Chapter 3 - THE FLOWERS DAMIAN NEVER ORDERED
Damian arrived at Bennett Blooms fourteen minutes after Roman received Harper’s call.
Harper had not called Damian.
She did not have his number.
She had called the number printed on the card that came with the photograph.
She assumed it belonged to an assistant.
Roman answered.
Harper said:
“This is Harper Bennett. I think someone left me a threat.”
Roman asked three questions.
“Are you inside?”
“Yes.”
“Are the doors locked?”
“Yes.”
“Can you see whoever took the photograph?”
“No.”
Then:
“Stay away from the windows.”
The call ended.
Fourteen minutes later, two black SUVs stopped outside.
Harper watched through the back office security monitor.
Lucy whispered:
“We are officially in a mob movie.”
“Do not say mob.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know if he’s actually—”
The rear door opened.
Roman entered first.
He scanned the shop.
Then Damian.
No rain this time.
Dark suit.
No tie.
The entire room seemed smaller around him.
Harper crossed her arms.
“You brought six people.”
“Eight.”
“Why would you correct that?”
“Accuracy.”
Lucy whispered:
“I’m going to the back.”
“You’re staying.”
Harper caught her.
Damian looked at the photograph.
His expression changed almost imperceptibly.
“Where did you get this?”
“Delivery.”
“Envelope?”
Harper handed it over.
Roman wore gloves before touching it.
Harper frowned.
“You carry gloves?”
Roman said:
“I have hobbies.”
Damian ignored him.
He studied the back.
Vale cannot protect you.
“Do you recognize the handwriting?” Harper asked.
“No.”
“That was fast.”
“I don’t recognize it.”
“Do you recognize the person who took it?”
“We’ll check cameras.”
Harper stared.
“You have cameras on my street?”
“Everyone has cameras on your street.”
“Are any of them yours?”
Damian looked at Roman.
Roman suddenly found the orchids fascinating.
Harper pointed.
“That is not an answer.”
Damian sighed.
“Two security personnel have been nearby since last night.”
“You had me followed?”
“Protected.”
“I did not ask.”
“No.”
“That matters.”
Damian’s eyes changed.
Most people either feared him enough not to object or wanted something badly enough to pretend they didn’t mind.
Harper did neither.
“You’re right.”
Lucy slowly turned.
Roman raised an eyebrow.
Damian continued.
“I should have told you.”
Harper blinked.
She had prepared for denial.
Not apology.
“Why were they here?”
“Because the men in the alley might have interpreted your interference as a connection to me.”
“I’m not connected to you.”
“I know.”
“Do they?”
“Apparently not.”
Harper looked at photograph again.
“What happens now?”
“I find out who sent it.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Damian watched her.
“What happens to me?”
That was a harder question.
“You keep living.”
“Very comforting.”
“With better security temporarily.”
“No.”
“Harper.”
“No people following me.”
“Then inside protection.”
“No.”
“You received a threat.”
“Because of you.”
“Yes.”
At least he did not deny.
“So I should get to decide how I respond.”
Damian stared for several seconds.
Then nodded.
“What do you want?”
“Police.”
Roman looked at Damian.
Interesting.
Harper caught it.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No. That look had a full sentence.”
Roman said:
“The police can take a report.”
“Good.”
“They may not stop whoever sent this.”
“Then I’ll have a report.”
Damian nodded.
“We’ll call.”
“You don’t call them. I do.”
His almost-smile appeared.
“Fine.”
Harper called.
Officer arrived.
Report taken.
Photograph collected after copy.
Security footage from businesses requested.
Damian stayed.
Not interfering.
That surprised Harper.
After officer left, Damian asked:
“Do you have somewhere else to stay?”
“My apartment is upstairs.”
“No.”
“That was not a question.”
“It’s exposed.”
“It’s my home.”
“Temporary hotel.”
“No.”
Roman rubbed his forehead.
Lucy watched like tennis.
Damian said:
“I own a hotel two blocks away.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You can pay.”
“That is not the issue.”
“Then what is?”
Harper looked at him.
“I met you twenty-four hours ago.”
“Technically less.”
“Stop being accurate.”
He almost smiled.
“I am not moving into a hotel owned by a man the entire city is apparently afraid to discuss in normal volume.”
“People exaggerate.”
Roman coughed.
Harper looked at him.
“You disagree?”
“I enjoy employment.”
She turned back to Damian.
“Who are you?”
He became still.
Not angry.
Careful.
“I run Vale Group.”
“I know the corporate answer.”
“That is the answer.”
“No.”
Harper took a step closer.
“Three men cornered you. They backed away when you told them they were finished. Then two SUVs appeared. Lucy nearly fainted when she saw your face. Someone threatened me because I kissed you.”
Damian’s eyes remained on hers.
“So try again.”
Roman quietly moved farther away.
Damian said:
“My family has operated businesses in Philadelphia for sixty years.”
“Still corporate.”
“We own shipping, security, real estate, hospitality, construction, and debt portfolios.”
“That sounds legitimate.”
“Most of it is.”
There.
Most.
Harper’s stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means my grandfather built relationships before regulations were what they are now.”
“That was elegant.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a compliment.”
“I know.”
“Are you a criminal?”
Damian looked at her for a long time.
“I have never been convicted of a crime.”
Harper stared.
“That is the most suspicious sentence anyone has ever said in my flower shop.”
Lucy nodded from behind the counter.
“Correct.”
Damian’s mouth twitched.
Then seriousness returned.
“I do not traffic drugs. I do not sell people. I do not order violence because someone annoys me.”
“That list is concerningly specific.”
“I’m trying to answer honestly without giving you a history lecture.”
“Did the three men think you might hurt them?”
“Yes.”
“Would you?”
“If they threatened you again, I would stop them.”
“How?”
His face changed.
“Legally if possible.”
“And if not?”
Silence.
Harper’s heart beat faster.
Not attraction.
Not entirely.
Fear.
She stepped back.
“I need you to leave.”
Roman looked at Damian.
Damian nodded.
“Okay.”
Again.
No argument.
He placed a black business card on counter.
Different from first.
Only a number.
“My direct line.”
“I’m not calling you.”
“You already kissed me.”
Lucy made choking sound.
Harper glared.
Damian’s eyes softened.
Then he left.
Roman followed.
At doorway, Damian paused.
“Harper.”
“Yes?”
“The flowers.”
“What flowers?”
He pointed toward a vase near counter.
White peonies.
Her most expensive.
“They’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Then he walked out.
Harper stared after him.
Lucy waited five seconds.
“You like him.”
“I absolutely do not.”
“You’re blushing.”
“I’m furious.”
“That is not where your blush is located.”
“Go invoice the Carlton wedding.”
Lucy disappeared laughing.
Harper exhaled.
Then looked at peonies.
Something was wrong.
She had not arranged that vase.
The stems were wrapped differently.
Not her ribbon.
She pulled the flowers out.
Beneath them, taped to the vase, was a small black device.
Her stomach dropped.
Not a bomb.
A transmitter.
Listening device.
Someone had been inside the shop.
Someone had planted it before Damian arrived.
May you like
And whoever had threatened her was not merely watching from across the street.
They wanted to hear what Damian Vale said when Harper Bennett asked who he really was.
