by Leslie North
Jaymin’s expression darkened as he stepped closer to her. Tamrin gasped when he reached out and grabbed her arms. “You used me,” he said in a low voice. “Nobody uses me.”
“That was the original plan, but things change, Jaymin. You have to believe me,” she whispered.
“And how am I supposed to believe you with your sister masquerading as you half the time?”
“Not when it was important, never then, Jaymin.”
Tamara bumped the chair against the wall. “Hey. You two can snipe later. Right now, we have a problem. We need two million or Dad’s dead. And I know Jaymin isn’t going to the police. Your family has a personal vendetta against Anton Negatin. You want him just as bad as we do. So you can have us arrested, or you can use us to get the revenge you want.”
“And why do you think that I need you to get my revenge?” he asked darkly.
“I can help with that,” Tamara said from her chair. “We tried to pull a con on him a few years ago, but we had to pull out when I realized that he wasn’t just a thief.”
“You didn’t know that he was also a killer?” Jaymin snorted.
“I didn’t. He was just supposed to be a thief,” Tamara said fervently. “I know how he works. And we can draw him out with the two million.”
Jaymin leaned back and shook his head. “And when this is over? I suppose you have a plan that includes slipping off with my money?”
“When this is over, you can have your money back,” Tamrin muttered.
“Fine. When this is over, I don’t ever want to see you again. If I do, it’s going to involve handcuffs, and not the fun kind. Coordinate with my security about your plan, and then run it by me. If I even think that you’re trying to con me again, you’ll be in my jail faster than you can blink, and I’ll leave your father to the mercy of Negatin. Are we clear?”
Tamrin swallowed hard and looked over at her sister. There was real fear in her eyes. “Crystal,” she whispered.
He walked out of the room without another word, and she raced across the room to untie her sister. Tamara was shaking. “We’re so screwed.”
“I’m going to fix this,” Tamrin promised her. “I don’t know how yet, but it’s going to be okay.”
“Okay? He’s never going to trust you again, Tamrin.”
“Maybe not okay, but we’re all going to get out of this alive and without going to jail.” But she knew that she wasn’t getting out without a broken heart.
14
Jaymin picked at his breakfast the next morning, but he didn’t have any appetite. Tamrin and her twin had locked themselves in the bedroom all day yesterday while they came up with a plan, and Jaymin had paced. He couldn’t get his mind straight. Tamrin had played him like a fiddle, and he’d actually cared for her. Never in his entire life had he felt like such a fool.
Someone cleared her throat, and he looked up to see the twins standing there. “She’s Tamrin. I’m Tamara. Believe me, I do not want you to confuse us,” Tamara said quickly.
He made eye contact with Tamrin, and she didn’t look away. There was no remorse in her expression. “You have a plan?” he growled.
“We’re fairly certain that even if we turn over the two million, he’ll still kill our father,” Tamrin said as she sat down. “We need some insurance to make sure our debts are cleared and we’re safe.”
“You’re very good at this,” Jaymin said quietly as he studied her. She was more than just good. She was a professional.
“I have a plan,” Tamrin said as she ignored his comment. “But I need you, and I need your trust.”
“Well, you’ve had me, and you’ve had my trust. The only thing I can offer you now is my presence, and I guess my two million,” he said wryly.
Her body stiffened at his words. “I need more than just your two million. The last call he made to Dad demanded interest. If we offer more money, he’ll send someone to pick it up. But if we offer something valuable, he’ll come in person to authenticate it.”
Anger cascaded through him. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want two million and an heirloom? I know when I’m being conned. No.”
“Clearly, you didn’t know when you were being conned, and if you don’t, our Dad is dead,” Tamara snapped.
“Tamara!” Tamrin growled. “Leave it.”
“The answer is no. Come up with a new plan that doesn’t cost me an artifact.”
“What do I need to do to get you to do this for us? How can I earn your trust? Please, Jaymin. I can’t do this without you,” Tamrin pleaded.
Jaymin’s eyes flickered to Tamara. “Leave us.”
“The hell, I will.”
“Tamara, go talk to security again. Tell them about the information you gathered from your time in Negatin’s house,” Tamrin said calmly. “I’ll be fine here.”
The sisters exchanged a look before Tamara slowly left the room. It was obvious that while there was tension between them, they cared about each other. “We’re alone. What are your conditions?” Tamrin asked. She sounded almost resolute, as if she were expecting the worse.
“What was the original con? I assume you were hoping to go after Adil? He’s a happily married man. He doesn’t sleep around anymore,” Jaymin said as he sat back.
“We assumed that we’d be dealing with your security. It didn’t occur to us that someone of the royal family would take a personal interest. The con was simply to lose the necklace and make arrangements to have it paid for. That was it. No contact necessary,” Tamrin said quietly.
“So the shooting wasn’t part of the con?”
Tamrin paled. “No.”
“It wasn’t you, was it?”
“I almost lost my whole family in that moment. Believe me when I tell you that it wasn’t the plan. But it threw the whole con off. My father wanted it to get more personal the moment you made contact with me, but I wanted to keep my distance. After the shooting, I figured the safest place for us was here.”
Jaymin watched her carefully. “Your father didn’t think that. Why did he leave?”
“It was hard to hide Tamara while I wasn’t here. Dad got out to smuggle her out. We got into a huge argument about it,” Tamrin shifted like she was uncomfortable.
“Your father wasn’t into you whoring yourself out for a con?” he asked harshly, as she flinched.
“What do you want me to say, Jaymin? What will make you feel better? Should I tell you that my feelings were real? You clearly don’t believe that. I could tell you that using my body to get what I want comes naturally to me, but I have a feeling that will only piss you off more. So why don’t you tell me what you want me to say so we can move on,” she snapped angrily.
Jaymin didn’t move a muscle. If he held any hope that she might love him, it was dashed in that moment. “Tell your friend that you stole the Kebra Nagast from our archives.”
“The Ethiopian holy book?” she asked, startled.
“If that book makes it past my security, I will throw your whole family in prison, and you will never see the sun again. Do you understand me?”
“I understand. I just thought that maybe you’d offer something less valuable.”
Jaymin stood and smoothed a hand over his shirt. “I would love to offer you something less valuable, but I want to get this over as quickly as possible. The sooner that you and your family are out of my life, the happier I will be. Talk to Kaz to get a list of meeting places. If you can’t get Negatin to agree to meet at any of them, it’s off.”
“Thank you, Jaymin. When this is all over, I promise that security will have your book.”
“Not security. Me. You won’t be meeting with Negatin without me, Tamrin, but he doesn’t have to know that. Go. Let’s get this over with.”
They locked eyes for a moment, and then she quickly ran out. Jaymin watched her leave and felt his rage grow. Once she was out of sight, he grabbed his plate of food and hurled it across the dining room. It shattered and rained ceramic to the floor, but it didn’t
do anything to alleviate his anger.
Tamrin wrapped her arms around herself nervously as she stood in the open in the warehouse. The holy book was wrapped in cloth, and she hugged it tightly to her chest. She knew that Jaymin’s men all had guns trained on her, but they were melted into the shadows. Who knew how many men Anton would bring?
Her heart hammered against her chest. She might not get out of this alive.
“Relax,” Jaymin growled in her ear. “If you look nervous, he may not show.”
Tamrin winced and rubbed her ear. The communicator in her ear made her uncomfortable. “And quit messing with the earpiece.”
Sighing, she dropped her hand. “He will not hesitate to put a bullet in my brain,” she muttered. “Forgive me if I’m a little nervous.”
“All cons are dangerous, Tamrin.” His voice was soothing in her ear, and she frowned. He hated her right now. Why would he try to soothe her? “You can plan to the last minute, but even one tiny thing could make everything go wrong. But you are a professional. And you can handle the pressure.”
He wanted this to go smoothly. So did she. The sooner she could put this whole mess behind her, the better. The more she saw Jaymin, the more she hurt.
“Ms. Lewis.” The dark voice bounced off the empty walls, and Tamrin slowly exhaled. It was show time.
Body language was everything. She needed to seem confident. Popping her hip out, she tapped her shoe against the floor. “Mr. Negatin, I presume. You’re late.”
“I was here on time. I just wanted to make sure that we were alone,” he said as he walked out of the shadows. Anton Negatin could be easily underestimated. His family dripped in wealth, and he looked and acted like a man who didn’t like to get his hands dirty. She knew that wasn’t true.
“Fine. I have the two million that makes us even.” She pushed her toe toward the duffle bag. “I want the hit taken off my father.”
“Not so fast, my dear. I’ll take the money, but I’m far more interested in what you’re holding so tightly to your chest. Why don’t you tell me how you smuggled the Kebra Nagast out of the Khalidizack palace?”
“Very carefully,” Tamrin said as she jutted her chin out.
“Details or the deal is off,” Negatin said as he walked calmly around the edges of the room.
Tamrin rolled her eyes. She could hear Jaymin breathing in her ear. Offering him a silent apology, she took a deep breath. “It’s not all that hard. A pretty woman can easily turn heads in the opposite direction. Stealing the book is one thing, but replacing the security tapes is another. It can only be done in security. Seduce the head of security, and you’re in. I think you’d have trouble on that front. I’m more his type.”
His eyes roamed up and down her body, and she tried not to shudder. “My sweet thing, I think you’re everybody’s type.” He moved closer and held out his hand. “I’d like to explore the book.”
Jaymin was very clear. Anton was never to touch the book. She gripped it and stepped back, but Jaymin’s guards were already closing in. “Hands up in the air!”
“What?” Negatin hissed as he stepped back. “Where the hell are my men?”
“Unconscious from the moment they took up post,” Jaymin said as he walked out of the shadows. “Hello, Anton.”
“Sheikh Jaymin Khalidizack. We haven’t had the pleasure yet,” Negatin said as his body eased. He put his hands down and smiled.
Jaymin put a hand to the small of her back, and Tamrin instantly felt better. “No. You took a few pot shots at Masoud, and you stole from Adil. I’ve been looking forward to this moment.”
“And how did you think this moment would go?”
“I thought I’d put a bullet in your head,” Jaymin said. Tamrin gasped at the coldness in his voice.
Negatin chuckled. “I don’t think your girlfriend cares much for violence.”
Immediately, Jaymin removed his hand. “She’s not my girlfriend. And while I would love to avenge my family, we’re here on a completely different matter. You are going to remove the hit on Sean Lewis’s head, and you’re going to leave this country and never return.”
“In exchange for the two million?” Negatin asked skeptically.
“In exchange for my silence.” Jaymin pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Negatin. “That is a list of every stolen piece of artwork and every stolen artifact, along with their locations in your different homes.”
Negatin’s eyes widened when he looked at the list. “How did you get this?” he asked darkly.
“It doesn’t matter,” Tamrin said quickly. She didn’t want her sister’s name brought into the mix. “What matters is that you’d never part with any of it. They’re your babies. And if you leave my family alone, you won’t have to.”
Negatin slowly folded the piece of paper up and put it in his pocket. “Fine. I need time to leave the country though. I’ve still got some business to attend here.”
“No, you don’t,” Jaymin said angrily. “And if you’re hoping for more time to smuggle out what you’ve acquired, you won’t have it. I suggest you return it, conclude your business, and get out. If I don’t have proof that you left by dawn, I’ll make sure Interpol gets the list.”
“You would give up the chance to take your revenge on me simply for the chance to save the life of a man who tried to con you? I suppose you’re not so different from your brothers after all. Ms. Lewis, it’s been a pleasure seeing you. If you need any freelance work, you’re welcome to look me up. I could use a woman of your talents in my employ.” He winked at her and slowly backed out of the warehouse with his hands up.
“Tamrin!” Tamara and her father rushed out of the shadows and hugged her.
“You did well,” her father whispered in her ear.
“Sean,” Jaymin said in a low voice. “Anton Negatin isn’t the only man who is being blackmailed tonight. Your con business ends now. I’ll have paperwork drawn up for Tamara so the twins can live separate lives, and those lives better be legitimate. If you don’t, I’ll press charges. There are no statutory limitations for crimes against the royal family.”
Her father nodded. “I swear this was going to be my last con. Things have simply gotten too dangerous for my family. But, I did plan on having a little something to pad my bank account to make retirement easier for me and my girls.” He looked specifically at the duffle bag, and Tamrin felt her cheeks redden.
“We don’t need the money,” she muttered. “We’re leaving.”
“Take it,” Jaymin said without looking at her. “You and your daughters have earned it.”
A fist clenched around her heart, and Tamrin gasped. Jaymin took the book from her and gestured to his men. Without sparing her a single glance, they left the warehouse.
Sean reached down and grabbed the duffle bag. “A job well done, ladies. But I’m afraid this is the end for us. We’ll have to go legit.”
“Tamrin?” Tamara asked softly. “Are you okay?”
Jaymin basically thought she was a whore. Tamrin didn’t think she’d ever be okay again. “I’m fine,” she said stiffly. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her sister wrapped a hand around her waist and guided her out of the warehouse. She made it all the way out to the car before the first tear finally fell. For the first time in her life, she’d had something real, but Tamara was right.
She’d just been a fool.
15
A month had passed, and Jaymin was still scrambling to catch up with work. He tried to push Tamrin out of his mind and focus, but the palace was full again, and for some reason, he was the target of everyone’s attention.
Even now, as he tried to type up the report from the last policy meeting for his father to review, Samine sat cross-legged on his desk and poked him with a pencil.
“Don’t you have a husband to annoy?” he growled as he pushed the pencil away.
Samine smiled. “He and Masoud are out joyriding.”
“Joyriding?” He looked up in
alarm. “Please tell me they’re not testing the newest shipment of cars.”
“Sure, although that’s not what Adil called it. Anyway, I’m trying to ask you some questions, and you’re ignoring me.”
Jaymin glared at her. “I’m ignoring you because I’m at work. This is my office. I work here.”
She shrugged and hopped from the desk. “The faster you answer my questions, the faster I leave.”
The door to his office opened, and Fleur walked in. Jaymin bowed his head and groaned. “What did I do in my previous life to deserve you two as sisters-in-law?”
Both women were gorgeous, but where Samine was a darker beauty, Fleur was like fresh spring with red hair and pale skin. And both women were the bane of his existence.
“Did you figure it out?” Fleur asked as she shut the door behind him.
“Do I need to put a no women allowed sign on the door?” Jaymin asked as he pushed back from his desk. Marching across the floor, he opened the door and pointed. “Out!”
Fleur skipped behind the desk and took his seat. Instantly, her hands were on the keyboard. “We’ll leave as soon as we figure out why you’re so grumpy. And we mean grumpy by your standards because, frankly, you’re grumpy all the time.”
“What the hell are you doing? Get off my computer!” he growled.
“I got it!” Suddenly the printer screeched to life, and Samine skipped across to grab the piece of paper.
“The report from Kaz about the strange incidents that happened while we were gone. We’ve only heard some of the details from the staff. They say that your head was turned by a beautiful woman. They even said that you were whistling while you worked,” Samine said with a sly smile.
Jaymin sighed. “I don’t whistle. If you wanted to know the details of the con artists who stayed in the palace, all you had to do was ask.”
“You say that with such disdain, Jaymin. I trespassed onto your archeological dig site and ended up in a jail cell,” Fleur said with a frown.