CHAPTER FIVE

María padded into Harry's home office, nursing a glass of honey water. Harry, who was sat behind the mahogany desk, scrolling through the computer with that ever-present frown on his face glanced up at María's presence. "A knock would have been appreciated." His eyes went back to the screen, brows furrowing. 

María made no attempt to answer. She flopped into the couch by the window, her eyes moving from Harry's head to his toe. "Went out? Or about to?" She asked. She gulped down the honey water and dropped the glass beside her on the couch. 

Harry's eyes didn't leave the screen, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. "Former. And I see the princess reported me." 

María sighed, reclining into the cough. "I have no idea what or who you're talking about. Did you get the CCTV footage?" 

Harry gestured to the iPad lying on the desk. "There. She did dance on a stripper pole." 

María groaned into her palms. "Please tell me she didn't strip, did she?"

Harry grunted. María walked over, picked up the iPad and went back to the couch. She scrolled the iPad, her exhales reverberating in her chest. "God! I can't believe she was... was almost... do you know the guy? Was it a good idea to assign the newbie to her? I mean, where was he when she was dancing on the pole and all?" 

Silence.

"Harry?!" 

Harry's fingers froze over the keyboard. He reclined back in his chair, an eyebrow arched. "Pushing blames, are we?" 

"What... I..." María groaned. "I'm not pushing blames, Harry. I just don't like the idea that a newbie was the one — Wait. Why do you look like you didn't sleep?" 

"I didn't," Harry replied flatly, going back to work. "Too busy making sure your party didn't end in a lawsuit— or worse."

María winced. "Are you upset?"

Harry looked up. "She was practically alone half the night. Sloppy drunk, dancing with some nut job, almost got —" He cut himself off, jaw tensing. "You were the one who dragged her out to that circus. The least you could've done was stick with her."

María's brow lifted in surprise. "Dragged her out? Wait, are you blaming me? She's not a child, Harry. And it was our birthday."

"She was vulnerable. You left her alone," he said, voice low.

María blinked at him, caught between defensiveness and surprise. "She wasn't alone. She was having fun."

"She ended up blackout drunk with a stranger in the bathroom," he replied, tone clipped. "Fun, right?"

María frowned. "Don't make this my fault. Yes, I could have done better but I'm in no way to be blamed for the actions of an undisciplined man."

Harry's jaw ticked. "Don't blame my man, either. You didn't even want us at the party."

María heard the rest of the words he didn't say. 'The guts to blame us for the wrong turnout of a party you didn't want us at, despite being the ones to save the day.'

María moved to the desk, leaned on it, eyes narrowing. "You're mad. Not just protective-mad, but... something else. What gives?"

Harry's eyes flicked back to the computer screen. "Nothing gives. I just don't like cleaning up after other people."

She didn't buy it. "Sure. That's all it is." A small smirk tugged at her lips. "You're grumpy when you care."

Harry shot her a warning look. "Drop it."

"Dropped." But her smirk didn't fade. She smacked his right arm. "Gracias, big brother." 

Harry grunted and María scratched the back of her neck. "Um—." 

Harry groaned. "Just spit it out, girl, I need to focus here." 

"Is there really any need for the damage list? I mean, you already repla—" 

"That's between I and your princess. She pays. And in full." Harry's voice held no room for further argument. 

María threw her hands in the air, frustration clawing through her veins. "You're being petty, Harry! You're everything but that!" 

Harry gave her a look. "There is a first for everything. Consider it payment." 

María's brows came together. "Payment for what?" 

"For my trouble. I just might increase it if you don't let it be." 

María groaned. "You're insufferable!" 

"I see she's rubbed off on you." 

"What?" 

Exhale. "I need to work, Germana. Anything else?" 

"I can pitch in, right?" 

"Suit yourselves." 

María smiled, turning to leave the room. "You need to stop working and go get some sleep." 

"Germana" 

María turned around. "Yes?" 

"You girls want to play reckless, fine. Just don't expect someone else to clean it up next time." With one final look, Harry's head lowered back to the screen, the dismissal apparent.

María scoffed. "Copy that, Don." And skipped out of the room. 

Harry watched her leave, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips. Just as he turned his attention back to the computer screen, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and swiped the icon to connect the call.

"Harry." 

"Anything, Xan?" 

"Nada. It's as if he knew someone would come checking."

Harry leaned back into his chair, fingers steepled. "He knows her," he pointed out. 

"My guess as well. I already spoke to the employees and security on shift last night, nothing." 

Harry knew that Xander's spoke to was more of Questioned. Threatened. 

This is why I like sending him on these errands. He's quick. 

"Did you get in touch with the analyst like I asked?"

"Sí. I'm on my way there." 

The corner of Harry's lips tugged up slightly. 

Quick. 

"You haven't lost your touch, Xan. Keep me updated then." 

Harry moved to disconnect the call. 

"Um—" 

Harry paused, finger hovering over the red icon on his phone screen. What's with all the trailing off today? "Yes?" 

"Um...Don't you think we should ask for the list of invited quests?" Xander suggested. "Narrows down the search." 

Harry stayed quiet for a while, fingers rubbing his jaw. "I don't think María is planning to tell her about that. But, I'll talk to María if all else fails. For now, they stay out of this." 

"Comprendo." (I understand)

"Good." And with that the call disconnected. 

******

"Mar!" Isabella grabbed María's arms, dragging her towards the bed. "You're here just at the right time." She pointed at the swimsuits laid out on the bed. "I took the liberty of going through your bikini collection, you have a very fantastic collection by the way, and narrowed down my options to this two. Which one of them do you think would flatter me most?" 

María's eyes trailed from the swimsuits to Isabella. "Ugh. Really, girl, I can't keep up with you sometimes." She flopped on the bed. "Where are you going to wearing a bikini?" 

Isabella gave her a duh look. "Swimming. You've a pool right outside, don't you?" 

"Right. You would go with the black regardless of what I say," María pointed out. 

Isabella leaned down and kissed her cheek. "You know me too well, girl." She grabbed the black swimsuit. "A dip in water is exactly what I need right now, after I eat a horse that is." 

You were on a rant just hours ago. Well. This is good. Wait...

María frowned. "You don't know how to swim," she reminded. 

"Yes. I will stay by the pool edge, and you—." Isabella threw the other swimsuit at her. "—you are coming with me!"

María shook her head. "I should have seen that coming." 

Isabella burst into laughter. "I actually just want to sunbathe while I read a book and swimming helps you de-stress, no? Let's do that after we eat, please?" she put her hands together, batting her eyelashes. 

María watched her. 

You're just trying to keep yourself occupied, aren't you? 

"Fine. Let's do that. I could actually use a swim; let the water wash off last night's dirt. Is there a word like de-stress tho?" Her head tilted. 

Isabella chuckled at the look on her face. "I came up with that. Sounds unique, right? And last night was fun tho." She sauntered towards the bathroom. "Speaking of last night, did you give that overgrown funeral-king a piece of your mind?"

María cleared her throat. "Yeah... sort of. But, he still insisted that you pay for the damages. I can pitch in though."

Isabella's nose turned up. "Petty jerk! It's okay, Mar, I will pay for it. On the other hand, I'm already plotting my revenge." she smirked at the mirror. "He wouldn't see it coming: maybe drug his coffee? Draw on his face while he's sleeping? Cut off water supply while he's bathing?" She doubled over in laughter. "Omg. Wait. Should I invoice him for emotional damages? He did invoice me for physical damages. Sue him for pain and suffering?" She turned to María who had just walked into the bathroom, a saccharine smile on her face. "Mar, Mi amor, I can stay over for a few days, right?" (My love)

María gave her a look. "I'm not sure I feel comfortable standing here listening to you plot against my brother." Her hands went to her waist. "And the fact that you're asking to stay over tells me you're up to no good."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "I'm not plotting his death, Mar. A few pranks won't kill him, will it?" She grinned. "I'm just going to show him what recklessness really is." 

He actually saved us, Isa. But I can't tell you that without you finding out that you were assaulted and almost... almost raped. 

"I will be his biggest nightmare," Isabella muttered to herself, narrowing her eyes at the mirror. 

María groaned, dreading whatever was coming. She wore a robe over the swimsuit she had on. "You know you do be proving him right if you do that, right?" 

"What do I care what he—" Isabella paused. She stared at María, head tilted.

"What?" 

Isabella shrugged and turned back to the mirror, a smile on her face as she applied sunscreen all over her body. "Just thinking. And you're right, I need to act—." Air quotations. "—mature and prove him wrong: no plotting, no pranks, no snide remarks, no sarcasm. Nada. Just a mature and grown Isabella. I can totally do that." she sent a kiss to María in the air. "You're a genius, Mar, as always." 

María's face scrunched up. She watched Isabella as she went back to applying sunscreen. "I don't think I like the sound of that, either. It sounds as if you're plotting something more disastrous." 

Isabella brought her hands to her chest, her face falling. "You hurt me, Mar. I just said I trashed the revenge plans. Are you saying I'm lying?" 

María breezed past her to the room, Isabella following right behind. "You really are a drama queen, Isa. Can we go please, I'm starving." 

Isabella skipped behind her as they made their way to the kitchen. She weaved a hand through her hair, adjusting her loosely tied robe. "I will be on my best behavior, Mar, don't you worry. We should go to my condo this evening tho: I need to get a few things." She adjusted the strap of the swimsuit under the robe, a chuckle leaving her lips. "I think I'm maybe a size bigger than you." 

María glanced behind at her. "You're saying that like it's news: you always stole my bikini back in college."

Isabella gasped. "I did not always steal your bikini, Mar. Now, that's a false accusation right there." 

María stopped just at the landing of the last flight of stairs to the ground floor. She turned, leveling her gaze on Isabella, who smiled innocently at her. 

"Um. Sometimes, I think." 

María made no attempt to move and Isabella began to laugh. "Okay. Okay. I admit it — I did wear your bikinis a lot. But then, that's what friends are for, right?" 

María shook her head, continuing down the stairs. "I think I should reconsider our friendship at this point." 

Giggle. "You can try. You know, there is something about bikinis that switches things up, I feel so sexy right now and—." 

"Oh. You're done with work?" 

Isabella came to an abrupt stop at the foot of the stairs, her eyes landing on who María was talking to. 

Uh-oh.