responded when I knocked. I got worried.”
“Mo?” Bridg et asked as her head popped up.
“Nabi told me you needed security and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do. But, it seems Ahmed has things well in hand.”
Ahmed lowered his weapon and glared at his best friend. He felt a shove and realized Bridget was trying to get around him. He took a step forward and Bridget stepped out and slid the gun into the small of her back. How had he not felt that? He had been so caught up in the feel and taste of her that he had become oblivious to his surroundings. He could have gotten them killed. Ahmed felt the anger and resentment build. He had failed this test and he had failed himself yet again.
“Please, come in,” Bridget said politely as she straightened her hair.
“No,” Ahmed said shortly. “I have business with Mohtadi that I need to discuss in private. Goodnight.” Ahmed gave her a quick bow of his head and shoved his friend out the door. He’d never been so angry with himself. He could have gotten her killed tonight if Sergei had shown up.
The crisp night air soothed him as Ahmed tried to calm down. All those years of training and he’d thrown them out the window the second she looked at him. How was he going to keep her safe while keeping his distance?
“Care to tell me what was going on in there?” Mo asked quietly , knowing Ahmed’s posture was radiating with anger.
“Sergei threatened her.” Ahmed handed him the photo and the blanket. “And I was too busy giving in to my fantasy that I dropped my guard. I’ve never let that happen since . . .”
“Since your son was killed. I take it this is his?” Mo asked with sadness.
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m glad I came then. Your brother called. There are rumors of my cousin Sarif growing unhappy again. He’s heading to the UN to make an appeal to grant him the right to control Rahmi.”
“ On what grounds?”
“He i s trying to claim that my grandfather was born second and his own father was, in fact, born first. I’m so relieved my boys will not face this. Grandfather was born eighty-seven seconds before Sarif’s father, but he has always said it was a lie. That the nurses got the order mixed up on the birth certificates. However, Grandfather was a smart man. When he was just a teenager, he knew this would eventually happen. His twin was resentful of being only seconds away from the crown and not having any of the power that went along with it.
“My g randfather persuaded my parents to find a very favorable marriage for him. Hence, he ended up marrying a queen. But my grandfather also gathered the doctor, nurse, and his parents to write out affidavits stating they knew him to be the first-born. Prayers were said and it was observed the baby had a birthmark in the shape of Rahmi, which they took as a sign that he would be a good ruler. A birthmark that not only my Grandfather had, but my father, my brothers, and I all have along with my sons. However, Sarif’s side of the family did not inherit this birthmark.”
“Does Sarif know about this?” Ahmed asked.
“No. And that i s why your brother called. He wants you to go to the UN and stop Sarif before he makes his address. It’s just an embarrassment to my father and during this turbulent economic time, he doesn’t want oil investors thinking we’re weak.”
“And since Rana has been arrested, Sergei is looking for an employer at the same time Sarif is trying to overthrow your father.”
“Exactly. H ow much do you want to bet they have teamed up again? They made a strong run at the throne before. I’m afraid they will try again. So is my father.” Mo let out a frustrated sigh.
“I take it the jet is waiting.” Ahmed made his way to his car and glanced around to make sure the guards were in place.
“Yes. I will make sure Bridget is protected while you are gone. And Ahmed, be warned. Sarif is dangerous. He’s fueled with a level of hatred and resentment we
“Mo?” Bridg et asked as her head popped up.
“Nabi told me you needed security and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do. But, it seems Ahmed has things well in hand.”
Ahmed lowered his weapon and glared at his best friend. He felt a shove and realized Bridget was trying to get around him. He took a step forward and Bridget stepped out and slid the gun into the small of her back. How had he not felt that? He had been so caught up in the feel and taste of her that he had become oblivious to his surroundings. He could have gotten them killed. Ahmed felt the anger and resentment build. He had failed this test and he had failed himself yet again.
“Please, come in,” Bridget said politely as she straightened her hair.
“No,” Ahmed said shortly. “I have business with Mohtadi that I need to discuss in private. Goodnight.” Ahmed gave her a quick bow of his head and shoved his friend out the door. He’d never been so angry with himself. He could have gotten her killed tonight if Sergei had shown up.
The crisp night air soothed him as Ahmed tried to calm down. All those years of training and he’d thrown them out the window the second she looked at him. How was he going to keep her safe while keeping his distance?
“Care to tell me what was going on in there?” Mo asked quietly , knowing Ahmed’s posture was radiating with anger.
“Sergei threatened her.” Ahmed handed him the photo and the blanket. “And I was too busy giving in to my fantasy that I dropped my guard. I’ve never let that happen since . . .”
“Since your son was killed. I take it this is his?” Mo asked with sadness.
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m glad I came then. Your brother called. There are rumors of my cousin Sarif growing unhappy again. He’s heading to the UN to make an appeal to grant him the right to control Rahmi.”
“ On what grounds?”
“He i s trying to claim that my grandfather was born second and his own father was, in fact, born first. I’m so relieved my boys will not face this. Grandfather was born eighty-seven seconds before Sarif’s father, but he has always said it was a lie. That the nurses got the order mixed up on the birth certificates. However, Grandfather was a smart man. When he was just a teenager, he knew this would eventually happen. His twin was resentful of being only seconds away from the crown and not having any of the power that went along with it.
“My g randfather persuaded my parents to find a very favorable marriage for him. Hence, he ended up marrying a queen. But my grandfather also gathered the doctor, nurse, and his parents to write out affidavits stating they knew him to be the first-born. Prayers were said and it was observed the baby had a birthmark in the shape of Rahmi, which they took as a sign that he would be a good ruler. A birthmark that not only my Grandfather had, but my father, my brothers, and I all have along with my sons. However, Sarif’s side of the family did not inherit this birthmark.”
“Does Sarif know about this?” Ahmed asked.
“No. And that i s why your brother called. He wants you to go to the UN and stop Sarif before he makes his address. It’s just an embarrassment to my father and during this turbulent economic time, he doesn’t want oil investors thinking we’re weak.”
“And since Rana has been arrested, Sergei is looking for an employer at the same time Sarif is trying to overthrow your father.”
“Exactly. H ow much do you want to bet they have teamed up again? They made a strong run at the throne before. I’m afraid they will try again. So is my father.” Mo let out a frustrated sigh.
“I take it the jet is waiting.” Ahmed made his way to his car and glanced around to make sure the guards were in place.
“Yes. I will make sure Bridget is protected while you are gone. And Ahmed, be warned. Sarif is dangerous. He’s fueled with a level of hatred and resentment we
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