Danger in Paradise (16 page)

* * * * *

Patrick shifted in the cab of his truck, waiting across the street for Hope and her 24/7 bodyguard to return. She’d already checked out when he’d gone back to the hospital. Now he had no clue what to do. He assumed they’d return to the condo. If they didn’t, he had to leave the country, but he couldn’t without knowing she was dead.

Leaning back against the headrest, he almost dozed off when his phone vibrated across the center console. He snatched it up. “Yeah?”

It was his contact. “I’ve got what you want.”

“All right. Who are they?”

“I got this from a nurse at the hospital. The girl, Hope Jennings, had all her hospital bills paid by a man named Jose Santiago.”

“Who’s he?”

“Jose Santiago provides about half of the coffee to the world.”

“I’ve never heard of him.” That was odd. He thought he knew every major player in the financial world.

“Neither had I, so I ran a detailed search. About twenty-three years ago, one of his children was kidnapped. Her name was Anna and she was never found.”

His gut roiled. “Was she a twin?”

“You guessed it.”

It made sense. The woman at the hospital had to be Hope’s sister.

The other man continued. “The family keeps pretty much to themselves. They’re wealthy, but they don’t flaunt it. They pay taxes, donate to charity, and attend church. Maria, the other daughter, works in real estate. She’s got a hand in a lot of Miami high-rises. Basically, they’re hard-working citizens who keep to themselves.”

A plan formed in his mind. If he could get to Hope’s sister, he could force her out from her constant protection. “Does this Maria girl work by herself?”

“No, she’s got a partner…David Dubois.”

“Can you look up his info for me?”

“Already have.” He rattled off the man’s address and information.

Patrick noted everything and took another antacid. He couldn’t wait until this mess was over. The sooner he got out of the country, the better.

“I talked to your father’s attorney.” The words caught him off guard.

“Yeah, so?” Screw his father. The man would have sold him out for a hand job.

“The Feds haven’t gotten to questioning him about the contract on Hope, but they have hinted about it.”

“What does that have to do with me?” He started the engine to his truck and pulled out of the parking lot.

The other man let out a sharp bark of laughter. “If you don’t get your father’s
special
passport and extra money to his attorney, he assures me it will very much be your problem.”

“And if I don’t? Will this affect our arrangement?” He’d already paid the man so there wasn’t much he could do if it did.

“No. I’m just the messenger. You paid me and I don’t negate on a deal.”

For some reason, his words weren’t comforting.

They disconnected as Patrick steered into traffic. He needed to find an all night internet café. Map-questing David Dubois’s address shouldn’t be too difficult.

* * * * *

Hope rolled over and glanced at the clock. It was close to midnight and she still couldn’t sleep. They’d been at Luke’s for over an hour, but her heartbeat hadn’t returned to normal. In her gut she couldn’t believe Maria had written on the wall, but who else could it have been? Maria had wanted to hang out and chat when they’d arrived at Luke’s, but Hope had feigned a headache.

Luke hadn’t believed her excuse, though. She’d seen it in his eyes. At least he didn’t say anything or try to get her to stay. Kicking off the sheets, she got out of bed. She itched to call Mac, but she couldn’t put all this on him, too. He’d been through enough and even though she didn’t completely trust Luke, she trusted him enough to figure this out and to protect her.

If he’d managed to figure out what happened with Patrick Taylor, she had no doubt he’d figure this out, too. Seconds later, she stood in front of Luke’s bedroom door. When she’d gotten out of bed, she hadn’t planned to see him. Her feet apparently had a mind of their own.

She raised her hand to knock, but the door flew open. “How’d you know I was here?”

“I saw the shadow of your feet.” He pointed down, but his eyes never left hers.

Without his shirt on, she had a hard time focusing on his face and not his bare chest. She bit her bottom lip, not sure what she wanted, but unwilling to walk away.

At least he didn’t ask. Instead he stood back, and motioned with his hand that she could come in.

Tentatively, she sat on the edge of his bed. “I didn’t…I don’t want to be alone tonight.” Sex was the last thing on her mind. Even if he did look good enough to eat, her thoughts wouldn’t settle down.

“You can stay here. No pressure.” His smile was wry as he lifted his hands in a placating gesture.

Yeah right.
Without a word she slipped under the covers. He switched off the lamp, but left the bathroom light on. The small crack illuminated the room just enough so she could see him walking toward the bed.

He slid in next to her, pulled her back against his chest and just held her. She could feel his erection and the erratic beat of his heart, but he never made a move.

For that she was grateful. Her thoughts about him were still in limbo. He’d broken her trust, yet at the same time, she felt safe near him. Having sex with him might push her over the edge into dangerous emotional territory.

All her emotions were right at the surface. Any more complications and she was likely to have a mental breakdown. How she wished she could go back to her normal life in The Keys, when the most she worried about was getting sunburned.

“What are you thinking about?” he murmured in her ear, his deep voice sending a delicious thrill down her spine.

“How complicated my life has become.”
Including my involvement with you.

He pulled her tighter, his arm a steel band of reassurance. “We’ll fix this. I promise.”

We? She didn’t comment. “Who do you think did this?”

“I’m not sure. It’s possible Taylor sent those flowers and broke into the house using the greenhouse as an entrance, but…” He sighed.

“But, it just doesn’t make sense,” she finished for him.

“Exactly,” he spoke low in her ear, causing heat to pool between her legs.

She ignored it. Or rather she tried to. She shifted, trying to move away from the feel of his erection, but it was impossible.

He chuckled. “Sorry about that. I can’t be in the same bed as you and not…” His hand strayed from its position around her waist to rest on her hip.

He played with the elastic of her pajama bottoms, tracing his finger along the ridge until his hand slipped under. Her breath caught when she realized what he was doing. She should stop him, but the words stuck in her throat.

He paused, presumably waiting for her to tell him to stop. When she didn’t, he slipped his hand under her panties until his hand was over her mound. Touching and teasing.

She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a gasp.

“Do you want this?” He nipped her neck, and she jerked under his touch.

“Do you plan on using sex to get what you want all the time?” Her words were strangled. It was a wonder she could talk at all.

He chuckled and turned her on her back, but kept his hand between her legs. “I’ll do anything to keep you in my bed.”

What about your life? The unbidden thought popped into her head, but she willed it away. This was about sex. Nothing more.

Right. Keep telling yourself that.
The voice in her head was silenced when his mouth covered hers. All the warning bells and words of caution dissipated, but she knew they’d be back in the morning. Right now, however, nothing else mattered but what she and Luke could make each other feel.

Hope opened her eyes and stifled a groan. Luke lay on his back, his breathing deep and steady. Quietly, she found her pajamas and slipped them back on. She was a little sore, but the pleasure had been worth it. Maybe she should feel bad or guilty, but for a few hours, he’d been able to make her forget everything.

She stared at him for a moment while he slept. Of all people, why did she have to fall for him? Shaking her head, she slipped out of his room. The fresh aroma of coffee immediately hit her senses so she ventured to the kitchen.

“Morning.” Maria was pouring herself a mug when Hope walked in.

“Good morning. Did you talk to…Sonja? Did they make it safe?” She wondered if she’d ever be able to think of Sonja as her mother without pausing.

Maria glanced down and cleared her throat. “Sure.”

“You’re probably the worst liar I’ve ever met,” Hope muttered.

Maria looked up and grimaced. “Sorry. I talked to her last night and she didn’t go with him.”

“What?” Luke was going to be pissed when he found out. Not that Hope particularly cared. But she was worried about Sonja’s safety.

“She made me promise not to tell Luke, so you have to also.”

Luke had lied to her on more than one occasion. It should be easy enough. So why did she feel so lousy? “She’s not at your house, is she?”

“Of course not. She’s actually staying at the same hotel with Mac. She said they have adjoining rooms.”

“Really?” Well that was certainly interesting. Adjoining rooms? Whatever Mac was planning, she didn’t want him involving Sonja. Not that she thought he would. So why were they hanging out?

Damn, she missed her uncomplicated life.

“Yep, she’s meeting us for brunch today.” Maria shrugged. It struck Hope as odd that Maria wasn’t concerned.

“Brunch?” She poured herself coffee and added a little sugar.

“Oh, sorry. I told her we’d both be there. I hope that’s okay.” Maria glanced over her shoulder at her as she pulled creamer from the refrigerator.

“No, it’s fine. More than fine.” Spending uninterrupted time with them should be nice. Now that she’d had a chance to sleep on it, she wasn’t as worried about Maria being involved with trashing her room. It didn’t make any sense. Hope had spent a lifetime mistrusting everyone. Until she could prove anything or until her gut told her otherwise, she’d made up her mind to give her sister the benefit of the doubt.

“So, you and Luke, huh?” Maria raised her eyebrows and leaned against the counter as she took a sip of her coffee.

Hope felt heat creep up her neck and face. “I don’t know what we are.” Inwardly she groaned. She hadn’t even had a full serving of caffeine and Maria wanted to talk about this?

Her sister smiled. “I’m glad.”

She took a sip of her drink, but didn’t respond.

The disbelief must have been evident on her face because Maria continued, “It’s about time he dated someone normal. Besides, if you two get married, then he’ll be my brother.” Her smile was genuine.

Hope nearly choked as she set her mug down on to the counter. “Married? No way. Whatever
this
is,” she spread her hands out in a noncommittal gesture, “it isn’t serious.” Or at least she didn’t think it was. She trusted him with her body, that was for sure. Anything else, she was too confused.

“Hmm.” Maria shook her head knowingly.

“It’s not, I swear.”

“Do you want to drink this out on the balcony?” Maria lifted her mug.

Thankful for the change in subject, Hope nodded. Once they were both seated, the distant sound of the ocean was their only company. That suited Hope just fine.

After a few minutes, Maria broke the silence. “I’m sorry you had to see us fighting yesterday, especially your first day there.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” After everything she’d gone through the past week, seeing the Santiagos fight was the least of her worries. In a strange way, it was comforting.

“I think I had a vision of what it would be like if you were ever found. I thought maybe…maybe things would change,” she mumbled, and stared out at the ocean.

“You mean with your father?”

Maria nodded.

“What’s his deal?” Hope wasn’t going to sugarcoat it. The guy was sort of a jerk.

“I don’t know. Mom said he was different before you were taken, but I don’t remember it ever being different. She said that after you were gone, something inside him died and he couldn’t bond with me. Whatever, I’m tired of the sad excuses she makes for him.” Maria leaned back in her chair and propped her bare feet up on the table where Hope and Luke had eaten two nights before.

“At least you have your mom.” Hope ignored the twinge of jealousy she experienced.

Maria started to respond when Luke walked out onto the balcony carrying a steaming mug. Thank goodness he had a shirt on. He handed a cell phone to Maria. “Your phone’s been ringing off the hook. I’m surprised you didn’t hear it.” As if on cue, the phone started ringing.

“It’s barely eight. What on earth does he want?” she mumbled as she glanced at the caller ID, and walked back inside.

“How long have you been awake?” Instead of sitting next to her, Luke stood near the sliding glass door, almost uncertainly.

“Ten, maybe twenty minutes. Oh, Maria and I are having brunch with…with each other today. I’m not sure how that works into your plan, but I don’t think it’s up for discussion.” Hope shrugged. She’d let Maria and him hash it out.

“Fine, but I’m going with you.”

She’d known he’d argue and in truth, she wasn’t going anywhere without him or one of his bodyguards. She wasn’t stupid. “Whatever you say, but I don’t think Maria—”

Maria stormed back out onto the balcony. “Luke, mom stayed in town and we’re having brunch with her.” She poked him in the chest then turned back to Hope. “I’ve got to meet my business partner. I’ve left all the info for the restaurant on the counter. I’ll meet you around eleven?”

“Sounds good.” Hope didn’t move from her spot. Until she finished that first cup of coffee, she was staying put.

“Luke, you can bring her, but you’re not sitting with us. This is strictly girls only.” She winked at Hope and went back inside.

“Are you two ganging up on me now?” he grumbled and sat next to her.

Hope smothered a smile.

Luke mumbled something else under his breath and pulled out his cell phone. Hope listened to him and the crashing waves.

When he hung up, she didn’t bother to hide the fact that she’d been listening to his conversation. “So Marcus is going to be following Maria. Does she know that?”

He shook his head, his lips curving up slightly. “No, and I plan to keep it that way. She’s more stubborn than you.”

“Have you heard anything about what happened at the house?”

“No. The police were there and dusted for prints, but who knows how long that’ll take. I put in a call to a friend of mine and he’s going to see if he can expedite the tests.”

She pushed down her disappointment. Even though she understood, it still sucked. Vandalism wasn’t going to make it to the top of the list of crimes to solve.

Especially not in a place like Miami.