In a relationship? Did he still want that? How could he? Her shame pressed the air from her lungs.
"Knox, I . . . I couldn't bear it if they came after you. I don't want to give them any reason—"
"Now just hang on a second!" His volume rose with every word. And looked like he regretted it. She watched him try to calm himself while he worked his jaw. "You don't need to protect me from your parents. Is that what you're worried about? Or is it just too hard to be with someone your parents don't trust? Because, guilty or not, they're still your parents. So, if their opinion matters that much—"
"Are you serious?" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Knox, they don't trustme. Am I glad that they shredded my relationship with them? No. I wish things could be different. But their opinion of you doesn't affect me one bit."
A fist pounded on Knox's door. "Mr. Coulter! Mr. Coulter!"
Chapter 5
Knox checked the peephole. The rail-thin man beating on his door and calling his name looked familiar, but he couldn't place him.
He threw open the door. "Yes? Do I know you?"
The man stumbled back a step and threw his hand to his chest. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought maybe something happened."
"Something? Like what? Who are you?" He sensed Allie standing next to him. He turned to her, and she shook her head. She didn't have a clue who he was either.
The man waved a bony finger in his face. "We've been trying to text you and Mr. Bridger. No one is answering calls or texts. Why are you ignoring Mr. Drakos? This is serious!"
Knox held up both hands and lowered them like he was trying to calm a wild animal. "Whoa, buddy. Drakos?" The man's face finally registered. "You work for Alec Drakos." He snapped his fingers in the air repeatedly while his brain searched for the name. "Chav—, Chev—, Chovno!"
The man didn't look impressed. "Yes, I am Chovno. And you are supposed to answer when Mr. Drakos calls."
Yes, Knox had been ignoring his phone since Allie had walked into his room. And for good reason. But this guy's tone wasn't sitting well. "Listen, Chovno, we don't—"
"Mr. Chovno," Allie interrupted. "How can we help you? Is something wrong? You said something is serious?"
Knox shouldn't have been surprised Chovno's anger instantly evaporated. Allie could do that. Something about her put everyone at ease. He loved that about her.
Chovno nodded. "Yes, you need to come with me. Mr. Bridger too. There is something you need to see."
"Finally! You are here!" Alec Drakos hefted his stout form out of his desk chair and crossed his office to greet Jason, Knox, and Allie. Or to chastise them for taking so long. Knox wasn't sure which to expect.
"It is unsettling." Drakos sounded emotional. And maybe a little intoxicated. "It is a death threat, I believe!"
Jason cleared his throat. "Slow down, Mr. Drakos. Chovno hasn't filled us in. What do you think is a death threat?"
Drakos threw his hands in the air. "Oh! It is terrible. Here. I'll show you." He walked across the office and opened the closet door. Hanging on the single hook on the opposite side of the door was a pale blue suit covered in embroidered pineapples. Why a man would wear a suit like that was beyond Knox's comprehension, but he quickly understood Drakos's concern. A disturbing amount of blood stained the front of the suit.
"Where did this come from? Whose blood is this?" asked Jason. He looked around the room. "Is anyone injured?"
Drakos waved a hand in the air. "No. Maybe. I don't know!" He leaned on a nearby wingback chair for support. Knox couldn'ttell if the resort owner was weak from shock, drunk, or having a heart attack.
Knox and Jason waited for an explanation.
Allie patted his arm. "Mr. Drakos, why don't you have a seat and tell us what happened? Can I get you some water?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, thank you. Some seltzer water, please. It's over there." He pointed to a well-stocked bar cart and collapsed into the wingback chair.
Allie nodded and walked to the bar cart. Knox and Jason sat in leather club chairs across from Drakos.
Jason leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs. "Okay, Mr. Drakos, tell us what's going on."
Drakos wiped his brow with a handkerchief, then clenched it in his hand. "Like I told you, a week ago, Byron expressed interest in purchasing my resort. This one," he said, pointing to the floor, "not any of my other properties."
"Yes, we know. You didn't want to sell, and you suspect them of bringing illicit business to Isadora Island. That's why we're here. What does the suit have to do with it?"
