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Ah, questions Harper could answer in his sleep.
Cassim didn’t elaborate on his dread, which was a relief. Both Daar and Cassim were curious about Harper’s security consultant cover story. They asked questions, picked his brain a little, but never said much about themselves. And they never—not even once—spoke to Robin nor her stepmother.
It was as if there were only three people at the table, not five. And Harper didn’t like that.
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Robin and found her absently drawing circles on the tablecloth. He reached over under the cover of the table and took her left hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
Was this what she’d meant?
Given the little she’d said about the dogs and her stepmother, he was beginning to get the big picture.
Chapter Three
Wednesday.RavenwoodRestaurant,NewOrleans, LA.
Daar Suleiman could feel his blood pressure rising.
Cassim had spent how much on that damn watch? And what was it the fucking dogs had destroyed now?
The dogs had cost five grand a piece.
At that price, they should do a whole lot more than shit on the carpet and make noise at all hours of the damn day.
He still couldn’t believe that Cassim had dogs in his house. It was disgusting how they were allowed to go wherever they wanted.
Daar turned his head, looking past Harper to Robin. She caught his eye and smiled slightly then ever so faintly shook her head.
Thank goodness.
Daar would have to sit her down to give him a true account of his brother’s books, but if she appeared this relaxed, then there must not be anything to worry about.
Not for the first time he wished Robin had been born a man. She had a better head on her shoulders than Cassim ever would. Daar might not have liked Cassim’s first wife, but Charlotte had kept Cassim in line. There wasn’t a day that went by that Daar didn’t regret some of the things he’d thought about her. He’d been wrapped up in his business to the point he hadn’t truly understood just how much Cassim needed managing.
If Daar had any idea, he would never have matched Cassim with Saaina. She was a good woman. She would have made a fantastic mother. But she did not manage Cassim in the least. If anything she was complicit in his idiocy. The dogs were merely proof.
What a waste this was.
Daar turned toward Harper.
He was far more intelligent than he let on. That dumb smile of his hid a shrewd mind.
Just who was he? Where had he come from?
Daar wanted the real answers, not what the young man would no doubt tell them.
He leaned back in his chair as Cassim smacked his shoulder. Probably because Daar wasn’t paying close enough attention. Cassim always had been greedy.
Daar pasted on a bemused smile and tuned his little brother out.
They’d played this game for ten years now.
Deep down, Daar knew Cassim didn’t truly trust him. How could there be any real trust between them?
It was a pity.
Daar had always hoped that Cassim would grow up someday and stop being a burden. Too late, Daar realized the truth.
Cassim would continue to suck the good out of everyone and everything.
