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Diha reached over and put her hand on his thigh.
He glanced at her solemn expression and curbed his frustration before turning his attention back to Jessica.
“It doesn’t make me feel good.” He leaned back and draped his arms along the cushions. Sitting with his body closed off would send the wrong message to someone like Jessica. “Yes, I did a job. Part of that job required me to spend a lot of time with someone I grew to like and respect. I think it’s natural I’d give a damn considering what happened.”
Jessica continued to study him. Her mouth was scrunched up giving her a sour look.
Clearly, she didn’t like what he’d had to say.
“What’s more important to you then? Your pride or your love for Robin?” Jessica asked.
Harper sat there a moment, his gut in knots. He knew it wasn’t hot in the room, but he was close to sweating.
“I never said I was in love with her,” he said slowly.
He hadn’t been able to admit it to himself.
Jessica lifted her shoulders. “Oh, my bad. Then I guess there’s no reason at all to concern yourself with Robin.”
He narrowed his gaze. “It seems the only reason you asked me here was to be a verbal punching bag. Let me know when you’re done.”
Jessica’s chin tipped up, and she stared at him. This was the stone-cold lawyer under the chipper, cheerful mask. “I’m not sure I believe you when you say you gave a damn about Robin.”
“And I don’t think I need to prove anything to you. Would it matter? Robin was clear. She does not want to see me and I will respect that even if I don’t like or agree with it. I’m not unaware of my role in hurting her. I’m very aware of it, and I recognize that her power to choose has been taken away from her. On multiple levels. The best thing I can do for her right now is respect her choice. Because you think she wanted to deal with her father’s estate? You think she wants to deal with the fall-out of her uncle? Robin had plans. She wanted a career. She wanted to make something of herself on her own, and now she’s saddled with this mess. It’s not whether or not I care that matters here. No, it’s giving Robin a choice and a say in what her next step is, because she finally gets to make that call herself.”
The room was silent save for the regular beeps and whirls of sound from the machines.
“Then you promise you’re going to leave her alone?” Jessica asked.
Harper pushed to his feet. “I won’t make that promise.”
He didn’t think he could uphold that promise if she wanted to, and he didn’t. He’d give Robin space and time, but that didn’t change how he was drawn to her. He’d see her again, though she might not be aware he was there.
Monday. Recovery Center, New York City, NY.
Robin stood outside the door to Uncle Daar’s room as the minutes ticked by.
She hadn’t been to see him, not since the hospital.
She regretted having ridden in the ambulance with him instead of Jessica. Uncle Daar did not deserve her loyalty. The FBI had shed light on his crimes, and they were worse than she’d been led to believe.
How was it a monster like him got to keep living?
Robin needed to do this. For herself.
She reached out and opened the door. The room was dim, and the windows covered. The staff had mentioned that they were moving him at irregular intervals to prevent someone targeting him within the building. That was how dangerous he was. People out there might blow up a whole building just to get to him.
A single guard sat watch at the bedside. He glanced up at her entrance and studied her a moment.
“Robin?” he asked.
“Yes.” She took a few steps closer to the bed.
Uncle Daar was unrecognizable.
If it wasn’t for Harper winging Uncle Daar, he might have shot straight up into his brain, killing himself instantly. Instead, the self-inflicted wound had shattered the jawbone before tearing through the sinus cavity and eye socket. The doctors had told her there was considerable swelling of the brain and that despite the shot missing, he might never wake up. If he did, there was no way to tell how much of the original man would still be there.
“Would you mind if I had a second alone?” Robin asked the guard.
