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He glanced at her. He took in the delicacy of her features, the vibrancy of her hair and the slender body in the faded jeans, thick jumper and black, weatherproof bomber jacket. Masculine clothes that couldn’t have looked more feminine on her.

* * *

They walked to the restaurant together. Turned out that it had been quicker than getting Javier’s drive to ferry them there through the one-way system, traffic lights and hordes of people.

Hope turned to Javier just as they reached the restaurant, which, as predicted, was busy but not so busy that they couldn’t find seats right at the back.

‘You’re very arrogant, aren’t you?’ Hope said.

She didn’t sit but instead looked at him mutinously across the table allocated to them.

‘You’re going to be the one asking the questions? I actually don’t even have to be here at all! I certainly don’t have to answer any questions if I don’t want to.’

‘But you really should.’

‘Why? What would you do if I didn’t?’

‘Nothing. Although…’

‘Although what?’

Hope shivered at something in that lazy, speculative voice. Something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

‘You’d be surprised at my reach. I wouldn’t contemplate doing anything but just like that I could buy that warehouse where you work and then where would you be?’

Hope blanched.

‘You wouldn’t!’

‘It would definitely be a last resort.’

‘Carlos will get in touch.’

‘And you know that because…?’

The silence stretched between them. Eventually Javier sighed and nodded to the chair.

‘Sit. Let’s take this situation a step at a time. You’re my brother’s partner, so I’m assuming you know where he is and what he’s up to. Although you may also be in the dark. I don’t know. Maybe he’s found himself in…’

Javier once again considered the possibility that Carlos was back on drugs.

‘Maybe he’s in some kind of hole and you think that you’re protecting him. Talk to me, Hope. That’s why I’m here. I’m not here to issue threats. I’m here to find out what’s going on and to make contact with my brother so that I can ensure that he’s…okay.’

‘What are you talking about?’

Hope looked at him in confusion.

‘Which bit of what I just said do you want me to clarify?’

‘The bit where you assume that I’m your brother’s partner.’ She gazed at him with a puzzled frown.

‘Did Carlos tell you that we were together?’

‘Not in so many words.’

Hope continued to look at him with confusion as the menus were brought and wine was ordered.

He had relaxed back in the chair and was staring at her with his head tilted to one side, his dark eyes cool and assessing.