Page 24 of Desperate Justice

“Diana.” Hernandez spoke with only the trace of an accent. His voice held no warmth. “I didn’t realize you were coming over.”

“Mr. Hernandez,” she began.

“You should have told me, Diana.”

Allison lifted her chin and forced a smile. She stuck out a hand.

“Mr. Hernandez, remember me? We met at the engagement party. I’m Allison Lexington, Diana’s sister. A pleasure to meet you. I’m afraid this visit is all my doing. I promised to help Di with ideas for flowers for the wedding and some potted plants, and with my schedule this is the only time I could accommodate her. Not that your estate isn’t gorgeous enough, but some of the colors Di has for the wedding...”

But he ignored her hand and stared at Rafe, who had pulled his hat low on his face.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

Rafe mumbled something about being the man helping with the design of floral and landscaping arrangements for the wedding.

“Who cleared this guy?” Hernandez demanded.

“He’s my friend,” Allison countered. “Rafe cultivates exotic flowers and also does landscaping, and I thought he could help with the flowers for the wedding.”

“No one sets foot inside my house or on the estate without prior clearance.” Hernandez turned to Diana. “You knew this, Diana. I don’t care if it’s your family or not. My guys need to check out everyone.”

Hernandez turned to the man at his side. “Fire those two idiots at the gate who let them inside. Give them their checks and send them across the bay.”

For a wild minute she wondered if the two men at the gate would only lose their jobs. Hernandez seemed like the type to clean house thoroughly.

To her alarm, the man turned to Rafe and his gaze narrowed. Rafe calmly lifted his gaze.

“Mr. Hernandez,” he said. But his tone carried a slight note of contempt.

Oh dear. Allison knew she had to hustle everyone out of here. Now.

“I can smell a cop a mile away.” Hernandez looked Rafe up and down. “Something around here stinks.”

Rafe held the other man’s gaze, but Allison could see the pulse beating at the base of his throat.

The FBI agent was either scared or furious.

Rafe gave a slow smile. “Maybe it’s your cologne.”

Big mistake. Her respect for the agent grew, but she saw the look on Hernandez’s face.

The man punched him square in the jaw.

Reeling backward from the blow, he managed to hold his stance.

“Where I come from, we treat a man with respect in his home. I don’t like your manners, youcuca.”

Blood trickled from the corner of Rafe’s mouth. A bruise was already starting to flower on his skin. But he lifted his head and stared at Hernandez as if the blow were nothing.

“Give me that thing,” Hernandez demanded, pointing at the tablet.

A guard tore the electronic tablet from Rafe’s hands and gave it to Hernandez. The man scrolled through the photos.

“Matching colors,” Rafe said, not dropping his gaze. “Useful for the flower arrangements in coordinating the palette for the wedding. Muted hues will blend seamlessly with the brighter candy colors Diana mentioned for the bridal party.”

“Toss this,” Hernandez instructed to the guard. He glared at Rafe. “Muted colors my ass. I didn’t hire you, and Diana is going to fire you right now.”

Allison watched as the guard went outside and tossed the tablet into Biscayne Bay. There went evidence that Hector Hernandez was storing drugs.