Hard Risk by Sidney Bristol
Chapter Thirteen
Resort, Miami, FL.
Why weren’t they calling the police? Why was everyone so calm?
Robin clutched her travel purse to keep her hands from shaking.
The resort staff bustled about her, hauling the luggage out of the limo as if nothing were wrong.
Harper stood with Uncle Daar, their heads together. She noticed the steadying hand Harper had on Uncle Daar’s elbow.
Why hadn’t they gone to a hospital?
She still didn’t fully understand what happened or why.
Of course, she should know a few things.
Uncle Daar’s work, what he did, was something they didn’t talk about. That his work was illegal was a thinly veiled family secret. If Robin didn’t make it her life’s purpose to shut up and listen, she probably wouldn’t know as much as she did. Which meant it shouldn’t be a surprise.
This was the first time that she knew of that Uncle Daar’s life had bled into their own.
“Robin?”
A hand slid down her arm.
She jumped, startled by the touch.
Harper’s grasp on her tightened, and he pulled her toward them. “Everything’s okay.”
She glanced over his shoulder to find that everyone else was gone. He squeezed her to him, rubbing large, calming circles on her back.
A lump formed in her throat.
Harper didn’t know about her uncle’s work or what he did. How was he not curious after that incident? Or was he simply used to altercations like that? Then there was the third option. Could Harper know? If he knew, what did that say about him?
She bit her lip to keep her questions to herself. Airing them wouldn’t make matters better by any means. In fact, it could cause problems if Harper began asking questions of his own. She didn’t know what Uncle Daar might do then.
Harper took her hand in his. “Come on, they’ll take us to the villa.”
“Okay,” she muttered.
He waved at a man wearing a three-piece suit despite the humidity. The gentleman nodded then sprinted toward a shiny golf cart that looked more like a mini, luxury car.
“Come on,” Harper urged.
She let him lead her to the cart and hand her into the back seat. He spoke with the driver, or was he a butler? She knew the villas were supposed to come with twenty-four-hour butler service, but she hadn’t paid attention to what that meant. Regardless, Harper gave the man directions then slid in next to her and draped his arm across the back of her seat.
He didn’t say anything, and neither did she.
The cool ocean breeze felt good as they sped toward their villa on the property.
She didn’t know who had found this place, but it was quite nice. Situated a little distance outside Miami, it boasted a central hotel, a few restaurants, a golf course, excursions, and private villas. They wound away from the central areas through what felt like neighborhoods of villas with their own soaking pools. When she thought they might drive off the property they emerged from under the palm trees to a gate.
The driver swiped a keycard then turned to grin at them. “Welcome to the most exclusive villa on the property.”
The gates swung open revealing a spacious ranch-style house. A few carts were already there, including a utility vehicle with their luggage.
She managed to pull herself together enough to offer to tip the driver, but he held up his hand.
“No, ma’am. I can’t accept that. Hotel policy,” he explained with a generous smile.
“The hotel’s policy is to pay their employees a higher wage,” Harper chimed in. “I might have read the brochure on the flight.”
“Oh.” Robin pocketed the money and thanked the man again.
Mom would love that policy.
Was that something they’d looked into trying themselves?
Then again, who was she to suggest changes to Mom’s businesses?
Robin filed that question away for later.
Harper laced his fingers with hers and together they stepped into the villa. Button and Bow barked constantly, their voices sounding like a chorus of dogs with all the tile. Several people in three-piece suits bustled around under the watchful eye of Saaina.
Uncle Daar and Dad were noticeably absent.
“Where do you have us?” Harper asked one of the butlers sporting an impressive amount of pins on her lapel. It seemed to indicate seniority of some kind.
“Follow me, please?” the woman said brightly.
Robin was just glad she didn’t have to think for herself. Tremors still shook her, and she felt jumpy.
It was one thing to know her uncle was a bad man. It was another to see him attacked like that today.
“The two of you are in rooms across the hall from each other,” the woman said as she led them down the left hall off the entry. She referenced a little notebook before following the hall around at a right angle. “Mr. Gonzalez, you are in the exterior room and Ms. Suleiman you are in the interior room. Here at the end of the hall is a little sitting room with pool access.”
Harper opened the door to his room, and they both looked inside. He appeared to have scored the corner room. The drapes were open to let in the sun and show off the impressive view of the strip of beach accessible to resort patrons.
“You each have private bathrooms,” the woman added. “Your luggage should either be in your room, or there shortly. Can I get anything for you?”
“No, thank you.” Robin pulled away from Harper and stepped into her room.
The view was of the pool and patio area, so a less impressive view by far. Unlike Harper, she did have a sliding glass door that let out onto the pool, so that was nice.
Except that Dad and Uncle Daar were standing out there, their heads together.
Robin crossed to the windows and flipped a switch. She said a little thank you to the universe when blinds began to descend.
“Thank you, very much,” Harper said.
The bedroom door closed, shutting out all the noise. She wrapped her arms around herself and breathed deep, feeling a little safer.
“Hey?” Harper whispered.
She continued to stare at the blinds.
He slid his arms around her waist and tugged her back against his chest.
“Did that scare you?” he asked, his tone gentle.
“Of course. What even happened?” Her throat tightened, cutting off any other questions.
“Just two guys trying to shake him down. That’s all it was.”
Harper sounded so certain, and yet people didn’t get mugged in the middle of a busy airport like that. Harper was trying to protect her, and she appreciated it. But she also knew better.
Uncle Daar had been the target, she just wasn’t sure if she was brave enough to ask, why?
He wouldn’t tell her. That much she knew for certain.
The bedroom door banged open. Twin yaps of excitement heralded Button and Bow darting toward them.
Robin turned just enough to watch Saaina stride into the room. She’d chosen a long tunic today and wrapped a scarf over her head. The ends fluttered over her shoulders like a stole, extolling her power. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the two of them.
Button and Bow sprinted for Harper, sniffing his feet and jeans. After the incident in the park, they’d warmed to him, much to the surprise of everyone.
“There will be none of that,” Saaina said loudly.
Robin hunched her shoulders. She didn’t know what that was, but she was clearly guilty.
“I’m sorry…?” Harper said, his tone unbothered by the abrupt entrance.
Saaina closed the distance and waved her hands at Harper. “There will be no funny business while we are here. Do you understand me? None. You will stay in your room, and you in yours. No co-mingling. None. Do you hear me?”
Robin’s cheeks heated, and she stood there frozen. Saaina was the queen of the silent treatment and pointed stares. She was rarely this direct. Robin shifted her weight, but Harper’s hold on her tightened.
“I understand perfectly,” Harper said in a pleasant tone.
Saaina frowned up at him while Robin was caught between them.
“There will be none of that funny business here, are we clear?” Saaina repeated.
“Of course not,” Robin croaked. Her throat was dry and her face a million degrees.
Voices echoed down the hall.
The luggage must be on its way in. She did not want to get caught having this conversation by anyone, but most of all the people who would be working around them for the next week. This was mortifying.
Saaina wagged her finger at them. “My Cassim will not be a grandfather so soon.”
Robin closed her eyes and muttered, “Oh my—”
Button and Bow howled.
She cringed and opened her mouth to apologize to the staff, only to watch Dad and Uncle Daar walk in. Robin’s mouth clicked shut.
What did she even say to them about what happened?
“Harper!” Cassim turned from his brother. “We’re going to go hit the green, get some golf in. You game?”
Uncle Daar shot Dad an amused look. “Cassim is desperate to find someone worse than he is.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Harper said slowly.
Robin turned to him and pasted on her brightest smile. “You should go. That sounds like fun. You said you were learning to golf, right?”
He blinked at her a few times like a man thrown under a bus.
Okay, maybe she was sacrificing him a tiny bit.
Robin was about to crawl out of her skin. She needed a moment alone to process what the hell had happened, and she couldn’t do that around any of them. Saaina and Dad would insist nothing was wrong. She didn’t want to think about what Uncle Daar might say to her. And Harper? He didn’t know, and she wasn’t sure if she should or could tell him, not if this was getting dangerous.
He looked at her for a long moment then glanced at Dad. “Sure. Okay. I can join you for a bit. Not sure I’m up for a full game.”
“Perfect.” Dad grinned.
Uncle Daar shook his head. “I doubt we’ll be out long. Just need to stretch my legs and get some sunshine.”
“I’ll second that,” Dad said.
“When are we leaving?” Harper asked.
“Now.”
Harper turned his back on the others and took both her hands in his. He stared at her, concern clearly written on his features.
“Go, have a good time,” she said for his ears alone. “I just need a moment to decompress without all the noise. Okay?”
“Okay,” he muttered and lifted her hands.
He kissed each knuckle, working his way across one hand then the other, staring deep into her eyes. She swallowed but didn’t look away.
“If you change your mind text me and I’ll be back, got it?” he said softly.
She smiled and nodded.
He winked. “I have that promise to keep.”
Promise?
Her whispered request while wrapped around him in bed came back to her. Her cheeks flamed hot, and she swallowed, unsure what she could say.
His mouth twisted up on one side. He’d managed to distract her a little. She also didn’t think she’d fooled him, but he didn’t press her either.
Harper turned and allowed the other two men to guide him out of the villa, leaving just Saaina glaring at Robin.
Lovely.
Even the dogs got the drift and headed off to probably poop somewhere.
Robin pasted on a smile. “My head is killing me. We don’t have anything for a headache with us, do we?”
Saaina merely crossed her arms over her chest.
What had Robin ever done?
She sighed. “I guess I’ll run out and get something. Need anything?”
What Robin desperately wanted was Jessica. They needed to rethink everything. All of it. Before something happened that they couldn’t undo.
Tuesday. Pearl Palace Golf Course, Miami, FL.
Harper stared at the golf clubs. He wasn’t exactly a beginner, but he wasn’t about to go on tour either. He was somewhere in the middle, which wouldn’t support what he’d said to Robin in passing about wanting to learn.
Did he play for real? Or did he play like shit?
It was hard to tell the right move with Daar and Cassim.
If Harper was just trying to impress Cassim? That was easy. Throw the game. Play like shit. And spend the real effort on buttering up Cassim.
The kicker was Daar. The man was perceptive enough to realize what Harper was doing and might even take offense at it.
Truth was he didn’t want to be here even if he knew this was where he should be. Given the incident at the airport, there was a good chance Daar might finally say something, and that required Harper to be with Daar. But Harper wanted to be with Robin.
At no point had they concerned themselves with how Robin or Saaina might react. They’d only focused on giving Daar reason to trust Harper more.
Damn it.
He let his head hang forward and blew out a breath. Right now he hated himself. The terror in Robin’s eyes, how her whole body had shaken, that was because of what he’d done. He’d crafted an experience that terrified her. And now instead of putting her mind at ease, he was trying to pick out a damn driver club.
It rankled that she’d pushed him off on her father and uncle all because deep down she wanted the same dirt he did. He should be proud of her tenacity, instead he was annoyed. She should be focused on her own safety. In her shoes, he’d call the fucking cops and let them figure it out. Of course, if she called them it would create a world of trouble for all parties involved.
Daar had made it clear on the short walk to the limo that there would be no police interference.
“This will go faster if we agree to play like shit,” Daar said in a low voice.
Harper turned. He hadn’t heard Daar come upon him. “Is this where we agree to mutually throw the game?”
Daar blinked at him a few times with something eerily close to innocence. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Harper snorted and pulled a 3-wood club out of the bag. He could work with this.
Daar’s tone was serious when he spoke again. “How was Robin?”
Harper took a practice swing and stared off on the horizon for a moment, not entirely sure how to answer that question. What would Samuel want him to say right now?
Whatever shook things up the most.
“She’s upset. Scared, I think, but she wouldn’t talk about it.” He leveled a stare at Daar. “Any idea why? Has something happened in the past…?”
Daar spent a moment considering the clubs.
What would he say?
Harper hadn’t asked for an explanation. In Daar’s shoes, Harper would appreciate that. He’d also know that he couldn’t get by without saying nothing.
“It’s hard to say what this morning was about,” Daar said slowly. “I’m looking into it.”
That was a non-answer.
Harper decided to press the matter. “Is that going to make Robin feel better? Safer?”
Daar finally turned and met Harper’s gaze. “I do not consider the feelings of others when conducting business. As a result I have made enemies doing what was best for myself and my family. It is regrettable that one of those choices might have led to this morning. Then again, who isn’t to say that this morning I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
Harper furrowed his brow. He might never have a better opening than this. “What is it you do, exactly?”
Daar didn’t move or blink. He was utterly still.
Because he realized his mistake too late?
Harper knew he had a wolf by the ears here and this could get ugly for both of them.
“I could ask you the same question.” Daar tipped his chin up a bit. “You know, I went to admire your work and learned some interesting things about you? I have my questions, but I haven’t asked. It would be a shame if we started prying now, wouldn’t it?”
Shit.
Harper could feel sweat trickling down his back that had nothing to do with the humidity.
“What kind of questions?” he asked, dreading Daar’s next words.
“There are some gentlemen that actually work out of Miami. You’ve done some work with them. Which makes me wonder, given the nature of what they do, what services do you offer?”
What the hell?
Miami.
Who would they have tapped for the cover story out of Miami?
Harper’s phone buzzed.
Daar must have heard it because he glanced at Harper’s hip. “That might be Robin.”
“Maybe,” he agreed and pulled his phone out.
There was a text from Robin, but it was the one from Samuel that mattered.
Thank fuck they were actively monitoring him. Harper wouldn’t know what to say otherwise.
“She’s going out to grab something for a headache,” Harper said then pocketed the phone. He shifted his weight from foot to foot for show then drew the back of his hand across his brow.
“What are you two doing?” Cassim called out.
He must have finally taken a shot he liked.
“If you’re talking about who I think you’re talking about… You have to. They’re the only ones I’ve worked with.” Harper shook his head as if clearing his thoughts. “Look, my family got in a bad situation and needed money right around the time I got out of the military. I didn’t have the money, so I did a few jobs. Just a few until I had the money my family needed. Then I got out. I swear.”
Daar inclined his head. “Then you understand doing what needs to be done. For family.”
Fuck. How was that an opening?
He turned on his heel and strode away from Harper.
That could have gone worse. Much worse. He blew out a breath and willed his jellied nerves to buck up. They had only begun their game.
He took another swing with the club to work out his frustration.
Daar ambled to Cassim who grabbed his arm.
Curious about what was going on, Harper propped the club on his shoulder and strolled toward the golf tee.
Cassim was speaking in Arabic. “You should be more careful. I didn’t tell you, but I was approached by someone.”
Daar shook his head and turned from his brother.
“They sent me a letter,” Cassim continued.
A letter?
Harper wondered if he could get his hands on that letter.
Damn. That meant committing to this role past this trip.
When would it be over?
Tuesday. Hilton Garden Inn, Miami, FL.
Robin was still physically shaking when the taxi dropped her at the front of the Hilton Garden Inn near downtown Miami. Intellectually she knew she was overreacting. At no point had she herself been in danger. Her physical reaction was so overblown she was irritated with herself.
And yet part of her feared that she’d stepped into the very world that was fighting back against her uncle.
“Robin!”
Her heart leapt into her throat and she jerked around at the same moment Jessica wrapped her arms around her.
“Oh my God. Oh my God! I am so sorry,” she said as she squeezed Robin tight.
“Thanks,” she managed to get out.
Jessica let go of her only to grab her hand. “Come upstairs.”
Robin didn’t protest. She didn’t want to get caught standing out here on the off chance someone after her uncle decided she was the next best thing.
Jessica looped her arm in Robin’s and together they entered the lobby of the Dolphin Mall hotel. They passed by a driftwood art installation and wove through clusters of people in business casual attire.
“I booked through our rep, so they put me at the more corporate hotel. Wish I would have thought that through or I would have sprung for the South Beach location,” Jessica said.
Robin didn’t say anything.
They rode the elevator up in silence with a group of five businessmen, each of whom stood with arms on their hips taking up enough space for two people. Jessica glared, but they ignored both of them. It was probably for the best. They got out, and she hustled Robin down the hall to a room toward the end of the hall.
“This is me.” Jessica swiped her keycard and opened the door. “Enter and be welcome.”
Robin quickly ducked into the room. She peered into the bright, all-white bathroom then into the room beyond. It was a spacious room with one big bed. Robin collapsed onto the foot next to Jessica’s luggage and drew in a shuddering breath.
“Hey? Hey, you’re okay.” Jessica went to her knees in front of Robin and grabbed her hands. “Everything’s fine now.”
“But what if it isn’t?” Robin blurted out.
Jessica stared back at her, blue eyes alarmed.
“Think about it.” Robin set aside her large travel purse. “The moment Uncle Daar stepped through those doors, they went for him. Harper, Dad, Saaina, none of them saw it like I did. I was about to head back in when it just happened.”
Jessica lowered to the floor, sitting with her legs crossed under her, and pulled out her phone. “Okay, walk me through it again? I’m going to record it.”
Robin nodded then waited for Jessica to click the record button.
“Start at the beginning,” she said.
“Okay, um. So Harper got everyone’s bags from the carousel and he helped the limo driver load it all. Dad and Saaina wouldn’t help and Harper wouldn’t let me. So I’m just waiting around, right? Pretty day. It’s warm. Then I realize Uncle Daar didn’t come out with us. I’m looking around for him when Harper finishes with the bags. Dad and Saaina get in the limo so I say I’ll go find Uncle Daar. That’s when he steps out. He’s looking down at his phone so I called out something. I think I told him we were ready to go. He looks up at me and we lock eyes for a second. It was just a moment. Then this big guy steps between us. I didn’t realize what was going on, but Harper did. He pushed through people, jumped over a trashcan and ran straight into the big guy, pushing him away. I think. It’s so jumbled.”
“It’s okay.” Jessica rubbed her knee. “Just slow down and think. Did you see the man’s face?”
Robin shook her head. “No, he never turned toward us. He was a big guy, tall, wide shoulders, built. Taller than Harper, but not by much.”
“Okay, what did Harper do next?”
“He shoved the guy away then grabbed Uncle Daar. It looked like he was having problems standing. So Harper puts his arm around his shoulders and carries him to the limo. They kept saying don’t call the police. Why? I mean, someone just attacked Uncle Daar. Why no police, Jess? Why?”
Robin’s throat tightened and her eyes prickled.
She was afraid of that answer.
It was one thing to know in theory her uncle was dangers. It was completely different to get a glimpse of what that danger might mean.
“That’s fucking scary,” Jessica muttered. “I don’t blame you one bit for being scared. And they didn’t call the cops or anything?”
Robin shook her head.
“Huh.” Jessica ended the recording then sat back. “That’s weird.”
“Right? Everyone else is just like, failed mugging, no big deal.”
She scrunched her nose up. “Who said that?”
Robin threw her hands up in the air. “Harper!”
Jessica frowned. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” Robin wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t know why, but that worries me most of all.”
“Yeah?”
“Jess?” She licked her lips before continuing. “What if he’s already on Uncle Daar’s side?”
Jessica grimaced then shook her head. “No. Nope. Can’t believe it. Unless Harper has completely misrepresented himself, what you’ve told me is not a guy who is going to work for that asshole. This is the guy who said I’m not sure I want to go on vacation with your family because of how they treat you.”
Robin nodded. Those had been Harper’s words.
“I find it suspect that he would tell you that, then turn around and work for Daar. Now, would he maybe manage the situation a bit? Probably. You said he’s a SEAL. Those guys have seen some shit. Maybe he’s figuring out Daar isn’t totally above board? Maybe he’s doing what he thinks he needs to do to not rock the boat until he can get to the bottom of it? Or you open up and tell him what he doesn’t know?”
“Are you saying we should tell him?” Robin asked slowly.
“Hm.” Jessica shook her head. “I’m not sure. That’s really hard for me to decide because I’m biased based on what you’ve told me about him. I don’t actually know him and someone won’t let me run a background check.”
Robin chewed her lip. At the beginning that had seemed silly and unnecessary. But now she had questions.
“Actually, now that I’m thinking about what we both just said?” Jessica sighed and her shoulders slumped. “If you tell him, it should be after Daar has left. Maybe? Shit. I just don’t know. This is a hard question.”
“Do it,” Robin said.
Jessica sat up straighter. “The background check?
“Yes.”
“Seriously?”
Robin squeezed her eyes shut. “Yes. Before I change my mind.”
Jessica scrambled to her feet and grabbed her laptop backpack. As she was yanking her laptop out, someone jiggled the door handle.
Both of them paused and looked at each other then the door.
That was weird.
Jessica set the laptop aside and started for the door.
“Don’t!” Robin whispered far too loudly.
Jessica held up her hand and peered through the peephole. “No one’s there.”
Robin deflated and rubbed at her temples.
She was a mess. She’d thought she was stronger than this, but given how shaken she was she had to ask herself if any of this was a good idea?