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I held the phone to my chest and let my eyelids slide shut. Within seconds I was once again engulfed in the black void of sleep. My dreams were once again haunted with not only the day’s incursions, but also the abuse I’d endured from my abduction six weeks previous. My parent’s concerns flooded my mind and my mother’s plea that I return home—if nothing else than to finish my last few credits at Harvard—rattled around inside my head.
As much as I wished it weren’t true, I feared I was not safe here in Dubai, and as much as Omar continued to tell me I was, I didn’t feel it. Maybe if I never left the penthouse, but that would in essence make me a prisoner in a lavish prison, and I didn’t wish to spend my life contained like a princess in a turret, wishing to the see the world and live a real life.
I had some important decisions ahead of me. Was the life of a princess really for me?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Omar paced in the hall of the hospital, waiting on word about Armand. He knew the gunshot wound was bad, as he’d seen how much blood his friend had already lost and knew it had been a near miss. He had the best surgeon on staff at this hospital, and hopefully they could repair the damage and his right hand man would make a full recovery.
He’d just heard from Anna via text and was assured that she was safe and in good hands while he waited at the hospital. He was livid at the incursion of the infidels to his private gathering and in this moment all he saw was red. He wanted to personally kill each and every one of the bastards that had once again threatened the life of his future wife, never mind the thought that one of his most trusted friends was near death. For this, he would indeed inflict severe revenge.
He already had men out searching for the infidels and word had come back that at least one of the speedboats had been located. As soon as a man was apprehended, they could begin the interrogations and he would find out who were involved. He personally would see to it that retribution would be dealt in full.
His heart had been its fullest ever at the sight of his fiancé at the rehearsal. What she was unaware of was that the ceremony had been legal and official and they were technically now man and wife. She’d spoken the words in his language, which had affected him in a much deeper way than he could have ever imagined. She thought it was all in practice of the real ceremony, but the acting official had been for real, and the ceremony had been authentic down to the letter. They’d even made it to the binding kiss, and now, she was indeed his for the remainder of their lives.
He’d already decided they would leave Dubai and head inland to their desert estate deeper inside Arabia. If he had to lock her behind a fortress wall for the rest of her life, that was what he intended to do to keep her safe. She was his heart, and without her he wasn’t certain he would wish to continue on living. The infidels need only kill her to do the same to him in his heart. He would surely perish without her and fo
r that fact he was certain.
His family had already been flown home to the desert estate fortress, and his plans were to join them as soon as Armand was cleared of the ICU. He continued to pace and think. Plotting and planning his next move. His phone rang and he was informed that two of the men responsible for the penetration had been captured. He turned to his third, a massive man who rarely spoke.
He ordered, “Retrieve both insurgents, remove them to the safe house—begin interrogations.”
The man gave Omar one curt nod and turned to leave. Omar called him back, “Do not hesitate to exact any reprisal you see fit and use it as a means to getting answers. I want the names of every soul involved in this jihad, down to the wives and children. Leave no stone unturned. We will destroy them all.”
Omar felt slightly better after that, but continued to pace and plot. The Doctor appeared and his expression was grim. He informed Omar, “He will make it, but his recovery will be slow. He will need to stay here, in intensive care at least another week. Nerves were severed and the artery was decimated. He will need rehabilitation before he can use that arm or hand, and be prepared that he might never regain full movement. You’re Highness, it was a very near thing. Very near.”
CHAPTER FORTEEN
Omar woke me up when he crawled into bed. I’d not gotten up and had pretty much been in and out of a restless sleep all day. It was the middle of the night now and I knew he’d just taken a shower because he smelled divine. I groggily welcomed him and snuggled into his embrace. He kissed my forehead and then my lips.
He whispered, “I am so sorry. It seems that is all I can say now days. You were the most stunning bride I’ve ever witnessed my love. You stole my breath and broke my heart anew with your beauty today. When you declared yourself as mine, in my language, I felt torn asunder with emotions I’d never comprehended. I love you to my marrow, Anna. Tomorrow I am flying you to the desert home, it is a fortress and you will remain there until I return. You will be safe there.”
I couldn’t see his face, but I knew where his mouth was and I kissed him before stealing myself. I had to tell him I wanted to return to the states for a while, and not stay in Arabia at all, and not with him for the time being. I knew he would blow a gasket at my decision, and I didn’t know how to break it to him.
He kissed me and held me and stroked his big hands over my bottom, pulling me closer to his still steamy skin. He didn’t get hard though, a first for him, but not at all surprising given how much adrenaline he must have pumped during the day. I was not feeling at all into sex, but the intimacy and being held did help me settle yet another notch.
“Omar? I need to tell you something.”
“Yes princess, my wife. You are now Mrs. Khalid.” He said with pride.
“Not really Omar, I mean, it was all in practice right?”
“In my mind, you are officially now mine. You are mine Anna—that will never change.”
I didn’t really understand that he was speaking literally. I thought it was all part of his dominant and commanding attitude about everything he considered his, and in his mind, we’d performed the ceremony and said the words, so that had made it official, in his mind. “Um, okay, I guess. I do love you Omar, but, but, um—I need to tell you something.”
“Anything love.”
I blurted, “I want to go home.”
“You are home.”
“No Omar, I’m so sorry, but I need to go home-home. Back to the states. At least for a little while. You know, finish my credits at school, and be safe across the ocean. Away from all this.”
“Away from me?” He asked and his voice held part dejection and part indignation.
“What if you came with me? What if we both lived in the states for a while? If we officially marry in America, you could stay as long as you wanted.” I plead with him.
