Desert Rogues Part 2

by Susan Mallery

  Small comfort, she thought glumly, but she would cling to it, as it was all she had.

  There was a knock on the door of her suite. Cleo straightened, then braced herself for another altercation.

  “Come in,” she called.

  The door opened, but it wasn’t her prospective bridegroom who entered. Instead a very confused Sabrina walked inside.

  The king’s youngest daughter looked elegant as always in a black pantsuit with a teal shell. She wore her hair piled up on her head.

  Cleo rose. “I thought you and Kardal were heading home today,” she said.

  Like many of those attending the wedding, Sabrina and Kardal had spent the night in the palace.

  Sabrina nodded slowly. “Kardal already left for the city, but I stayed behind. Sadik came to see me while I was packing.” Her gaze dropped to Cleo’s midsection.

  Cleo wanted to cover herself. In the past week she seemed to have doubled in size, as if the baby developing inside of her had had a growth spurt. The dress she wore had been loose at one time, but now it stretched tight over her belly, making her condition more than obvious. She would never have worn the garment out of the suite, but as she hadn’t been expecting visitors, she’d pulled it on that morning after her shower.

  She put one hand on her belly. “I guess this sort of says it all.”

  Sabrina nodded. “When Sadik told me about the wedding, I’ll admit I was surprised. I knew there was something between the two of you but I didn’t know it was serious. Then when he mentioned the baby, I realized—”

  “He what?” Cleo knew she was interrupting a princess and that it was probably considered bad form, but she couldn’t stop herself. “He said we were getting married?”

  “That’s why I’m here,” Sabrina admitted. “To help with the wedding. He said we would have to move quickly.” She eyed Cleo’s stomach. “How far along are you?”

  “I’m a week into my fifth month.” She circled the sofa and walked over to Sabrina. “Look, I appreciate you coming here, but I have to tell you, there’s not going to be a wedding. Not now, not ever. So if you want to head back home with your husband, I suggest you do so.”

  Sabrina shook her head. “This is worse than I thought.” She took Cleo’s arm and led her back to the sofa. “Let’s sit down and we’ll start from the beginning. Obviously, there’s more going on than Sadik let on.”

  “I’ll just bet,” Cleo muttered.

  As she plopped onto the seat cushion, she realized that Sabrina’s surprise meant the king hadn’t told everyone about her pregnancy. Only a select few. Zara and…

  She swallowed. Sadik, she thought, suddenly breathless. And if the king told Sadik, he had to have a reason. Which meant he already knew who was the father of her baby. Which meant the situation had just gotten a little more complicated.

  “Okay,” Sabrina said, angling toward her. “Obviously, you and Sadik got involved when you were here five months ago. If you’re pregnant, there must have been a spark.”

  “There was plenty of that,” Cleo agreed. “There still is, but that’s not the point.” She opened her arms, her palms up. “Look at me. I’m not even close to princess material. I don’t know anything about your country or your customs. I’m a protocol disaster. Zara might have been ignorant about a lot of things, but she turned out to be an honest-to-goodness princess. I’m some kid from the streets who barely scraped through high school. Trust me, this is not someone you want in the palace.”

  Sabrina smiled. “You’re being a little hard on yourself. You’re a beautiful, articulate woman. Zara and I have spent dozens of hours hating you for your curves. You’re also a good friend and from what I hear a great sister. Why wouldn’t you fit in here?”

  Cleo tried a different approach. “Sadik and I would be miserable together. We have nothing in common.”

  “You have enough to make a baby.”

  “Passion fades.”

  “What about love? That endures.”

  “He doesn’t love me,” Cleo said flatly.

  She was grateful when Sabrina didn’t ask the obvious question as in, Did she love Sadik? Instead she said, “I’m guessing my brother doesn’t know what he feels right now. Things change over time.”

  Cleo wanted to believe that was true. Would Sadik eventually come to care about her? Was that hope enough to build a marriage upon?

  “I just don’t think I can marry him.”

  Sabrina’s expression turned serious. “Cleo, my brother asked me to help you plan your wedding. I’m happy to do that. In fact, I’ll do anything I can to help. But if you don’t want to marry him, you don’t have many options. We’re talking about the child of the royal family.”

  “I’m familiar with Bahanian law,” Cleo said stiffly. “I also know that exceptions can be made.”

  Sabrina’s good humor returned. “I know. I’m walking, breathing proof of that. But while my father was willing to allow me to be raised outside of the country, there’s no guarantee that he’ll let you take his first grandchild away. I wouldn’t count on making that your backup plan.”

  “I know.” Everywhere she turned Cleo felt trapped. “I just can’t deal with this now. In the end I may have to marry Sadik against my will, but I’m going to fight it as long as I can.”

  Sabrina gave her a brief hug, then rose. “Fair enough. I’m going to head back home. When you’re ready to plan the wedding, give me a call. I’ll drop everything and come here.”

  Sabrina headed for the door. When she reached it, she glanced over her shoulder. “I know I’m not Zara, but if you need someone to talk to, I’m happy to be available.”

  “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

  Sabrina left. Cleo flopped back on the sofa. She supposed one of the perks of marrying Sadik was that both Zara and Sabrina would become legal relatives. They would be her sisters-in-law.

  Like that was enough to get her to change her mind.

  Shortly after three that afternoon, Cleo received a phone call telling her she had a visitor from the American Embassy waiting for her.

  She didn’t understand what that could mean, but instead of arguing with the secretary on the phone, she quickly changed and made her way to the front of the palace. There she was shown into a spacious anteroom that held several leather sofas positioned around a low coffee table.

  A tall man was waiting. He wore a navy suit and carried an expensive-looking briefcase. When he heard her enter, he turned and smiled, holding out his hand.

  “Ms. Wilson, I’m Franklin Kudrow, attaché to the American Embassy.”

  Cleo was tired from her night of tears. She offered her most cheerful smile, then spoke the truth. “While that’s a really impressive title, I have no idea who you are or why you’re here.”

  “Yes. Of course.” He motioned to the sofas.

  Cleo settled down into one, while Mr. Kudrow settled opposite her. Manners, she thought suddenly.

  “Ah, would you like something to drink?” she asked the fifty-something career diplomat.

  “No, thank you.” He smiled and set his briefcase on the floor. “Ms. Wilson—”

  “Cleo,” she said. “Just call me Cleo.”

  He nodded. “Cleo, we’ve been notified by the palace of your upcoming marriage to Prince Sadik.”

  Old Frank kept talking, but Cleo was having trouble listening. Marriage to Sadik? Word sure had traveled fast.

  Anger filled her. If Sadik couldn’t get her to agree the old-fashioned way, he was going to do his darnedest to manipulate her from all sides. He was a master at maneuvering his way through tricky financial markets. No doubt he thought she would be just as easy to get around.

  She noticed that Mr. Kudrow was careful not to look at her stomach. His discretion was probably one of the reasons he’d risen in the State Department. Then she focused back in on what he was saying.

  “Who told you I was marrying Sadik?”

  Mr. Kudrow looked startled by the interruption. He bent down
and retrieved his briefcase, which he set on the coffee table. After opening it, he drew out a piece of paper.

  “We received a press release.”

  She took the paper and scanned it. Sure enough, there on official royal Bahania letterhead was the announcement of Prince Sadik’s marriage to Cleo Wilson, an American citizen.

  She couldn’t believe it. That he would go behind her back like this. Did he really think he could force her hand by going public?

  “We’re all very excited,” Mr. Kudrow was saying. “When we found out that Zara Paxton was actually a member of the royal family, we saw an opportunity to continue to cement our relations with King Hassan. Now with you marrying into the royal family, we will have even better relations. I’m sure you’re aware of the proposed air force. The official position of the United States is that of neutrality, but I can tell you that privately the government is very supportive. Our government has long been an ally of the Bahanian government.”

  He paused expectantly. Cleo had no clue as to what he expected her to say. She went with a noncommittal grunt.

  “Of course, there is hope in the private sector that many of the military planes required will be purchased from American companies. There are already several dozen orders in. Perhaps, if you have the chance to mention the quality of the American fighter jets…”

  His voice trailed off, but Cleo got the message. “Maybe I could ask for an F-14 for a wedding present,” she said sweetly, when all she wanted to do was throw something. Instead she clutched the press release tightly in her hand.

  “May I keep this?” she asked.

  “Of course.”

  She rose, forcing the diplomat to do the same. “I understand what you’re trying to say,” she told the man. “I appreciate that my impending marriage could greatly benefit a lot of people. But here’s a news flash, Mr. Kudrow. I haven’t accepted the prince’s proposal. So I wouldn’t start counting your jet orders just yet. Thank you so much for visiting.”

  She nodded once, then turned and left the room. She was furious. No. Furious didn’t begin to describe how she felt. She was enraged. Now she really wanted to take the king up on his offer of a flogging, but only if she would be the one wielding the whip. If she had a car handy, she would back it over Sadik. How dare he try to manipulate her this way?

  She stalked toward the center of the palace, determined to hunt him down and tell him exactly what she thought of him. Unfortunately, he was in the business section of the palace and she’d never been there.

  After a couple of false starts, she found herself amidst dozens of fax machines and computers. Figuring she had to be close, she found a male secretary and asked directions to Prince Sadik’s office.

  Less than two minutes later she barged in on him.

  He sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen. When she stalked into his office, he didn’t even have the grace to look surprised. Instead he rose, smiled pleasantly and spoke.

  “Cleo! How nice of you to come see me.”

  She narrowed her gaze as she slapped the press release on his desk. “Don’t you dare try polite conversation on me. You might be some high-and-mighty finance person for the royal family, but to me you’re nothing but a lying weasel dog. What is the meaning of this?”

  He ignored her insult and glanced at the paper. “I would think it was obvious.”

  “That’s right. It is. If you can’t get me to agree another way, you’re going to bully me into marrying you. Well, it’s not going to work. I won’t be manipulated. I don’t care that you’re Prince Sadik. I’m a person and I have rights.”

  He motioned for her to take a chair. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of agreeing, but she was so mad, she was shaking. Her legs felt as if they were about to give way, and falling wouldn’t make her look very determined.

  She sank into the leather chair. He followed suit, then placed his hands on his desk. “You’re making too much of this,” he said calmly. “Why deny the inevitable? We will be married.”

  “No, we won’t. I don’t want to marry you. I have no interest in—”

  He cut her off with a shake of his head. “You may protest all you like, but you cannot escape the truth. You carry my child, Cleo. You carry a royal prince. Your choices are to marry me or to have the baby and then leave Bahania.”

  He spoke the words in a flat tone of voice. She heard them, absorbed them, then clutched the arms of her chair as the room began to spin. There it was. The bald truth at last.

  Marry Sadik or lose her baby.

  “You couldn’t do that,” she said between suddenly dry lips. “You’re not a monster. Why would you take my child away from me?”

  He rose and came around the desk. He took the chair next to hers and pulled it close. “I have no wish for you to be apart from our child. I have told you, I want us to be married and live together as a family. You are the one who insists on making things difficult.”

  Her chest tightened, and it became impossible to breathe. This couldn’t be happening.

  She had to reason with him, make him see that what he was doing was crazy. Panic welled up inside of her, but she ignored it. Now was the time to keep a clear head.

  “Why do you want to marry someone who is so determined not to be with you?” she asked, staring at him intently. “There are many other women who would be thrilled to be your wife. Can’t you marry one of them instead?”

  “You are the mother of my son.”

  “But don’t you want a wife who cares about you?”

  He smiled. As she watched, his mouth turned up and he gazed at her as one would gaze at a precious child. She wanted to slap him.

  “You care about me.” He took her hands in his. Her fingers felt like ice, while his were warm. The contrast burned her skin. “You would not have come to my bed if you didn’t care.”

  He shook his head when she started to interrupt. “I understand what you said about your past. That time is finished. You are a different person now.”

  She knew she was, but she hated that he knew it, too. It fed his argument rather than her own.

  “We like each other,” he continued. “We have passion, we’ll have the baby. In time there will be more children. I believe we will have a long and happy marriage.”

  Her heart died a little as he spoke. “You want convenience,” she said before she could stop herself. “You want to be sensible and do the right thing. But you don’t want to love me.”

  The words hovered in the room like a mist. Sadik stiffened, then released her hands and leaned back in the chair.

  “Is love so very necessary?”

  He asked the question casually, but she would swear she heard pain in his voice. Her chest tightened.

  “Yes. I don’t want an empty union.”

  “Is it not enough I offer you the world?”

  She didn’t want the world; she wanted him. Only him. She loved him, and it was clear he didn’t love her back.

  “Sadik—”

  He rose to his feet and walked to the window. Once there, he stood with his back to her. “I will tell you of love. I will tell you that it adds nothing and causes only pain.”

  He was wrong, but she found it impossible to speak. Silence filled the room. Then he took a deep breath.

  “My engagement to Kamra was arranged. I had met her a few times and had no objection to the union. She was attractive and from a good family. Her quiet nature soothed me. She had been raised to be the wife of an important man, and as such had not been out in the world very much.”

  His words were daggers to her heart. Cleo doubted that she and the precious Kamra could be more opposite. But she didn’t stop him from speaking. She knew she had to hear everything.

  “As she was very young and not used to the ways of the world, our engagement was to last a year. Over the months we spent much time together. I grew to admire her, then care about her. Eventually I fell in love with her.”

  Cleo wanted to cover her ears a
nd scream so she couldn’t hear him. Her eyes burned, but she refused to give in to tears.

  He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his trousers. “We quarreled. I do not recall the reason. It was barely three weeks before the wedding and she was leaving for Paris with her mother. They were to do some last-minute shopping. Kamra left in tears.”

  He paused for several seconds, then continued. “After a time I decided to go after her. I called ahead to delay the plane, then drove toward the airport. On the way I saw a car accident. The ambulance was already there. I slowed to give way, then recognized the car. Her mother escaped with only minor injuries, but Kamra was dead.”

  He turned to look at Cleo. His eyes were bleak, his mouth a straight line. “My heart died at that moment, with Kamra. I will never love again.”

  Chapter Nine

  Cleo didn’t remember leaving Sadik’s office. She didn’t remember anything until she found herself wandering the halls of the palace. Her whole body hurt, and she had the feeling that she would never feel whole again.

  She stopped and rested on a small bench in an alcove. Misery filled her, but it was not the kind to be eased by tears. She hurt too much for that.

  She forced herself to keep breathing and stay calm. For the sake of the baby, she told herself, touching her stomach. But nothing about her situation felt possible. How could her life have come to this? One of the palace cats strolled by. She tried to distract herself by petting it, but despite the feel of soft fur against her fingers, her tension didn’t ease.

  Was she really to be forced into a marriage with a man who didn’t love her? Who wouldn’t love her because he’d already given his love away to a woman who had died? It didn’t seem possible. She wasn’t completely helpless. She had a brain and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. She could simply slip out of the palace and…