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“This is not subject to debate. It is fact. When you are on what you Americans would call my turf, the laws of Alcantar apply.”
Rachel’s hand shook. Carefully, she put down the coffee cup.
“Stop talking in circles,” she said flatly. “And stop telling me you can do whatever you wish about Ethan. I’m a citizen. So is he. End of story.”
“Perhaps you’d let me finish speaking before you start lecturing me.” Karim waited. Then he cleared his throat. “I have been thinking …”
“Am I supposed to be impressed?”
He wanted to laugh. So determined to show no weakness—but he’d noticed how her hand had trembled. She was, indeed, an interesting woman. Tough and tender at the same time. Loving, at least to the child.
Would she be like that in bed?
Dammit, he had to stop his thoughts from wandering.
“We are adults,” he said calmly. “And we both want what is best for the boy.”
“Ethan, you mean.”
“Yes. We want the right thing for him. There’s no reason we should be enemies.”
“And what is it you see as the right thing, Your Highness?”
“Please. Call me Karim.”
What kind of game was this?
Rachel sipped her coffee, hid her confusion in the cup. This was a new approach but she wasn’t buying it, not for a second.
Maybe he’d spent the flight reviewing the situation and he’d decided it would be simpler to have her cooperation than to fight for it.
And maybe it took one liar to see through the falsehoods told by another, because it was painfully obvious that they didn’t want the same thing for Ethan at all.
She wanted her baby to be raised with love and warmth.
He wanted him to be raised as Rami’s son. And just look at how well that had turned out for Rami, she thought coldly.
“I’m glad we agree on the importance of Ethan’s welfare,” she said politely. “But—”
“Why did my brother abandon you?”
The question took her by surprise.
“You know, I really don’t want to talk about—”
“Why not? I should think you’d have a lot to say about a man who was your lover, who made a child with you and then left you both.”
“That’s in the past. And—”
