THE PARADISE SNARE(96)

“Solo, sir,” Han said. “Make it Han.”

Tharen’s grip was firm. “Please … call me Renn, Han.”

“Yes, sir.”

The ride to Bria’s home was short. They passed through a reinforced set of security gates, then headed down a road that seemed to have no other houses on it. Han glanced to each side and saw high fences, the type he’d used to sneer at back during his days as a burglar. “Not many people live out here,” he observed.

“Oh, this is our land,” Renn Tharen said carelessly. “Bought it years ago as a cushion between ourselves and our neighbors. I’m a man who likes my privacy.”

He turned the vehicle into a drive that was closed with a another, equally reinforced but more ornamental gate. Beyond it, Han saw the house and mumbled a virulent curse in Huttese under his breath. Bria, baby … he thought grimly, why didn’t you tell me your family was rich enough to buy and sell half of Corellia?

The house was huge … wings and modified towers, and landscaping to match. The Tharen house made cousin Thrackan’s place look like a cottage.

Bria turned to Han and smiled tremulously. “Well, we’re here.”

“Yeah,” Han said, deliberately keeping his voice noncommittal. He could tell that Bria was nearly sick with anxiety, and he didn’t want to worry her more than she was. At least there was one advantage to Bria’s parents being rich—the Hutts would never dare to try to grab her while she was in her parents’ home. That would surely cause a major interstellar incident, and Hutts preferred to work clandestinely.

Before the party could reach the front door, Bria’s mother came bursting out, dressed in a flowing gown that Han could only recognize as “rich.”

“Darling!” she gasped, enfolding Bria in her arms. Han stood off to the side, glad to be out of the way until Bria and her parents were finished with their greetings.

Midway through the whole hubbub of greetings, recriminations, tears, embraces, and excited questions and answers, Bria’s brother came home.

Han recalled Bria saying her brother’s name was “Pavik.” Unlike his sister, Pavik Tharen took after his mother; short, slender, with dark hair and green eyes. He was a handsome youth, and seemed genuinely fond of his sister.

It was a long time before Bria could disengage herself from her family to introduce Han. Eyes shining, she took his hand and led him over to meet her mother, Sera Tharen, and her brother.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Tharen,” Han said, shaking hands and putting on his best manners. “And you, Pavik.”

Bria’s mother’s handclasp was limp and unenthusiastic. She studied Han, and he gained the quick impression that she didn’t much like what she saw.

He sighed inwardly. I’ve got a very bad feeling about this …

“Well, please come in,” Sera Tharen said. “Let’s all sit down. I must say, this has been a shock. I never thought I’d see my baby again, I really didn’t. Bria, darling, how could you do this to us?”

Still murmuring recriminations, Sera Tharen led the way inside. When Han reached the parlor of the house, and they all sat down, he had to repress the urge to leap up and stride out. I don’t belong here, he thought. I know it, and they know it.

The thought made him angry. Refusing to let his discomfort show, Han sat down and lounged back against the opulent cushions with a deliberate show of ease. He looked around, his professional eye automatically assessing the credit value the knickknacks and decorations would have to a fence. “Nice place,” he said casually.

“Well, erin” Sera began.

“Han. Call me Han, Lady Tharen,” Han said.

“Very well, Han,” Bria’s mother said stiffly, “I gather we have you to thank for Bria’s return.” Her eyes were fixed on Han’s blaster, and he realized that, like most citizens, none of Bria’s family went armed.

Tough, lady, Han thought. I don’t take off My blaster for you or anybody. Live with it.

“Well, I tried to be helpful, Lady Tharen,” Han replied. “But I couldn’t have managed without Bria. She’s plenty tough when she wants to be. Good in a fight.”

Lady Tharen stiffened, and Han realized that the woman would not regard what he’d said as a compliment. “Oh, dear …” she murmured.

“Bria, darling, before you sit down, why don’t you go and change?

Really, dear, where did you get those dreadful clothes?”

“The tailor droid at the Ylesian Colony,” Bria said quickly, and she cast an appealing glance at Han, as if to ask whether he’d be all right.