by Lynda Filler
“Look after the home while I’m gone To’ak. We’ll have snacks later.”
Geneva International Airport, Switzerland
A woman and a young Asian girl disembarked the full plane and walked up the jetway. The woman clutched a carry-on bag filled with games, books, and treats. The young girl carried her favorite princess dolly. Her mother had said she could pick her clothes for this very special occasion, so she chose a pink tutu and a red t-shirt. She refused to wear anything but her tennis shoes because she lived and dreamed of playing tennis like Maria Sharapova when she was big enough to hold the racket.
A handsome Indian man of average height and expressive piercing brown eyes stood waiting impatiently, a giant stuffed teddy bear at his side. It wasn’t his style to be nervous but today was a special day, and he wanted everything to be perfect. He thought of the many missions he’d flown for India into war-torn areas at tremendous risk to himself and his troops. Nothing compared to the anticipation and anxiety he felt at this very moment in his life.
He rechecked his watch.
He studied the arrivals corridor. Then he saw a striking red-haired woman laughing with her daughter dressed adorably in a pink tutu. His heart swelled with love.
The child saw him from twenty feet away and tugged to get free from her mother’s tight hold, Cara smiled and let go.
The child ran as fast as her tiny legs would let her then came to a complete stand-still in front of Himanish.
She looked up shyly and smiled. “Is that big bunny for me?”
“Yes, it is.” He leaned down and pulled her into his arms. The giant teddy smothered her, and she giggled and sneezed.
“I love it. Can I keep it?”
“Yes, of course, it’s for you.”
Cara laughed and leaned in to kiss his cheek. But he turned and instead her lips met his. A jolt of electricity shot through his body.
“Oh, I have something for you too Cara.” He handed her a computer print-out.
“What’s this?”
“Well, your mission work in China has found funding. I thought you might want to set up and proper underground railroad, like Harriet Tubman.”
Tears built up in Cara’s eyes. She looked at Yu Yan and back at Himanish.
And he knew inside his heart that this was the love he’d been searching for his whole life.
45
Oceanside in England
“I
can’t believe it! This is my dream!” A tawny haired Zaria sang out in joy. The Atlantic Ocean spread out in all its majestic beauty for miles and miles as far as her eyes could see.
“The water is even more beautiful than I could ever imagine. Thank you for bringing me to the sea, David and Ms. Samaar.”
“And what about me?” Luke took his eyes off his cell phone to take in the magnificent estate edging along the coast of the UK. His updates from Canada and Switzerland complete he could also say this is an extraordinary day indeed.
They passed through a stringent security check. Luke was suitably impressed considering these men were part of a skilled group that he’d hired for the VIP clients he often serviced.
A woman held an infant, while some others, including Prince Xavi, waited by the entrance to the main farmhouse. An East Indian man began to walk towards them.
“Who are these people?” Zaria queried.
“You will see soon.”
Prince Xavi smiled at the entourage and shook hands all around.
Samaar moved towards the East Indian man and reached out to touch his hand.
“Himanish?”
A smile broke out on both their faces.
“Ah, I recognize the voice, but you’ve made some changes to your face, subtle.”
“And do you like the changes?”
“But of course. Your beauty hasn’t changed through the years. You never age. What’s your secret?” Samaar laughed like a silly little school girl. Luke was unimpressed.
“I thought you were in India.”
“Well, yes, some of the year. But now I spend most of my time in Geneva.”
Luke didn’t like what he saw at all. The sparks flew between Samaar and Himanish. He looked at Prince Xavi who raised his eyebrows, smiled, and shrugged his shoulder.
Himanish leaned in and took both of Samaar’s hands.
“It’s so good to see you again.” He lingered over a very European kiss on each cheek. She blushed and laughed.
Now Luke was really not happy. He could feel his temper rising. Xavi reached out and tapped him on the arm.
“Relax.”
Samaar spoke to Luke but had eyes only for Himanish. Luke couldn’t quite read her mind, but he was reasonably sure she now belonged to him. But just in case he moved over beside Samaar and placed his hand on her back low down at her waist.
She looked over at Luke, enjoying the look of jealousy reflected in his eyes.
“I’m just playing with you, Luke. Himanish and I are good friends. Without his help, so many things in my life could have turned out really bad.”
“Luke, good to see you again.” Himanish moved from Samaar and shook Luke’s hand.
A red-haired woman and a young Asian child stood behind Himanish. Luke was intrigued.
“Samaar, Luke, I’d like to introduce you to my family. This is Cara and our daughter Yu Yan.”
Samaar’s smile grew wider.
“Cara, I never thought any woman could capture the heart of my friend Himanish. He’s a good man.”
“Well, I think my daughter had a lot to do with it.”
“Look who’s coming.” Luke’s annoyance finally caught Samaar’s attention.
“Sabrina. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.” Samaar looked down at a baby that had the deep Arabic complexion of Sabrina but had Xavi’s red hair.
“I can never thank you enough Samaar. She might never have come into our lives if you hadn’t rescued me in Qatar.” They hugged with an adorable infant snuggled between them.
A glowing Sabrina looked over at Zaria and motioned her to come and meet the baby. She leaned down and held the child out for inspection. Then she spoke softly in Arabic. Zaria’s eyes lit up and tears formed. She leaned in and gasped. The tiny baby had the same black eyes and the tawny skin of her very own heritage.
“May I hold her?”
“Yes.”
“And what is her name?”
“We call her Princess Sama. She’s named after a strong and brave warrior.” Sabrina looked over at Samaar.
“Is she a real Princess?”
“Yes.”
Zaria, a farm girl from Kyrgyzstan, looked up in confusion. And then she smiled and turned her attention back to the baby.
“May I hold her?”
“Yes, I would like that.”
“She is so pretty, she reminds me of my brothers and sister. I was the one to help them grow up.”
Suddenly, screaming was coming from the entrance to the stately farmhouse. Sabrina gently removed the child from Zaria’s arms. The young woman turned to see what the commotion was all about and was immediately enveloped in the arms of her crying family.
“The Prince and I would like if you would stay here on our farm. We will help with your immigration documents. We don’t think it’s safe for you to return to your country. We worry that there will be reprisals from those who run the country. What do you think Zaria?”
“Momma, Papa, can we stay?”
They nodded.
“There is schooling close by. You can all attend, and we will arrange for English lessons and tutoring in Arabic and English. And Zaria, I would be grateful if you want to help with Princess Sama. You and I can teach her words in Arabic.”
Before Zaria thought of what she was doing, she put her arms around Sabrina and cried.
“This is my dream. To live by the sea with my family without fear. Thank you so much.”
Samaar looked towards Himanish who seemed most relaxed when playing with the children.
His adopted daughter Yu Yan had definitely captured his heart. He seemed happy and carefree.
“You know he was a great friend of Lily’s. They met when he was in Africa photographing wildlife. I think she said he has a passion for cats of all sizes.”
Luke waited for a response. But Samaar seemed lost in her past. Luke wondered if she was thinking about her life on the run. Himanish had helped save the lives of Samaar and Alice. He had used his incredible computer skills to hack into the Swiss bank accounts of the South American Cartel and their CIA partners. Then he’d transferred the money to Samaar and Alice and kept nothing for himself. Then he erased all signs of his footprint. RB said the work was meticulous and completely untraceable. Still, there was something more here. Luke could feel that Samaar and Himanish shared a deeper relationship.
“Tell me about him, Samaar.”
She looked off in the distance as if lost in a time that she would never share. Could she be thinking of Alice’s father or was it an affair she’d once had with Himanish? Finally, she spoke.
“It was a long time ago Luke.”
Luke reached out and took hold of Samaar’s hand. She didn’t take it away.
46
T he private jet skimmed over the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and landed abruptly at Malé Airport. This time several islanders awaited its arrival. David opened the door and released the stairs. Samaar disembarked first, and a young boy and girl followed. Screams of joy rang out from the family and close friends of those who lived and worked on Luke’s private island.
“Momma! Papa!”
“My Ali! My Fatimah!” Tears and more tears and kisses for Luke. And shy glances at the beautiful Samaar by his side.
“We don’t know how to express our love and gratitude, Mr. Luke.”
“It’s not necessary. Let’s have a big party on the beach tonight!”
The group took the shuttle to the docks where several vessels were moored to return to Luke’s private atoll.
He glanced out at the shimmering waters and let his mind wander. He remembered the day his heart broke into pieces, the day he lost his wife and daughter. He could never forgive himself for leaving them unprotected. But he’d be damned if anyone would ever take a child from him again.
Samaar sensing his sadness reached out for him and enveloped him in her arms.
“Everything is fine now Luke. Take me home.”
The End
Other stories in the Code Raven Series
CODE RAVEN PREQUEL
This is how it all began. Meet Luke Raven.
The world's most elusive billionaire.
A brain trust that cannot be controlled.
A warrior and a patriot.
After the brutal murder of Luke Raven’s wife and seven-year-old daughter, Luke disappears for several months. When he returns, get ready for the non-stop action of Luke, Luci, Zach, RB, Maggs, and a cast of unforgettable characters who form the Raven Group. Discover the secretive life of billionaire Luke Raven, how he made his fortunes, and where his true loyalties lie.
The Code Raven Series is a page-turner, an action-packed adventure.
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to one extraordinary person, HP.
I hope you love your character. Your very first words of encouragement about my work and talent will remain in my heart forever.
My characters have become friends. They are alive to me. And they’ve given me far more than I can ever express. It’s through their lives and loves, and actions that I travel the world.
In Raven’s group of operatives, we take on the crazies, the terrorists, the gangsters who selfishly leave disasters behind them. But Luke Raven and Luci/Samaar won’t accept that kind of world and set out to right the wrongs.
The Code Raven Series has given me an action/adventure/thriller platform to speak out about the social issues that threaten our peace and make us less as human beings. I’m grateful to you for reading, or I would never be able to follow my heart and write these stories.
So, this acknowledgment is for you, the reader, the reviewers, and one particular book critic. Without your love and support for my passion, I would not continue publishing.
NEW RELEASE!!
THE ISTANBUL CONSPIRACY on Amazon.
The wedding of DJ Turk and the daughter of the Minister of Defense is about to take place on a mega-yacht on the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Hours later the much-anticipated photos show corpses lined up along the dock and a bride covered in blood.
Was this a random act of terror, a targeted assassination of the Turkish political elite, or an attack on DJ Turk who leads a double life?
Luke and Samaar of the Raven Group have their own wedding to attend but it’s called off at the last minute when they uncover a breach in their security. Instead of returning to Paris, they come to the aid of the Turk to get to the bottom of this horrific event.
The conspiracy they uncover must be prevented before the balance of power in the world is perilously reversed.
Other books in the series:
XPOSED The US government is in the throes of cyber warfare with China. Luke Raven, a high-tech billionaire, is the only man that can save America from the deadly fallout. He enlists the help of Luci, a highly trained operative to help execute a dangerous, highly classified special operations mission that is crucial to the national security of the USA. They take their high-paced adventure across the USA and over the ocean to Paris. The action culminates in Shanghai, China where an ultra-wealthy and ruthless business tycoon possesses highly sensitive information that would have catastrophic results in the wrong hands. But will they get there soon enough to secure the data from their enemies?
ABDUCTED a gripping suspense thriller, a roller coaster ride of cartel drug and human trafficking across tempestuous high seas off the coast of Mexico. A ruthless Mexican drug cartel, notorious for their involvement in a world of illicit drug and human trafficking, is at the center of this action-packed drama where power, greed, and immorality are the cornerstones of their global operations.
ULTIMATUM Author Lynda Filler once again sets the global stage for another in this third of her ‘Luci’ and Luke Raven action thriller novellas. Ultimatum is a roller coaster adventure of perilous circumstance and characters in the true spirit of this dynamic, high-stakes game of global hide and seek in a world of high-tech cyber hacking,
DISPLACED Lynda Filler sets the international stage for book 4 Displaced. In her latest Code Raven series after the violent elimination of a sinister group intent on a cyber-theft of 50 billion dollars in ULTIMATUM, the ex-Mossad assassin Luci and her four-year-old daughter Alice hide out in an idyllic Raven Group safe house in a remote beach town on the Bay of Banderas in Mexico. Until she receives a message: Get out now!
REBORN the deadly ex-Mossad Assassin Luci keeps a low profile in South Africa for a change of face. She makes a decision to finally retreat from the violence of her world and put her four-year-old daughter Alice first in her life. Restless after six months of retirement in Paris, France, Raven effortlessly enlists her help in a personal matter for the British Royal family. What appears to be an uncomplicated assignment quickly turns into a violent game of revenge.
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