AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ahmadi had been spying on her?She felt her self-control slipping and bit down hard on her lip to stop herself from lashing out.
Ryan, in contrast, didn’t censor himself. “Listen. I know you’re some sort of oil industry titan. I don’t care if you wipe your butt with hundred-dollar bills. When a woman—any woman—tells you she’s not interested, you respect that,” he said hotly.
“Had I accepted her rejection, I wouldn’t have this information to share with you. On balance, I think you’ll be grateful for my persistence.” Ahmadi countered in a cool and reasonable tone as he slipped a thumb drive from his pocket and offered it to Ryan.
Ryan took it with a measure of reluctance. “And what information would that be?”
“It’s all on the drive.”
Leilah couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “Cyrus, you say you mean me no harm, but your persistence, as you call it, makes me very uncomfortable. Thatisharm.”
He frowned. “That was never my intent.”
Ryan held up a hand. “I’ve heard enough of this. I don’t care what’s on this drive, youwillaccept her rejection.”
“Or you’ll assault me like her brother did?”
“One, punching someone isn’t assault. You were right before—it’s battery. And two, no. While I would definitely take fleeting pleasure in cleaning your clock, that wouldn’t be nearly as effective as what I will do if you continue to stalk and harass Ms. Khan. I’ll not only help her obtain a restraining order against you, I’ll also file a complaint for harassment and invasion of privacy in civil court that will make your head spin. And I’ll leak it to media outlets throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.”
The two men glared at one another. The moment stretched out. Ryan’s clenched jaw and steely gaze must have convinced Ahmadi that the threat was not an idle one.
He nodded. “Very well. I wish you much luck in your efforts to protect Ms. Khan.” He turned to Leilah. “And I wish you a long and happy life.”
He turned as if to leave, and Leilah said, “Wait. Do you know who sabotaged my brakes?”
He gave his head a brisk shake. “I’m afraid I do not. While I have deep pockets and many friends in high places, I was unable to solve that particular puzzle. Everything I know is on the drive.”
“So, maybe itisanother driver,” Leilah mused mostly to herself.
Ahmadi looked over his shoulder and gave her a bitter smile. “Oh, not at all. You were not the target. Your friend Mr. Hayes was—for reasons unknown to me. Had you been harmed or killed, you would simply have been what they refer to as collateral damage. Good night.”
He walked back down the long hallway, leaving Leilah and Ryan to gape at one another.
16
It wasas if Ryan were underwater. After Cyrus Ahmadi dropped his bombshell and turned on his heel, Ryan’s world became diffuse and wavy. Leilah murmured something reassuring that didn’t penetrate the buzzing in his head.
At some point, Trent emerged from the interrogation cell and led him to the canteen, where he pressed a fresh cup of coffee into his hands.
Now Ryan slumped in a chair and stared blankly at the cup.
Finally, Olivia crouched in front of him and snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. The motion and sound shook him out of his trance.
“Earth to Hayes.”
He blinked at her. “I almost got her killed.”
“Maybe.If Ahmadi isn’t messing with your head. And if he’s right. It’s possible he’s playing mind games. Or maybe he thinks you were the target, but he’s wrong. He’s just some rich prick, Ryan. He’s not a professional.”
“No, but he hires professionals. Mossad and MI6? Come on. Those guys aren’t clowns.”
“They’re also not the men who were spying on Leilah. You heard them. He called them in to respond to whatever threat he thinks he identified. Instead of freaking out, you need to go home. Get some sleep. In the morning, when you’re fresh—when we’re all fresh—Jake will put an entire team on it. Marielle will analyze the data. Trent and I will go over Leilah’s place with a fine-tooth comb. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Leilah.
“She can’t go home tonight. Her place may not be safe.” He jumped to his feet, sloshing hot coffee all over his hands.
“Easy, tiger,” Trent put a hand on his shoulder. “Omar’s going to drive her to their parents’ place for the night. He’ll stay there, too. Leilah’s not in danger. But you may be.”
