Ramses had been careless with his acquisitions, too. He lost the majority of his wealth in cutthroat gambling schemes and risky business endeavors. Unwittingly, irony had dealt him quite the hand the day he’d staggered down a dark alley and came upon Anwar al Aziz. The man had literally saved his life. Now, that same man’s daughter, held his heart in her hands. She was the one woman with the capacity to redeem his wretched soul, or send it spiraling into the pits of hell. Did he deserve to be saved once more? Was it too much to wish for a happy ever after?
It was nearly sunrise by the time Ramses and Andreas had returned to the hotel. As he stepped into the elevator and pushed the button to take him to the fifteenth floor, Ramses felt the vibration of the cell phone in his left pocket. He nodded to Andreas as the other man hopped off a few floors before him. Then, he reached in and pulled out his phone. There was a message from Boris. Quickly, his eyes scanned over the text that flickered on the screen.
Check your email. Fingerprint match.
“Thank God!” Ramses muttered aloud to himself. He kept his voice low as he opened the door to the suite, trying his best not to wake Maliyah. He knew she’d be eager to hear what Boris had dug up on her father’s murderer. Neither of them had slept well since they’d arrived on the island. The stress of everything had started to wear on both of them. Finding out that her lover was a blood-sucking vampire surely hadn’t helped the situation.
Before he powered on his laptop, Ramses peeked into the master bedroom. Maliyah looked like an angel, lying peacefully on her side wearing a white cotton shift. Her chest rose ever so slightly with each deep inhalation of breath. Thankfully, she’d been able to fall asleep. Without making a sound, Ramses pulled the door shut, and left only a small crack of light to seep in from the floor. Opening up a web browser, he scanned through a long list of emails until he found the one from Boris. He ignored the throng of other work-related communications that seemed to unceasingly bombard his mailbox. They were a constant reminder of the fact that for the past few weeks, Ramses had been neglecting his duties as CEO of Shakir Shipping. Large commercial contracts and mergers and acquisitions could no doubt be placed on the back burner. Maliyah’s safety and the capture of the individuals responsible for Anwar’s death came first.
Ramses clicked on the attachment the private investigator had sent him. It was a profile compiled by Interpol. Luckily, the fingerprints he’d lifted from the house in Elephantine had produced an exact match. Right away, Ramses eyes focused on the photograph on the monitor, tuning out all the other superfluous information written in the report. It had to be an old photograph taken maybe twenty years before. But for some unknown reason, a chill ran down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His sixth sense recognized the man from the image, even if his conscious mind failed to make a plausible connection yet.
A middle-aged gentleman of Middle Eastern descent, the skin on his face and neck appeared leathery and wrinkled, ravaged by the brutal desert sun. His countenance was covered in wiry gray facial hair. He possessed a sharp, angular chin and crooked nose. But it was his eyes peeking out from underneath an earth-toned turban, deep amber speckled with shards of emerald green that were most familiar. They seemed to be the exact shape and color as his deceased friend, Anwar al Aziz.
Ramses scanned the text, trying to locate the name of the man whose picture had drawn his immediate attention. It seemed this particular individual went by several aliases. Shahad El Mofty, Habib El Mofty, Habib al Shahad, Habib al Aziz. The list was endless. But the name at the bottom finally rang a bell. Shahad al Aziz. Although Ramses had never met him, Anwar reportedly had a brother of the same name. The father of Maliyah’s cousins, Salma and Husani, the man had abandoned his wife and children and was presumed dead.
How could it be? Anwar assumed his brother had died years before. Ramses recalled the night his best friend received a videotaped message of his brother, his body bloodied and beaten. In the background, the voices of unknown captors demanded a sum of two million U.S. dollars cash in exchange for his safe return. Anwar had confided in Ramses, asking for advice on how he should proceed. Shahad was his flesh and blood, but after the shame he had inflicted on their family, the pain and anguish he had caused his sister-in-law and her children, they were better off with him dead. Ramses agreed and after Anwar refused to pay the ransom, no one heard another word from the troubled al Aziz brother. Both men operated under the assumption that he’d been killed, his body hacked into pieces and hurled into the Nile River as fodder for the fish.
Suddenly Ramses remembered the other image that Boris had sent him, the one of Anat and her accomplice sipping refreshments on the porch of the shack they shared. He placed that image next to the one he’d just received from Interpol and compared the two. While the man sitting next to the maid looked older, the shape of his face and those same haunting eyes stared back at him. No doubt, the man had to be Anwar’s long-lost sibling.
As Ramses shut down the computer, he heard the door behind him creak open. He turned slowly toward the sound as Maliyah crept softly toward him. Her eyes were at half-mast and her hair tussled from sleep. She smiled, then wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed reassuringly. She looked so beautiful, smelled so heavenly, Ramses wanted to lose himself in her. Closing his eyes tight, he wished that he could wipe away all the bad things that had happened in the past month and start fresh. He yearned to begin a new journey with Maliyah, if she’d have him.
Ramses sighed, debating whether or not to inform Maliyah about the most recent development in the case. His instincts warred with his better judgment. He knew he should tell her that her uncle was alive and most likely responsible for his brother’s death. Yet, he felt a strong urge to protect her, keep her shielded from the pain of family betrayal. But if their love was ever to blossom into something substantial, he needed to be honest with her and let the chips fall where they may.
“Ramses, come to bed,” Maliyah’s fingers massaged his biceps as she kissed her way along the slope of his neck and whispered softly in his ear. Her breathy declaration sent an immediate signal to his cock, focusing his thoughts away from murder and mayhem. Maliyah proved to be a worthy distraction from the inevitable; their undeniable attraction a force Ramses simply couldn’t resist.
***
Ramses’ kiss was intoxicating. His mouth moved from one erogenous zone to another – her throat, her breasts, and then her navel. The overload of sensation sparked an erotic fervor. Her nipples hardened into tiny rosebuds. Her womb clenched as moisture coated the folds, preparing Maliyah’s body for her lover’s sensual assault. She watched him intently, following his line of sight as he made his way to the junction of curls below her waist.
Ramses spread her thighs and nestled his head between them. His languorous tongue swept over her clitoris, then sucked on the tiny nub that begged to be caressed. At the same time, he inserted two fingers into her pussy. They drove inside her again and again, until the fragrant proof of arousal trickled down her thigh and permeated the air. Her womb convulsed as she lifted her ass off the mattress, unable to keep her orgasm at bay. At last, she let out a muffled groan, which signaled her release.
It was then that Ramses lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. Even through the foggy haze of arousal, she observed the prophetic expression that canvassed his face. It was almost haunting; nothing like the lust-filled perusal he displayed earlier in the midst of their lovemaking. A gust of anguish, of gut-wrenching betrayal. At once, Maliyah knew something was amiss.
Maliyah shot up from the mattress, her fingers flexed toward Ramses’ broad shoulders, urging him to halt their sensual play. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “What are you not telling me?”
Ramses sat up on his knees. He scrubbed his hand over the stubble that had grown on his cheeks, then shook his head vigorously from left to right. “Forgive me, habibti. I only meant to spare you a moment of pain,” he said as he drew Maliyah into his lap. He caressed
the soft skin underneath her chin, a gesture she knew was meant to keep her calm. “It is your Uncle Shahad. He’s the man responsible for your despair. Boris sent me undeniable evidence.”
“Uncle Shahad? Salma and Husani’s father?” Maliyah’s cocked her head sideways. Her eyes narrowed quizzically. “That piece of scum is dead! He got what he deserved long ago.”
“No, my love. That was only speculation on your father’s part. He had no proof of Shahad’s demise.”
Maliyah stood abruptly and shot across the room. She rubbed two fingers over her aching temples. “How can you be so sure? And why would he hurt my father? He was the only man who ever showed Shahad a scrap of compassion!”
“Greed. It’s the only possible explanation. It can seep into a man’s spirit and wreck havoc,” Ramses confessed, his gaze cold and distant as if remembering something from the past. “It has made many a man, including me, make poor decisions.”
Pressing a palm to her forehead, Maliyah tried to make sense of the information Ramses had shared. She needed to think of a way out of this mess. “So what do we do now? How do you expect me to tell Salma and Husani that their father is behind this charade? They’ll be devastated. Ashamed!”
“Let’s go home to Cairo. I’ll arrange for safe passage as soon as possible. That way, we can break the news to your cousins face to face. Besides, Shahad and Anat have undoubtedly fled the island and we’ll need time to come up with a plan to draw them out again.”
“Ramses, I’m not sure I can handle anymore of this. Maybe I should just catch the next flight back to Italy.” As Maliyah spoke the words, her vision suddenly went fuzzy. Her body broke out in a cold sweat. She felt her body waver. Without warning, her knees buckled and she sank to the ground. She sat there speechless as tears streamed incessantly down her checks. The stress of the last few weeks had pushed her to the breaking point.
Ramses was there as soon as she hit the floor. He wrapped his arms around Maliyah, cradling her in his comforting embrace. He pressed a kiss to her brow and whispered soothing words while he wiped away her tears. “Shh. Everything’s going to be okay, habibti. I know I keep promising you that, but it’s true.”
“When will this nightmare end? It’s too much to bear,” Maliyah managed to mutter between sobs. She continued her blubbering tirade, until Ramses scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He gently laid her down on the mattress, then slid in next to her, letting her head rest against his bare chest. He didn’t utter a single word. He didn’t need to. Safe and warm, she snuggled up next to him and wept. She cried so much that soon, the tears refused to fall any longer.
Lying in the darkness listening to her lover’s even breathing, an idea swirled around inside Maliyah’s head. For hours, her mind raced with possibilities until she’d concocted an elaborate ploy from beginning to end. The perfect card to force her uncle’s unruly hand. But in order for it to work, she’d need Eva and Andreas’s cooperation.
Chapter Seventeen
The Art of Deception
They had just stepped into the lobby on their way to dinner when Maliyah’s cell phone buzzed in the back pocket of her denim skirt. She recognized the number immediately. It belonged to her mother. Although the two women had emailed each other regularly to keep each other up to date on the investigation into Anwar’s death, they hadn’t spoken on the phone for close to three weeks. Celeste had been off on another adventure, reporting on the inevitable thaw of the polar ice caps in Antarctica. Needless to say, cell phone coverage in the Polar Regions had proven hard to come by. A phone call from her mother could only mean that she had arrived home to Miami.
Maliyah placed a hand on Ramses’ forearm, urging him to stop so she could answer the call before they joined their dinner guests. “Hi Mom. You home yet?”
“Yes, I arrived this morning. Any news on the investigation? I know you’re eager to get back to Italy.” Celeste sounded tired. Her voice seemed smaller and more frail than usual. This last assignment must have been especially taxing on the aging matriarch. Or maybe she was worried about her daughter? Either way, the genuine love and concern from her mother, made Maliyah’s heart swell.
Last night, all Maliyah wanted to do was escape. Run home and forget all about the past month of her life. But with a game plan in sight, a renewed sense of self-assurance had emerged. That morning when she woke up, she’d called her boss and told him she needed to extend her leave of absence. Luckily, he had understood.
“I’m not sure I’ll be returning to work so soon. We’ve turned up some substantial leads, but we need more time. Mom,” Maliyah paused in order to prepare both of them for the enormity of her admission. Even though Maliyah had had a day to let it sink in, the truth was still hard to believe. “Uncle Shahad is alive. We have evidence that links him to my father’s murder.”
“What?” A high-pitched screech came through the other end of the receiver. Clearly, Celeste was shocked by the revelation. “Anwar had been convinced his brother died years ago.”
“His fingerprints were lifted off a glass at a home here in Elephantine. It’s the same location where Anat has been hiding out.”
“Maliyah, please be careful,” Celeste warned. “Shahad is trouble. Look at the pain and heartache he’s already caused. Maybe you should take what you’ve learned and go to the local police. Let them proceed from this point on.”
Maliyah knew that what her mother purposed seemed logical. They should take what they know straight to the police. Unfortunately, Maliyah couldn’t do that. Regret had slowly crept up inside her, making it virtually impossible to walk away and let the authorities take over. Self-condemnation overpowered her thoughts and emotions like a cancer plaguing her soul with guilt. Throughout her entire adult life, Maliyah had sat by and watched the relationship she shared with her father deteriorate. She did nothing to stop it. This was her way of making amends, and it had to happen on her own terms. No police. Although she had a feeling her mother wouldn’t understand her motivation. Better to end the conversation quickly, rather than get into a long, drawn out debate.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan. Gotta go. Love you. Talk to you soon.” Maliyah hung up the phone before Celeste had the chance for rebuttal.
For the first time in several minutes, Maliyah made eye contact with Ramses. She saw the look of disapproval reflected in his gaze. He appeared as if he was about to say something, but instead shrugged his shoulders and clasped his hand over hers.
“What? No snarky comments from the peanut gallery?”
“As your father once told me,” he said as he placed a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist. “Choose your battles wisely.”
“My father was a smart man.” Maliyah moaned, instinctively reacting to his touch. The man could cause a mound of snow to melt into mush. Even at the slightest caress, the chemistry between them cracked and sizzled, forcing Maliyah’s body to bow toward the man at her side.
“Yes, he was. Smart enough to keep his lovely daughter a fair distance away from me while he was alive,” Ramses grinned, bearing a pair of protruding fangs from the corners of his mouth. No doubt, he was turned on. Although he tried his best to keep the formidable vampire persona he possessed under wraps. Nonchalantly, he tucked Maliyah’s arm under his elbow and led them to the dining room to meet up with Eva and Andreas.
It was seven o’clock sharp by the time they squeezed into a corner booth in the hotel’s restaurant. Five minutes later, Eva and Andreas waltzed into the room hand-in-hand. Maliyah was glad for the distraction. In the short amount of time they were left alone, the conversation with Ramses had been filled with one sexually charged innuendo after another. A girl could only handle so much.
Turning her attention to their impending dinner guests, Maliyah couldn’t help notice the other female’s relaxed, carefree demeanor. Her eyes sparkled and she had a certain glow about her. Maybe it was because of the pregnancy, but it seemed to be more than that. With her husband at her side, she appeared to be the pict
ure of health – happy, vibrant, and in love. Seeing the two of them together filled Maliyah with a sense of hope. She, too, wanted to share her life with someone special and the fact that these two – a vampire and a huntress - could make it work, helped renew her faith in love.
As the couple approached them, she caught Ramses staring at her from across the table. An inexplicable sentiment flickered across his face moments before he reached out and entwined their fingers once again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In that instant, Maliyah understood her lover’s inscrutable expression. Longing. She felt it too. It was wholly different from any other emotion she’d ever experienced. Yet with dinner guests a few feet away, now was not the time to explore these newfound feelings. Unfortunately, that would have to come later.
Before the other couple noticed, Maliyah snapped herself out of her short-lived fantasy. “Hey guys. Thanks for agreeing to meet with us. I feel bad. We’ve already taken up enough of your honeymoon. We won’t keep you long,” she said, motioning for them to take a seat.
“Maliyah has some hair-brained scheme she wants to discuss with you both. She wouldn’t even give me as much as a hint until you agreed to join us for dinner.”
“It’s nothing personal, honey.” Maliyah shot her lover a playful wink. “It’s just that Andreas has certain connections that you lack. We’ll need his expertise in order to make my plan work.”
Ramses snorted unceremoniously. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to make me jealous.”
“No worries, my friend. I’m happily besotted,” Andreas replied as he wrapped one arm around his wife’s shoulder, and rubbed the ever-expanding evidence of her pregnancy with the other. “How can I help?”
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