Page 16 of Sheltering You

The thought of him in a place like that turned inside of her, darkening her feelings for him like a swath of black across a rainbow. She returned to her chair, hoping her voice didn’t reveal her surprise. “This is a place you go often?”

“What? No.” His eyes widened. “Never. I mean, not never, obviously. When I was in college, you know, a couple of times⁠—”

“Oh, I see.” She couldn’t help her smile. “I didn’t think… Of course you would not.”

“Right. Well…” He pushed his unruly hair back from his face. “A singles bar. A place like that definitely feels unclean.”

“My friend’s half brother carries that feeling of uncleanliness. Darkness walks with him, and fear. Basma has told me stories of things he did to her when she was small.”

“Like what?”

“When she was little and he came to visit, he would go into her room at night and watch her. She would pretend to be asleep because she was afraid of him. But he would know she was awake. And he would whisper how she was worthless, that her father would be lucky to sell her to a goat farmer.”

“Her brother said that?” Derrick’s face twisted in disgust. “Why? Who would tell a child something like that?”

Jasmine shrugged. “Does cruelty need a reason? Even if I hadn’t heard stories, I would have known. I met him once, and his evil is like the stench of manure. It is unmistakable.”

Derrick stared at the fire for a few long moments before he faced her again. “Maybe this is going to sound callous, but what does it have to do with you?”

“She is my friend. She was, for a time, my only friend.”

“Okay, but…is that really a reason to risk your safety? Can’t she find another way?”

Her heart rate spiked.

He didn’t understand anything.

And how could he, when he was surrounded by people who loved him? Even now, voices and laughter floated from the other room, all these happy, supportive people. Derrick had never known what it meant to be alone and isolated. To be abandoned and forgotten.

She pushed to her feet and backed away.

“Hey,” he said, “don’t do that. I’m just asking a question.”

But the heat from the flames, so comforting before, felt stifling now. “She will be imprisoned. Possibly harmed. And little Rabie will be raised to be like him.”

“Why doesn’t she just go to the authorities, or⁠—?”

“What authorities?”

“I don’t know. I’m not saying no, but…”

He didn’t finish the statement, and he didn’t have to. “You do not believe me. Or you do not trust me.”

“I don’t even know what you’re asking me to do.”

“To help my friend the way you helped me. She has a cousin in the States.”

“Let’s talk to Michael. I’m sure he’ll⁠—”

“No. You must not.”

Derrick’s eyes flashed with worry.

“I will find another way.” She turned and walked out, not that she had anywhere to go. But she had to do something. Now that she was free, how could she do nothing while her friend was taken into captivity by a man like Dari?

She couldn’t.

And if Derrick wouldn’t help her⁠—