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When they are out of the room, he lowers his voice.
“How are you feeling?”
“Scared.” I whisper back, because I sense the seriousness of this situation from the jaded expression in his eye.
For a moment his eyes burn into my soul and then a wry smile ghosts his lips. “Me too.”
I blink in astonishment as he reaches across and grasps my hand, and the contact alone causes the tears to fill my eyes. He whispers, “I’ll look after you, Angel. You have nothing to fear in life but my feelings for you.”
“I don’t understand.” I’m confused as he laughs softly, raising my hand to his mouth and sucking each finger into it, one by one. It’s an intimacy that makes my toes curl and he directs his heated gaze my way and whispers, “It means you should be afraid of my passion for you.”
I hitch my breath as he stares at me as if he wants to devour me and I almost think he will, until he drops my hand and says abruptly, “But first we must deal with our parents. Shall we go?”
My heart beats furiously as he stands and heads to my side. He helps me up and almost as if they have a sixth sense, Fatima, and her boss head back into the room and she hands me the veil, her eyes showing none of the animosity they previously did as she glances at her master. I note the desire in her eyes as she stares at him and immediately know why she was unkind. If anything, I feel sorry for her because it’s obvious she doesn’t stand a chance. I don’t know anything about their culture, but the fact she serves him as one of his staff tells me this is the closest she would probably get.
Once the veil is in place, I walk behind Malik as we head out of the apartment and part of me wonders if I’ll ever see it again. Something deep down inside is telling me whatever happens tonight will be life changing and I just hope it doesn’t end up with me back on a plane heading toward my eternal damnation.
CHAPTER25
MALIK
Iam so worried right now. For the first time in my life, it’s not just about me. Tonight, could change everything and I must be prepared for that. Eliza is silent behind me and appears to be coping well with the situation, but I sense her fear. I can almost taste it as we head in silence to the car that is waiting outside.
To anybody watching, this is a normal scene. The Arab followed by his wife, as is customary. We step inside the black armored car and slide into the cool leather seats, and then we make the journey in silence to the marina.
I swear my heart is beating double quick time as I consider how this could end in disaster and as the lights of the marina come into view, I register the array of multimillion-dollar yachts standing empty as they wait for their masters to grace them with their presence.
Wealth is plentiful in Dubai. It’s a competition who has the biggest yacht, the most desirable address and the most billions in the bank. We are ruled over by an unforgiving master who plots and schemes behind closed mysterious doors to make sure nothing ever changes. My family plays a huge part in that, and we are the sword that falls on the unsuspecting. People who step outside the rule book consisting of those who want more than is allowed and strive to line their own pockets. We infiltrate governments and law enforcement agencies and everyone’s for sale at the right price. There is nothing we don’t learn about and if something catches our attention, it becomes our top priority to discover everything we need to know, by whatever means possible.
I’ve lost count of the bodies I have mutilated in the name of information gathering. The cries of the damned as I remove them from life. The wails of their relatives as they are cast out on the street and the fear in the eyes of those who understand how brutal we are. I am an enforcer; an incinerator of souls and I fucking hate every minute of it. My plan is simple, to end the terror that I live under and start afresh under my own terms with Eliza by my side. Tonight, I will either set us both free, or condemn us to damnation. It will be interesting to see which one triumphs.
* * *
Eliza appearsnervous as she plays with the folds of her burqa, and my heart quickens when I watch her. Even completely veiled, her beauty shines through, courtesy of her soul that resides in her eyes. There has never been anyone who has touched me as deeply as this woman and now is the time she must play her part in this, so I lean closer and curl my hand behind her head, pulling her roughly toward me in a show of dominance that is purely for Ali’s sake, who sits beside the driver, his eyes flicking to the mirror a little more often than usual.
My phone rings and I see my father’s name pop up and I stare into Eliza’s eyes as I growl, “Yes.”
“Bring the girl. The deal is done.”
I say nothing and cut the call before gripping her head hard, and growling, “Listen up and do as I say.”
Her eyes reflect how startled she is by this sudden personality change and I hiss, “Don’t move unless I ask you. Don’t defy me in any way and you may just last the night.”
I watch her eyes fill with tears and I hate that I must be cruel, but I hiss, “Remember, do everything I tell you to. Do you understand?”
I place meaningful intent in my expression, and she nods, apparently scared shitless, and I push her roughly away and say in a bored voice, “When we are married, I will teach you how to submit.”
I catch Ali’s eyes in the mirror and his smirk causes the rage inside me to boil. He knows this is all for show and that she is under the illusion we are arranging a union of crime families. At least he believes that’s what Eliza thinks. The fact it’s true is something I’m keeping between the two of us, and Ali will soon learn the repercussions of betraying me.
* * *
The car stopsat the edge of the marina, and I note the fleet of similar black vehicles all parked along the edge. It appears that our guest has already arrived and obviously Eliza notices it too, because she stiffens.
“Malik.” She gasps as she registers the silent soldiers standing nonchalantly in groups as they smoke, chat and glance around them for any sign of trouble.
“I can’t do this.” Her voice is laden with fear, and I growl,
“You will do what the fuck I tell you.”
