Page 83 of Desperate Justice
There. It was out in the open.
A deep breath. “Hector? Why would he? But damn, you may be on to something, Maybe she got scared off because she was afraid of upsetting him after all the money he’s spent on the wedding. It was a mistake to let him throw us a lavish wedding. I kept telling Diana it wasn’t worth his involvement. I haven’t been close to him, tried to keep him at a distance. It was all her idea to have the wedding at his estate. But she wanted a huge, beautiful wedding and knew your parents were strapped for cash.”
Stunned, Allison gripped the phone so hard her hand hurt. “Paul, you should get up here and look for her. She loves and trusts you more than anyone. Even me.”
“I already booked my flight for tomorrow. I’ll see about changing it. Damn it, Allison, why did you have to take her with you? She was nervous enough as it is. She’d have been better off staying here with me in Miami.”
At a loss for words, she could only mumble, “I only wanted a last nice sisterly trip with her, Paul.”
His voice softened. “I get it. Di would do anything for her big sister. I know you love her. I’m just upset. Sorry. Let me know if you hear anything, anything, okay?”
“Yes, of course. You do the same.”
She hung up, lifting her gaze to meet Rafe’s angry expression. He’d returned to the cabin so quietly, she hadn’t even heard the door close.
“I told you not to call him, Allison. If you’re going to work with me, don’t work against me.”
“I had to tell him! What if Di returned to him and all this worry is for nothing? Why didn’t you want me to tell him?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell him yet, except the fact she’s missing. And if she was with Paul, don’t you think she’d have called you by now to let you know she was safe?”
He was right. She sighed.
“Where would Diana go if she didn’t leave the area? Sleep overnight in the forest near here? There’s miles of forest for hiding.”
Allison shook her head. “I can’t see Diana camping in the woods. She fretted every time she broke a nail. My sister’s idea of roughing it is a motel without room service.”
“Then we’ll start at the hotels. Text me her photo.”
After doing so, she mustered her strength. “You mean I’ll start at the hotels searching. Not you.”
“I’ll go with you.” The determination on his face she knew well. This was Rafe with laser-focused attention on catching the bad guys.
“You’re suspended.”
“Tough.” He muttered something in Spanish and then gestured to his bike. “Grab your helmet and get on.”
Allison felt a tug of gratitude mingled with alarm. Rafe still thought Diana was in cahoots with Hernandez and smuggling drugs. If they found her sister, would he call the police and arrest her?
Rafe’s bike was bigger than hers, but he handled the machine with expertise.
The engine rumbled beneath her, the seat vibrating as she wrapped her arms around his lean waist. Her fingers gripped his leather jacket for reassurance more than balance—she trusted him with this at least.
Rafe was a good biker. She turned her head, studying the landscape as they headed into town and the hotels. Allison pulled the helmet’s visor up to study the pedestrians ambling on the sidewalks, browsing the shops, talking and laughing and shopping. No one looked familiar.
Her breath came in short, stabbing pants as anxiety built. Allison focused on the steady thrum of the motorcycle and moved her hand upward to rest on Rafe’s chest. The rhythmic beat of his heart calmed her. He was a rock in a turbulent sea, and even though she knew their differences were too vast to overcome, she needed him now.
Wind rushed past her, tugging at the edges of her jacket and swirling around her legs. Cool air caressed her face as she snuggled closer to Rafe. The fresh and clean scent of the open road filled her senses, grounding her in the present.
He pulled into the parking lot of the first hotel Allison knew Diana liked.
After he parked out front, they went into the lobby. Double glass doors with brass knobs gave the hotel an air of elegance, much like the marbled lobby did.
A bored clerk glanced up from a computer screen at the front desk. “We’re full,” he said.
“We’re searching for a young lady,” Allison began.
The clerk rolled his eyes. “Isn’t everyone this week? Go take your funny business elsewhere.”
