Danger in Paradise (14 page)

Hope slipped on the simple white T-shirt and jeans Maria had brought earlier. It should feel weird wearing someone else’s clothing, but they fit her perfectly. Well, almost. They were a little loose, but not much. She still felt shaky, but nowhere near passing out. She opened the bathroom door and peeked out.

Mac sat in a chair next to the bed, worry lines etched deep in the grooves of his suntanned face.

“Don’t do that.” She stepped out, letting the door close behind her.

“Do what?” He looked up, but his expression didn’t change.

“Frown like that. I don’t like it when you worry.” She perched on the edge of the bed.

“Too much is happening too fast.”

“Tell me about it,” she mumbled.

“So what’s going on with you and Luke?” He not-so-covertly glanced at Luke’s folded shirt on the made bed, then raised his eyebrows at her.

“Damn. I was hoping to skip this conversation.”

He held up his hands. “Hey, if you don’t want to talk about it—”

“No, it’s fine. There’s not much to say, though. I don’t know what’s going on with us, especially now.” Her heart was torn in so many different directions.  He’d slept with her even though he’d had suspicions about her identity and he’d stolen her DNA. She gritted her teeth thinking about his betrayal. Sure, she’d kept a secret from him, but nothing that could hurt him. She’d never been a violent person, but the thought of punching him brought a smile to her face.

“Just be careful with him. I don’t want you getting hurt.” Mac’s tone was even, but he sounded distant. She hated that it felt like he was pulling away from her.

“I know.” She glanced at the wall clock. Ten until seven. Sonja had said they’d be back to pick her up at seven thirty exactly and Hope doubted they’d be late. They wanted her to spend the next week with them, though they hadn’t put any pressure on her. They just wanted to get to know her. Not that she could blame them, but spending a week with strangers who would no doubt have hundreds of questions left her feeling queasy. She needed Mac with her more than she’d admit. “Are you sure you won’t stay with us?”

Mac shook his head. “No. You need to spend time alone with them and I…I need to take care of some things.”

Panic rose in her throat. “You promised.”

“Not that. I’m going to contact Howard and figure out how we can change your name without—”

“Wait a minute! I’m not changing my name.” She couldn’t keep the incredulousness out of her voice. He was her family. She’d never stop needing him. How could he not know that?

“You don’t want to at least change your last name?” He shifted in his seat, but didn’t break their eye contact.

She shook her head. Even if she wanted to, which she didn’t, she couldn’t do that. Not to Mac. She was a Jennings and always would be.

He nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “Well, if you change your mind, you won’t hurt my feelings.”

“Mac. You’re my family. Just because they’re my blood doesn’t change anything. Okay, that’s not true. A lot of things will change, but we won’t. Not ever. You gave me back my life and whether you like it or not, you’ll always be number one. Everyone else is a distant second.” She couldn’t believe he was worried about that. She’d never known she had family so it wasn’t as if she’d had pipe dreams about being reunited with them.

He shrugged and glanced away, but she didn’t miss the sheen in his eyes. She almost forgot to breathe when she saw that. She couldn’t remember seeing Mac cry. Like ever.

Before she could stop herself she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He might not be big on affection either but he returned her embrace with equal strength, squeezing her until it was hard to breathe. But she didn’t care.

As his grip started to loosen, shouting from outside the room pulled them apart. They both stood and rushed to the door.

Mac flung open the door and tried to block her, but she wiggled past him. Luke, two other men she knew worked for his security company, and a man with a red vest and a hat that said ‘Gemma’s Florist’ were arguing.

“What’s going on?” She directed her question at Luke even though she wanted to ignore him for the time being.

“Nothing.” He grabbed the flower box away from the delivery man. “You can go now,” he said pointedly to the man who all but ran down the hall.

“What is that?”

“It’s not important.” He tried to hand the box to one of the other men but she intercepted and snatched it away.

When he tried to pull it back, she knocked the box to the floor. A dozen black roses scattered across the white tile. The garish contrast against the floor and the hateful meaning burned a hole in her gut.

“Are those for me?” she whispered.

The expression in Luke’s eyes gave her all the answer she needed.

When he didn’t answer Mac put a supportive arm around her shoulders. “Did it come with a card?”

Luke sighed and handed it to her. “Yeah.”

Go home. You don’t belong here.

Bile rose in her throat. This card couldn’t have been from Taylor. It didn’t make sense. “Who could have written this?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Luke’s menacing tone left her with no doubt that he would. His protectiveness threw her off kilter. How could he act like that yet have lied so much to her?

A shiver snaked down her spine. The Santiagos seemed to want her to stay with them. Or she thought they did. Why would they have invited her to stay with them if they didn’t?

“It wasn’t any of them.” Luke’s deep voice cut into her thoughts, as if he’d read her mind.

She ignored him and glanced up at Mac. He didn’t need any more to worry about. “Why don’t you get out of here? I’m sure this will be sorted out.”

He glanced back and forth between her and Luke. His jaw clenched when he stared at the other man, but his gaze softened when he returned to meet hers. “I’m not leaving town until you do and I’ll have my cell phone on 24/7. Call me for anything.”

Part of her was surprised he hadn’t argued to stay, but she knew him better than anyone. He was planning something or he wouldn’t have left her side. After he dropped a quick kiss on her head, he motioned to Luke to follow him.

She rolled her eyes.
Subtle.

About three doors down from her room they stopped. It was too far for her to hear anything, but whatever it was, neither man looked pleased when they walked away. Something told her Mac was planning to find Patrick Taylor on his own. He might have promised he wouldn’t do anything, but she doubted it. It was in his nature to take matters into his own hands. Not that he would have told Luke that. No, Mac probably threatened Luke’s life or at least threatened him with bodily harm. Hope suppressed a smile at the thought.

She went back in the room to grab Luke’s shirt and her purse, then changed her mind and decided to wait for the Santiagos in the privacy of her room. Seconds later, however, Luke disrupted her solitude.

“What do you want?” She crossed her arms over her chest and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m taking you to the Santiagos’ house.”

“I thought they were picking me up.”

“They were, but after this you’re not going anywhere without me.” He stood with his feet spread a foot apart, looking like he was ready to take on a charging bull.

Which was kind of what she felt like at the moment.

She blinked and stood suddenly as his words sank in, dropping her purse and his shirt to the floor. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I don’t know what’s going on and until we do, I’m your shadow.” One dark eyebrow lifted in challenge.

Anger rushed through Hope with hurricane like intensity. She gritted her teeth. Now he thought he could tell her what to do? “Now wait just one minute—”

He retrieved the fallen items from the floor and tucked them under his arm. “Whatever your feelings are about me don’t matter right now. You’re in danger, Hope, so put your pride away.”

“Why, you—”

He cut her off again. “Come on, we’re getting out of here. I don’t want you out in the open longer than necessary.” Luke held open the door and looked at her expectantly.

Every part of her wanted to argue—and to make him argue back—but the quicker they left the hospital, the sooner she’d be able to get some space between them. Having the Santiagos as a buffer would come in handy.

She followed Luke down the hall, and the two extra bodyguards trailed behind her. Luke waited until an elevator emptied out, then she entered with him and the two other men. They boxed her in so she could barely move two inches. Despite her desire to completely ignore him, she couldn’t help the tingles that shot through her at his proximity.

“Is this really necessary?” She directed her question to Luke.

He didn’t look at her when he answered. “Yes.”

“What about my clothes and other stuff?” She certainly didn’t want to take a side trip to his place.

“I’ve already had everything delivered.”

The rest of the walk was silent. One of the men picked them up in the front of the hospital and to her annoyance, she shared the back seat with Luke.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, Hope,” he said quietly.

“You could have been honest with me,” she snapped and continued staring out the window.

“Just like you were honest with me about who wants you dead?”

She whipped her head around to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He couldn’t know, could he?

“It isn’t Richard Taylor who wants you dead, it’s his son.” It wasn’t a question.

“How do you know?” She couldn’t believe Sonja had lied to her.

“That day in Jamaica, I saw you get sick through the window. When I saw the man on the computer screen I put everything together. I had my partner run his records…he hurt you, didn’t he?” His voice was low, soothing.

A mixture of relief and sadness welled up inside her that he already knew. She swallowed and looked at her hands, but found her voice. “Yeah.”

“How old were you?”

She swallowed once then found her voice. “Fifteen.” When she looked back up she saw the one thing she never wanted to see from anyone. Especially not from Luke.

Pity.

Luke’s hand on her thigh forced her to face him again. “What?”

“We’re going to stop this guy. I promise.” There was a dangerous glint in his charcoal eyes and she was glad it wasn’t meant for her.

“It doesn’t matter. There’s a statute of limitations on rape in Florida.” She balled her hands into fists. If she’d known her attacker’s name back then, things might have turned out differently. Now she’d lost her chance.

“Technically you weren’t a citizen—”

She cut him off. “Whatever. It’s just my word against his and there’s no DNA evidence. Taking him to court wouldn’t do any good.” Talking about this with him, of all people, wasn’t something she could handle. Not now. Maybe not ever.

“I wasn’t talking about prosecuting him.”

Oh.
She looked at him sharply and realized that he’d have no problem killing the man who had hurt her so badly she still had nightmares sometimes. The thought of him wanting to protect her like that made something unexpected bloom in her chest.

But she didn’t want to continue the conversation so she changed the subject. “Are you really going to be staying at the house with us?”

He nodded and she realized he hadn’t removed his hand from her leg. Maybe she should be annoyed, but his touch grounded her. Even as it made her senses go more than just a little haywire.

“What do you make of the letter?” She didn’t need to specify.

“I still don’t know. I don’t think it’s from Taylor though.”

“I don’t, either. It makes no sense. It was more of a threat to my being
here
. Maria seems happy I’m here…right?” She hated the obvious desperation in her voice, but if her own sister wanted her gone she might as well pack up and head to the nearest hotel.

“More than you realize. She blamed herself almost as much as…” He shook his head and glanced out the window. When he did, he squeezed her leg before removing his hand. Immediately she missed the connection.

No way. If she had to answer questions so did he. “As who?”

He turned, his eyes filled with unmistakable sadness…and
guilt?
“As me. It was my fault.”

“What? You couldn’t have been more than what, twelve?” Her heart twisted at the thought. Had he really been blaming himself since he was a teenager?

He shook his head. “Thirteen.”

“What could you have possibly done? You were a kid, yourself.” The look of raw agony on his face almost made her forget how much he’d lied to her.

“You wanted to play with me and I told you to get lost.” His face was impassive, but she knew better by now. His eyes gave him away.

“So?” That’s why he felt guilty? She’d expected a lot more. Like an actual reason.

His eyes widened slightly. “So, if I’d let you play with me none of this would have happened. You would have had everything you ever wanted in life and…”

“That’s crazy. Maybe Maria would have been taken, instead. You can’t go back and do the ‘what-ifs’ in life. Trust me. I don’t remember any of it, anyway.”

“Nothing?”

“Not really. When we were in Cuba I had a flashback, but that’s it. I’ve always had dreams and nightmares that made no sense and now I think I know why.”

“No one’s ever going to hurt you again. I promise.” His deep voice told her he meant what he said.