Beneath Guarded Hearts - 65

Previously…

Asma

I watched his reaction carefully for any signs of fatherly worry, but I couldn’t get a flicker of feeling out of him. He was like a numb robot that sensed nothing for anyone or anything, and I was starting to wonder what kind of a childhood Alia grew up in.

I also knew whom the Rashid she mentioned was. I was also positive about whom the anonymous kidnapper was.

A silent smile stretched across my face.

My 3bdulla had come for me.

_____________

3bdulla

            He was insane. We had our leverage and he didn’t need to “commit” to anything anymore. Apparently, the idiot thought otherwise.

Sul6an: “Ma batifham. Elmhm, inteh weyaya wela la2?”

            He refused to discuss it any further. Damnation altogether. He was ruining everything. I groaned in evident annoyance.

Me: “6ab3an ana weyak but… Inzain lai-”

Sul6an: “Bass. Hd el mow6’oo3 w turn around. We don’t have much time.”

            I heard some muffled protests from behind me, and I signaled Rashid again as I started the engine. He gave her one of his “threatening” expressions and she was instantly silent. What a brat. If it were my Asma in her place, she would have probably glared right back at him. I couldn’t endure alia for even a short ride, and that was when she was gagged and tied. God knew how on earth Sul6an was even considering having to deal with her and her father when he didn’t have to. I wonder how long it would take before his temper breaks. Patience was not one of his virtues. I smiled, imagining him and 3alia fighting, both too proud to surrender to the other’s argument. Hell. She would be lucky if he didn’t loose himself each time she opened her mouth. This should be interesting.

Sul6an: “W sho ele y6’a7ek inshalla?”

            I grinned.

Me: “Mashay.”

Sul6an: “Hmm ashoofk mstanis, shakly lazim athakirk inh Asma ba3adha weya ahmad. Who’s to say your ‘leverage’ would even work?”

            My grin disappeared instantly and I pushed on the gas harder, needing the speed to match my level or urgency. It would work.

It simply had to.

Asma

            The call we were all waiting for finally came. My heart skipped a beat as Ahmad’s phone vibrated within the hold of his wrinkled fingers. It was time. As scared as I was, I felt a strange anticipation as I thought of finally seeing 3bdulla again, finally having him hold me in his embrace and taking me home. It felt like I hadn’t seen him in ages, and I missed him dearly.

Ahmad: “Alo.”

            I couldn’t hear what was being said, or who was at the other end of the phone, but I tried to put the pieces together as much as I could.

            My stomach twisted in fear as I saw Ahmad’s expression change. No, it was still the same, yet… it was different. I didn’t know how to explain it or how he did it, but it was unnerving. There was a certain edge to it, a mysterious terror in the pinprick gleam of his eyes that sent me warning daggers.

Ahmad: “Mhmm… Inzain… La2 la2, inteh tra3f shroo6y, ma ba8bal. La walla? Mayhimny, 5alooha, malha fayda mny.”

            He hung up the phone. I stepped back automatically as he looked at me in mischievous triumph. Anger exploded in me as I kept my gaze in place. I refused to shrink back to his daunting looks. They were all probably just bluffs anyway. The worst thing was, he was enjoying this. It was almost as if… as if it were all a game to him, and he had to win.

            Not a minute passed before the phone rang again. A wide grin stretched across his face, and he waited a couple of seconds before he answered.

Ahmad: “Sho, 3’ayarto raykm?”

            I stared in horror. They couldn’t agree to… to whatever it was he wanted. They couldn’t! They had alia to use against him, they ha-

            His smile disappeared. He gestured to the stranger whom I heard him refer to as 7e9a, and an unspoken conversation ran between them. She nodded and suddenly stomped towards me, her face terrifyingly expressionless. She grabbed me by the arm and pushed me towards the route I had been staring at all day: my only escape.

***

3bdulla: “ASMA!!”

            I spun towards the deep masculinity of his sweet voice. I was so happy to see him I was close to tears. I started to run to him, when a firm grasp on my arm held me in place.

Me: “Goomy 3any!”

            She only stared at me, and after an exaggerated pause and a scrutinizing gaze, she answered me coldly.

7e9a: “Not yet.”

            She wasn’t looking at me anymore, but at the once empty space that now occupied my… my brother!

Me: “SUL6AAN!!! Omg inteh ehnee!”

            He gave me a tight smile, and that was when I saw her step up: alia.

            The grip on my arm loosened a little bit, and sul6an stepped forward, dragging alia with her. Why wasn’t she objecting to him touching her?

            I spoke weakly, my insides already turned.

Me: “Sul6an?”

            When he gave me no answer, I glanced back at 3bdulla, who held a fixed composure. This time I managed to find my voice.

Me: “Sul6an? Sho el salfa what’s going on?”

            No answer.

            I was about to batter them both out until they spilled whatever was going on when the sound of footsteps interrupted me.

            Ahmad approached and stood a finger’s length from me. His closeness made me shiver in panic, but I held my stance. I wouldn’t allow myself to be the object of his amusement. I scooted closer to 7e9a. Ahmad didn’t look at me, simply stared at sul6an and his daughter.

Ahmad: “Salim tistilim.”

            I stared at Sul6an as he nodded very seriously. Something was very wrong about this. I could sense it in my bones, in the air between us. Alia looked as confused as me for some reason. Ahmad nudged his head towards the door to the hallway that lead inside their strange farmhouse, indicating for Sul6an to follow, and turned to leave. My pulse quickened as I saw sul6an move as well. He finally looked at me as he pushed alia gently past me. He attempted another tight smile. When was he bad at convincing me that ‘everything was alright’? What was he about to do?

Me: “Sul6an… you don’t have to do this. Hai mb mas2ooleetik, hai mas2ooleyat… hai mas2ooleyat baba.”

I said it in a broken voice. I suddenly felt anger towards my father as I said the last words. It was his responsibility. Why were we here taking the blame for what he did and paying for his mistakes? Sul6an shouldn’t have to do this. Sul6an shouldn’t even have to think about this. Baba should have dealt with this a long time ago. But he didn’t. And here was my brother, the person I cared about the most in this world – even more than 3bdulla, I had to admit – surrendering himself at my expense. I couldn’t let him do it, I couldn’t-

I spotted a familiar devilish radiance in his eyes. For one split second, he grinned at me widely.

Sul6an: “I’m offended that you’d think I gave up.”

            He gave me a wink before his face went expressionless again and he brushed past me, walking into the dark hallway.

I only stood still, unable to stop the ramble of thoughts and possibilities that raced through my head, when a memorable touch gently tiptoed up my spine. He turned me towards him and stared at me intently, his eyes cautious and agitated, yet I could sense the desire looming under the surface. He tenderly pushed me closer to him very slowly until I had to look up to meet his gaze.

3bdulla: “Inte b5air?”

            It amazed me how the slightest touch from him managed to knock me out of my breath. He was even more mesmerizing in his disheveled state of worried serenity.

            I smiled at him tiredly, the exhaustion taking over my body now that it was over. I stood on the tips of my toes and put my arms around him as I kissed him as passionately as I could. Oh, how I missed the delicious taste of him… I broke the kiss and met his surprised expression. I pretended to make a very serious face.

Me: “What took you so damn long?”

            He laughed then and kissed me again, this time me being the one taken by surprise. His hand was still supporting my back as his other free hand lifted my chin up, and he kissed me deeper. My legs felt weak as pleasure roared through my body. Vivid memories of our intimate night burst into my head, but instead of blushing like I always did, I found myself clinging on to him tighter, returning his kisses with savage desire. I found myself moaning when his lips left mine, and he laughed huskily as he lead me to his car with one arm draped across the length of my shoulders.

3bdulla: “Let’s go home.”

To be continued…