitting the truth comes easy enough.
"Like what? Drugs?"
I just look at her, hoping that answer is enough.