Ten
Lucky drove Lulu's car with her sitting silently in the passenger's seat. She stared sideways out her window, not processing anything that passed her line of vision. Lucky kept stealing concerned glances at his sister, noticing her jaw was set tight, her lips a thin line of anger.
"Lulu," he implored.
"I don't want to hear it, Lucky. Not now." Her gaze remained fixed out the window.
"I get that. I really do. But you've gotta know that he did the right thing." At that, Lulu rotated in her seat to glare at her brother.
"No, Lucky. I don't know he did the right thing. I can't see how his hiding could possibly help save him. Once Sonny realizes he's gone, then he'll know something's going on. Then he'll probably figure out the truth. Then Dante's life will be in danger." Lulu was screaming inside and it was starting to show when her voice cracked and she realized she was having a difficult time breathing.
Lucky just gave her a concerned look and swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. After her breakdown, it had been difficult for him to see her as anything but fragile. He knew she was recovered, but couldn't help it. She was his baby sister. And she looked so much like their mom.
After a moment, Lulu regained some semblance of composure and calmly asked, "What happened anyway? Who found out?"
"From what I gathered, it has to do with those case files you and your boyfriend were looking into last week about that artist, Franco."
"He's not my boyfriend," Lulu interrupted, although she wasn't sure why she felt it necessary to make the clarification.
"Well, your friend then." Lucky looked awkward, like this was not the sort of conversation he wanted to be having with his little sister. "Anyway, according to him, Spinelli and Jason were investigating Franco too and today their search came up with something. Spinelli saw that Dante Falconeri was the arresting officer a few years ago when Franco was busted for tagging. Luckily, Dante was in the room when he got the info. At the time, there was no way for them to know that Dante was really Dominic, but I think it's safe to assume that they're putting the pieces together as we speak."
"Olivia!" Lulu's eyes lit up at the realization. "She'll be their first stop. Where is she, Lucky? Dante wouldn't leave without making sure she's safe."
"Don't worry. The NYPD has taken her into protective custody. She'll be safe, but her disappearing will just incriminate Dante further. That's why it wasn't safe for you to go with him, Lulu. If you left, then it would be obvious from the get go that Dominic is Dante. Everyone is aware of your relationship and it wouldn't take much to put the pieces together if you both disappeared."
Understanding crept into Lulu's stomach at her brother's words, but she still couldn't admit that Dante's leaving without her was the right choice. She just wanted the opportunity to talk it out with him. Things always made more sense, life was easier to handle, when the two of them could dissect a situation. She hated that he wasn't here right now, sitting next to her, explaining every angle of the situation and how he felt about it. She suddenly felt lost without that. She wanted to talk to someone in the raw manner he allowed.
"I'm taking you back to my house. We can pick up your stuff in the morning."
"I don't need babysitting, Lucky. Take me to the apartment." She resumed staring out the window.
"I don't think that's such a good idea, Lulu." Her head whipped around to stare at him again.
"Why not? You think I'm gonna go after him? I don't have any idea where he's gone and the only person I know who could track him down is out of the question. I'm not going anywhere." Lulu's eyes lit up as they passed under a street lamp and Lucky saw that they were filled with tears, although none had fallen.
"It'll just be easier if you come home with me, Lulu. Dante doesn't need you running to Jason or Sonny to try and fix things."
She gaped at him, hurt that he would imply she would make things worse for Dante. "I wasn't…I'm not…" she was shaking in anger now.
"I'm sorry, Lulu. I don't want to upset you, but this is more dangerous than you can imagine. You have to keep a cool head and you can't let anything slip. Especially around your friends."
"You don't think I know that?! What do you think I've been doing for the past month? I've had to keep this secret from everyone I care about! You don't think I realize what the truth will do to them, not to mention what it will do to Dante!"
"Of course you do," he sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything. I'm just worried about you." He moved his right hand from the steering wheel to give her fingers a squeeze.
"Well, don't worry about me. Worry about Dante." She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her gaze back to the window, letting silent tears fall where her brother couldn't see.
