The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(21)

Angry surprise flashed in his eyes, then he let one final pat fall.

“I won’t deny that you being out of the picture would make things easier for my family and me—not to mention, better for the country as a whole. But it is also in your best interests to listen to me. Rashid is a cunning, manipulative man, but not a kind one. Even if you change your mind or want to see your family again, he won’t let you. I thought I’d give you that chance.”

“Why should I believe you?”

He shrugged. “Can you afford not to? If you don’t heed my warning, you’ll be married to the cruelest man my country has ever known.”

His face looked so certain, his pockmarked skin tensed so emphatically, that I felt a wave of uncertainty go through me.

“So, you’re offering me a free ride home?”

He nodded. “Yes. I’m offering you a ticket out of this situation: a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

“Then why not just tell me? Why kidnap me like that?”

“You were never alone, and while my men are very skilled, they can’t sneak into a palace that’s crawling with Rashid’s men. This was our only choice.”

“And if I refuse your offer?”

Irritation flickered in his eyes a moment before being replaced by more amusement.

“There could be other incentives. Money, for instance…”

When I said nothing, he continued.

“Whatever he’s paying you, I can double it. Two hundred thousand, two million—I don’t care.”

The figures rotated in my mind stupidly. The numbers were so big, they seemed nonsensical, as if the man was offering me my very own unicorn. I closed my eyes. I saw myself, throwing my arms around Mom and Dad, all of us rejoicing on a beach somewhere, both of them in good health.

And then, I saw Rashid, his face crumpled as he stood at the altar on our wedding day, alone.

“The only requirement would be that you leave now and never return. And never contact Rashid ever again.”

The image of Rashid disappeared and was replaced by one of me, looking up at the stars, alone. Tormented by what I’d lost, what I’d given up.

My eyes snapped open.

“And if I still refuse?”

A growing anger burned in his eyes. “I wouldn’t, if I were you.”

My eyes were narrowed with a fierceness of their own. “I’m not going anywhere. Rashid is a good man; I know that for a fact. You’re not fooling anyone here.”

“Nawfal, Sidqi. Take Lacie away. We’ll give her time to think, to decide whether she wants to go home safe and sound, or stay here…as otherwise.”

The two men lumbered up to me, sneering, ready to grab me again.

“Rashid will come looking for me. You’re not going to get away with this! I mean it—he’s going to find me!”

Idris gave me another horrible smile, as if I’d said something cute, something adorably stupid.

“I’ll give you a day to decide. One day, then, whatever happens is on you.”

And then, I was wrenched from the room, half-carried down a dimly lit hallway, through a door, and thrown into a stony room of blackness again. I cried, but only soundless tears. I didn’t want to give whoever was guarding me the satisfaction of hearing me cry.

What was I going to do now?





Chapter Fifteen





Rashid




When I woke up, she was gone. At first, I wandered in all directions, my feet sinking into the smooth sand, my hoarse voice calling out her name. But she was nowhere to be found. When I returned to wait on the blanket, I sat there for what must have been hours. And yet, she never came back, while her camel smiled benignly at my search efforts, as if it knew exactly what had happened to Lacie, what I desperately needed to know, too.

All there was left to do was to ride back to the palace, avoiding a sandstorm, while my mind swirled with an inner storm of questions.

Could Lacie have left, just like that? Could she have been taken? If she had been, why was there no sign of a struggle, nothing?

I sighed. Last night’s winds had blown away any sign of tracks that could have given me an idea of what had happened.

Once I got home, asking around only made things worse. No one had seen her, while my mother immediately voiced what I had been fearing most.

“Do you think she left?”

I shook my head. “No. She wouldn’t have left without telling me. Not in the middle of the night. Not like that.”

My mother’s aged face still wore a grim expression. “Rashid, my dear son, do you think that maybe she was just afraid to face telling you?”

“No. I know Lacie. She wouldn’t have left without telling me. Not after…”

I didn’t say “the best night we’ve ever had together.” Instead, I stormed off and called the airport. There was no sign of her there, either, nor at any of the major hotels. I sent a few attendants off to search the city, then retired to my room to think.

Seated at my large, wooden desk, I raged silently at myself. For falling asleep in the middle of the desert, where anything could have happened to her. If she had walked off, it would have been a long walk, but it would’ve been possible if she’d been determined to leave.

And yet, why would she have been so determined to leave at all? Hadn’t we just shared the most incredible night? And why would she leave her luggage, all her possessions? It didn’t make any sense.