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Shayne glared back at him. "Sit back down you arrogant bastard," he snapped. "Hell, at least give me a chance at part of her heart. "
"I will give you the chance to secure yourself as our third, nothing more. " Khalid resumed his seat. "I have no desire to share more than I have stated. Her bed, as well as her safety. "
Khalid found himself feeling rather possessive where Marty's emotions were concerned.
Shayne grimaced at the statement.
"Hell, I was hoping Marty would demand more along the lines of what her parents have. "
"And you are prepared for such a commitment?" Khalid arched his brow in disbelief. He wasn't surprised by the rueful smile Shayne gave him in return.
"It would have been nice to play house for a while. " Shayne finally shrugged. "She's a damned fine woman, and coming home to her wouldn't be a hardship. "
The life Shayne lived was solitary one. He'd mentioned that to Khalid and Sebastian several times. Evidently, he thought Marty could provide more than the sexual intensity a third was normally seeking.
"She's not a toy. " Khalid found himself repeating her father's warning. "She's my woman, and she will be treated as such. "
"And you'll need a third, one you can trust until the situation with your brothers is resolved. " Shayne's expression turned serious now. "We're not going to have much time, Khalid. Ayid and Aman won't be held back by your father for long. Old man Mustafa may think he can control his sons and keep you from killing each other, but you know they'll make their move soon. "
"Yes, I'm aware of this. " He was, to the very darkest corners of his soul, aware of what he would have to do.
"You'll also have to come clean with Marty," Shayne told him. "You can't let this happen without warning her about what's coming. Her, as well as her fathers. "
"You do not need to warn me about how I must handle this situation," Khalid said, his tone rough. "I am no imbecile, Shayne, nor am I uncaring enough to start something without first warning her of the consequences. "
There was no way to hide his past from her any longer.
Damn, he couldn't get her out of his head, his heart, or his fears.
Shayne was watching him with that penetrating stare once again. "Marty and I are friends, Khalid," Shayne said, his voice serious. "I don't want to see her hurt. Are you certain you can't stay away from her?"
"Can you guarantee that once Ayid and Aman decide to strike that they won't also go after Marty simply because they suspect her interest is returned by me?"
Shayne's lips tightened. "I can't guarantee that. "
"Once she learns why I have resisted her, she will run headlong into danger whether I allow it or not. Not informing her of the danger is just as dangerous. Tell me Shayne, what other choice is left?"
There was no other choice, and they both knew it.
"Then I have no other choice but to help you protect her. " Shayne shook his head, his shaggy hair falling over his brow before he pushed it aside. "Damn. We should just kill those bastards and be done with it. "
"If such a thing had been possible, then I would have done so already," Khalid informed him. "However, bring me a plan with a chance of success, and we'll talk. "
Shayne ran his hand over his face in a gesture in frustration as he bared his teeth. "Sons of bitches," he finally snarled.
"No doubt," Khalid agreed. "It doesn't change the fact that we must protect Marty now. "
"She'll shoot us if she finds out we're trying to protect her," Shayne told him.
Khalid shook his head slowly. "She will have enough of the truth to understand. And I will have the comfort of knowing that should anything happen to me, you will see to her safety. "
Silence descended between them as Shayne continued to watch him carefully. Should his brothers succeed in killing him, then Khalid didn't want his woman left to suffer that alone. He wanted another to comfort her, to ease her grief.
"I'll do that," Shayne promised. "If needed. But let's see what we can do to keep you alive. "
Shayne wondered if Khalid was aware of the demons that roiled in his eyes, the pain that gleamed within them.
He'd held out against Marty longer than any of the members of the Club had
