“Not full.”
“How do you propose to keep them at bay when they realize where we’re headed?”
“That’s where you come in,” said Michael.
Ali lifted a dark brow. “You don’t ask much.”
“The key is going to be to make sure Jensen is protected. At my signal, you go back into the jet on a walk-through and position yourself near her so she can’t be used as a shield.”
“They’ll have the guns. I have only a dagger.”
“That’s a problem,” admitted Michael.
“And I would guess that you have no weapon at all.”
“Just my hands.”
Ali strapped himself into the copilot’s seat. “The flight will be short, but it’s going to be a long landing.”
“Get ready,” said Michael as the jet began its race down the runway and rose smoothly into the air.
Michael waited a little longer than he normally would have to bank the jet to the left, and then tried to do it in such a gentle fashion that a passenger wouldn’t notice it unless they were paying close attention.
It was only thirty minutes to the runway at his palace at Sumaru. He used the radio to get through to his minister of defense.
“Where are you, Your Highness?”
“I’m afraid you’re not going to like the answer.”
“Like it or not, I need to know. We’ve had no luck in locating the elusive Miss O’Hara.”
“She’s with me. You can call the men back from Adjani.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I need you to assemble enough armed men on the runway at my desert palace to make a show of force, and I need them there in about twenty-five minutes.”
“What on earth for?”
“It seems I’ve hijacked the sheik of Adjani’s jet, along with the sheik and his party.”
The minister collapsed into the chair that was luckily behind him. “You have done what?”
“I think you heard me correctly the first time. There’s no time to repeat.”
“But, Your Highness, surely you know that this is an act of war. We could be attacked for this.”
“We could be,” Michael agreed, “but I don’t think we will. If what he’s done with Miss O’Hara becomes known publicly, Sheik Ahmed will suffer public ridicule and humiliation. On the other hand, if he lets this incident pass quietly, he can avoid becoming a laughingstock. So get those men out there. We’ll be landing soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Michael disconnected and he and Ali spent the next twenty minutes flying in silence.
Then Michael looked at Ali and inclined his head. “It’s time.”
Wordlessly Ali left his seat and headed into the cabin of the jet. To Ahmed and his men, Ali was no one. Just another employee. No one bothered to look up.
Jensen was alone in the last aisle of the jet, lying unconscious on a couch, her hands and ankles bound. The veil had been lifted and he could see the bruises on her face and throat.
Ali could do nothing at the moment but look at her, but Jensen, had she known, would have been touched by the gentleness in his eyes.
As the jet began to descend, the four men looked out the window. Sheik Ahmed flicked an irritated finger at one of the men. “Find out what’s going on.”
Ali rethought his position. Jensen would be safe enough if the men could be kept under control.
There was the rub.
He moved forward to stand behind Ahmed, whipped the headdress off the sheik’s head, grabbed his hair to stretch his neck and put his dagger at the man’s throat. “Don’t move,” he said calmly.
The man who’d been about to go to the cockpit sat back down, his eyes wide.
“What do you want?” asked Ahmed, panic sounding in his voice. “If it’s money, I have plenty. Just name the amount.”
“Shut up,” said Ali. “If everyone does exactly as I say, no one will get hurt. You,” he said to the man farthest from him. “Remove your weapon with your left thumb and forefinger and toss it into the aisle.”
The man did.
“Now the rest of you, one at a time. And if any one of you tries anything, you may well get me, but not before I get your sheik. Understand?”
“Do what he says,” ordered the sheik.
Each of the men put his gun in the aisle.
“Now sit down and fasten your seat belts. We’re going to be landing in a few minutes.” He looked down at the sheik. “My dagger is a sharp one. You had better hope it’s a smooth landing.”
Ali kept his grip on Ahmed as Michael set the jet down in one smooth motion, as Ali had known he would.
As soon as Ahmed saw the palace in the distance, he swore under his breath. “Michael Hassan.”
“That’s right,” said Ali.
“But why?”
“It appears you took something that didn’t belong to you.”
“The woman? He’s doing this for a woman?”
Ali raised a dark brow. “You are one to talk.”
As the jet rolled to a stop, it was suddenly surrounded by armed soldiers.
“I can’t believe this,” said Ahmed. “This is tantamount to a declaration of war.”
Michael heard him as he walked out of the cockpit. “It’s whatever you want it to be,” said Michael. “One way or another, I’m taking Jensen with me. You can humiliate yourself by making public the fact that the only way you can get a woman is to kidnap her, which declaring war would do, or you can let it go right here and now.”
Ahmed still had the dagger to his throat. At a signal from Michael, Ali lowered the dagger to his side, but kept his eyes on the other men, still strapped into their seats.
“What’s it going to be?” asked Michael.
Ali gathered up the guns and tied them into the cloth from Ahmed’s headdress.
Ahmed was clearly furious, but there was nothing he could do. “Take her. That will be the end of it.”
“One more thing,” said Michael.
Ahmed waited, his eyes blazing.
“I want Adjani’s slave trade dismantled.”
“It can’t be done,” snarled Ahmed. “It’s a tradition that goes back more than a thousand years.”
“You can and you will. Or, if you find it problematic, I can have my armed forces give you a hand.”
“Another threat?”
“I don’t threaten. But I’ll tell you that there are things in our world that are going to change under my watch.”
“Then let’s all pray you have a very short watch.”
“You’d better pray it’s a long one,” said Ali, “because if anything happens to my king, you’re the first person I’ll come looking for. Is that understood?”
Ahmed took several deep breaths. “Understood.”
Michael started to walk past him to the back of the jet, but Ali stopped him. “You take these,” he said, handing him the guns. “I’ll get Miss O’Hara.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Michael as he started past him. “I’ll get her.”
Ali caught his arm in a firm grip. “She was taken because I made mistakes. I’d like to be the one to carry her off the plane, if you don’t mind.”
There was something in Ali’s tone that Michael chose not to argue with. “All right.”
“Thank you.”
“Your pilot and copilot are tied up in rear storage,” said Michael as he walked toward the front of the jet. “They should be able to fly you home now. I wouldn’t linger here if I were you.”
As soon as he stepped off the jet, Michael walked to the highest ranking officer there and handed him the guns. “Get rid of these. Keep the men here until the jet takes off.”
“Yes, sir.”
Then Michael turned and waited while Ali came down the stairs carrying a still unconscious Jensen in his arms, her veil replaced to cover her face.
Ali handed her into Michael’s waiting arms. “You get her home. I’ll finish up here.” Then he handed Michael his dagger.
“You’ll need this to free her.”
Michael climbed into the rear of the waiting car with Jensen. As it started toward the palace, the first thing he did was cut the ropes from her wrists and ankles. Then he pushed the veils away from her face.
The moment he saw her beautiful, bruised face he yelled at the driver to stop the car. He had opened the door, fully intending to run back to the jet and pound Ahmed into the tarmac when Jensen’s eyes opened.
“Michael?” she said, her voice small and raspy.
He stopped.
Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” she whispered.
He pushed her hair away from her face. “I’m here. But there’s something I have to do....”
Jensen grasped his hand. “Don’t leave me.”
His gaze moved over her face. “Ahmed hurt you. I can’t let him get away with that.”
“Please,” she whispered. “I’m afraid.”
He cradled her in his arms. “Don’t be. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyes started to drift closed, but she opened them again. “Is Henry all right?”
“He’s fine. He’s on his way here now. He should arrive in just a few hours.”
“Thank you.” Jensen tried to smile, but it hurt her face and she winced.
“Just be still. We’ll get you fixed up.”
Her gaze locked with his. “I knew you’d find me.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “Then you knew more than I did. Now close your eyes and rest.”
Jensen did as she was told and sighed deeply, safe in the arms of her man. “I love you,” she said softly.
Michael gazed at her as the car moved toward the palace. “I love you, too,” he said when he thought she couldn’t hear. “More than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone.”
When the driver stopped the car, Michael carried Jensen inside and straight to his quarters. He didn’t care what anyone said; what anyone thought. He wasn’t going to let her out of his sight.
A manservant followed him. “Get a doctor here right now,” Michael said.
The man bowed and left.
Michael lay Jensen on his bed and began undressing her.
The more he saw, the angrier he got. She had apparently put up quite a fight. Her arms were bruised; her back; her shoulders. He touched his fingertips to the ugly purplish marks on her throat where she’d clearly been choked.
Her wrists were raw where she’d tried to escape her bonds. Even her ankles had marks.
“Oh, Jensen,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you the way I should have.”
He’d never felt such anger. If Ahmed had been in the room with him...
But he wasn’t.
Michael locked the door to keep people from walking in, then poured some water into a basin and gently sponged her body clean.
When he’d finished, he pulled a sheet up to her bare shoulders and sat on the bed beside her, her hand in his, stroking her fingers.
There was a knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Ali.”
“It’s locked. Use your key.”
“How is she?” asked Ali as he walked into the room.
“Battered.” He looked at Ali. “You knew, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t want me to carry her off the plane.”
“I saw her face. I knew what you’d do if you saw it.”
Michael nodded.
“This is my fault,” said Ali. “You asked me to take care of her and I failed.”
“You couldn’t have known what Ahmed was up to.”
“But I should have been more alert when she stopped the car to pick me up.”
Jensen opened her eyes again. The drug just wouldn’t let her out of its grip. But she saw Ali and she smiled at him. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you’re all right. I was worried about you.”
Ali moved forward and returned the smile. “I’m fine. Now we must get you better.”
“I meant to tell you earlier how perfectly beartiful your English is.” She held up her free hand and he took it in his. Emotion was clearly visible in his usually stern face.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired. I can’t stay awake.”
“Then perhaps you should sleep.”
“I don’t seem to have much choice.” Her gaze moved to Michael and stayed there as her eyelids drifted closed.
Ali put his hand on Michael’s shoulder and squeezed. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Get some rest, Ali. It’s been a long few days.”
“Yes, sir. What about you?”
“I’m not leaving Jensen.”
Ali nodded. “I’ll be nearby if you need me”
Michael stopped him just before the door closed. “Ali, where is Yusef?”
“I placed him with a soldier before returning to Ahmed’s palace. He’s fine. I sent him back to the city.”
“I told him he’d be coming here.”
“I thought it was best to return him to his uncle until things were settled.”
Michael nodded. “Two things. I want a new taxi given to his uncle. And Yusef is to be given whatever he wants.”
“I’ll see that it’s done.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want the door locked again?”
“No.”
Michael sat alone, his eyes never leaving Jensen. He ran the tip of his finger over her exposed collarbone and the soft skin of her shoulder.
He didn’t turn when the door opened. He assumed it was Ali until he heard the swish of silken robes. When he looked up, it was to find Ayalah across the bed from him.
“You shouldn’t be here,” said Michael.
“No one saw me. How is she?”
“The doctor hasn’t been here yet. She’s bruised and she’s obviously been drugged. I think she’ll be all right, though.”
“You love her very much, don’t you?” said Ayalah softly.
“Yes,” he said simply.
“You should be with her.”
Michael looked up at the woman who was to be his wife. “You know that’s impossible.”
“It’s not right that you should be without the woman you love and I should be without the man I love.”
“You love someone else?”
She didn’t meet Michael’s gaze, but looked down at Jensen and nodded. “He is no one important. The son of a diplomat. We met by accident and fell in love. Neither of us meant for it to happen—but then one seldom loves where it is intended.”
“I’m sorry,” said Michael.
“It is a tragedy for both of us.”
“We shouldn’t be speaking of this, Ayalah. We shouldn’t be speaking at all. It goes against everything that’s expected of us.”
It was as though she hadn’t heard him. “What are we going to do?”
“You know what will happen if we don’t marry. We will dishonor both of our families. You will be disowned and unwelcome in your father’s house.”
“But if I make my own home with the man I love, will that matter so much?”
“Can you live with never seeing any of your family again? You will be dead to them.”
“It is a dark thought that I’ve struggled with for many months.”
“Can you live with their dishonor?”
She peered at Michael over the top of her veil. “I think that is more your dilemma than mine. You would dishonor the memory of your family. They can’t argue with you or fight back. Their honor is your honor. You must do what they expected of you.”
Michael sighed. “You should go back to your quarters before you’re missed, Ayalah.”
She nodded. “I just want you to understand that I know how you feel. And I wanted to wish your woman well.”
Michael didn’t watch as she left the room, but kept his eyes on Jensen, pushing the hair from her face. The stain had worn off. Either that, or her own color had
grown so pale even the stain couldn’t hide it any longer.
Michael lay on the bed beside Jensen and pulled her into his arms. He needed to hold her so badly it hurt.
“Michael?” said Jensen.
He rubbed his lips against her hair. “Mmm?”
“What are you doing?”
“Holding you.”
She snuggled against him. “That’s nice. I wish we could stay like this.”
“I know.”
Jensen’s breathing grew deep and even. Michael knew she’d fallen asleep again. She had a knack of doing that whenever she was in his arms.
He kissed her forehead and held her closer.
When the doctor entered, Michael was still there, and didn’t rise immediately despite the man’s disapproving look.
“What happened to her?” asked the doctor as he moved further into the room.
“She’s been beaten and drugged.”
“What drug?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll draw blood and have it analyzed, but my guess is that it will wear away quite harmlessly on its own. Get off the bed, please, so I can examine her.”
Michael reluctantly slid off, but he held on to her hand while the doctor pulled back the sheet limb by limb and went over every bruise on her body.
Michael truly hated having another man touch her. Even a doctor.
“She’s fine,” he said when he’d finished his inspection. “I imagine she’ll be quite sore for a few days, but nothing is broken.”
He put salve and bandages on her raw wrists. “These will take a little longer, and might leave scars. Make sure they’re kept clean.”
“I will.” Michael cleared his throat. He hated to ask the next question, but it had to be done. “Can you tell if she was raped?”
“Not without an internal examination. Do you have reason to believe she was?”
“I don’t know one way or the other. Jensen hasn’t said anything about it, but I think she’s been unconscious for most of her imprisonment. I don’t think she would even know.”
“Do you want me to check her?”
“It’s not up to me.” He leaned over Jensen and shook her shoulder. “Darling, wake up.”
Nothing.
“Come on, Jensen. Just for a minute.”
Her eyes fluttered open.
“There’s a doctor here. He’s been giving you an examination.”
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