Page 62 of Boneyard HEA

“If he bothers you again, please inform security.” I’m about to walk away when he lowers his voice and says, “Wait. I am worried about other things also. To do with you and those who pay for all this.”

Karsten? Higher-ups? I wait for more. He’s looking out over the hall then his hand is on my back as he leans in, as if to check on my welfare.

“Tell me where you’re staying so I can get a message to you.”

My mind takes a second to catch up. Not email. Not phone. He doesn’t want it on the internet or a phone. “Room nineteen, and the hotel is Dragon Sands.” The island is small, and Karsten would know this anyway, as would almost anyone nosey, so this seems legit.

“Thanks. You have a good day, Miss Skye.”

My men arrive as he’s leaving. They start to both talk at once, but someone else is behind me looking to exit the restroom.

“I’ll tell you everything in a minute.” I move out into the swimming pool area, with them on either side.

I’m still trying to figure out what happened—did Zasha give any indication he was the rapist and knew more than he should? Not that I can recall. He might only be a man who thinks staring at his dick is a come-on, a kind of flirting…which, I guess could be, normally? I almost cackle out loud at that thought. This fraternity is corrupting me.

“What happened?” Mr. Loxland asks, when we find a set of sofas with a low, square timber table in the center.

I arrange the sarong around me and under me, since the bikini bottoms are still AWOL.

“Are you okay?” Tomás takes my hand, places it on his thigh while still holding it. “That was Morosova.”

“I am…okay. Yes, that was Zasha Morosova, and he was being pushy and no, I don’t know if he’s involved still. He’s not a nice person. Aggressive.” I look around. “That guard, Shawn, came to my rescue.”

“We saw him.” Mr. Loxland nods. “You needed him to get rid of Morosova?”

“Yes, I did.” I purse my lips, remembering the sticky situation then check no one is near enough to hear what I say next. “I wasn’t sure what to do, and if you’re wondering, Morosova said nothing incriminating. Shawn asked for our hotel address. He said he has something to tell me about other things.” I’m tempted to make air quotes but restrain myself. “He didn’t want email addresses or phone numbers so he might drop off a note or come in person?”

Tomás squeezes my hand. “He’s a guard and would be under strict rules about not engaging with guests more than necessary.”

“I don’t know what this is, except it’s to do with whoever pays for all this.” I do a sweeping eye roll across the surroundings. “Maybe his boss?”

“Does that make sense?” Tomás looks to Loxland who shrugs.

“When is he doing this? Because I’m going to suggest we have lunch here, and after that I have Margaret bringing Lucy to us at the hotel.”

“Lucy?” I pop up straight. “I’ve no idea when or if the guard will contact us. But the dog? You’ve brought her over?”

“Sure. Can’t leave my dog alone with just one of you sitters for a whole week.” He smiles. “Figured you liked her, and yeah, we can take her down the beach, throw a few balls before she has to return on the ferry.”

“Before we get too comfortable and forget what Morosova did, how he cornered you.” Tomás nods at me. “I’m concerned. If what Shawn said is true, and if connected to what happened to your friend, we might not be safe here. It’s one thing to be searching for a couple of men. It’s much more dangerous if there is an upper level of involvement.”

“Like Karsten?” Mr. Loxland says quietly, leaning in.

“Maybe.”

Oh my.

“Later then. No more discussion here. Let’s lunch and go.”

Have I dug up some complicated conspiracy? I sure hope not.

22

Juniper

I haul my arm back and let the pink ball fly in an arc toward the other end of the small beach, standing there grinning as Lucy ruffs then takes off like a small speed demon after that evil round thing. We’ve done this ten or fifty times already but she’s still determined to catch it.

The men, in casual shorts and T-shirts, are strolling along the edge of the water, getting their feet wet. I’m in another of the bikinis and a pair of shorts. Hopefully, their chat is nothing I would like to or need to hear. Probably not.