Margo counted on her fingers as she said, "Me, you, Pedar, Uncle Gabe, Aunt Megan, Aunt Scarlett, Uncle James, Aunt Olivia, Uncle Conner, so that's nine."
The huge grin on her sweet face was adorable. Elle winked and said, "Grandma and Grandpa too."
"Eleven!" Margo jumped.
"Go and get twelve forks, knives and spoons. My mom always said to have an extra plate ready in case we get an extra visitor." Once things were settled, she’d do whatever she could to help get her family out of jail. Elle set twelve dinner, dessert and appetizer plates on a side table near the dining room door as she imagined her mother whispering that Navid was a good choice for her. Margo closed the drawer a second later after making her three piles. Elle then looked at their beautiful sofreh and hoped wherever they ate, people could gaze at it. "Let's set everything up. Where is this fancy eating rug you talked about?"
Margo pointed to the kitchen cabinet. "In the closet. Pedar put it up high."
"Up here?" Elle reached for the top shelf. She stretched as she couldn't find a stool to stand on, but she wasn't tall enough. Her fingers latched on to some fringe.
"Did Pedar kiss you, Elle?" Margo asked.
Elle tugged the fringe and tumbled with the rug right behind her. She hit the ground and the carpet thumped her on the head. She stilled to get her balance. Heavier footsteps approached, but she scooted up fast before West could offer assistance. "I fell. I'm okay though."
West nodded and went back to his station near the door. Between them, she and Margo picked up the rug. "That's the one!" Margo said. "You got it."
"Good." Elle’s tumble hadn’t been that bad, and Navid hadn't seen her lack of grace. She directed Margo to put the carpet where the maximum amount of people could see their hard work. "Let's try it here."
Margo shook out her end. "Like this?"
"Yes. That's perfect." Elle leaned down to hug her.
Margo stared into her eyes. "You didn't answer my question."
"What question?" Elle blinked, unsure what to say. Wishing Margo would let the subject go.
Margo repeated, "Did Pedar kiss you?"
Her pulse quickened. She wasn't a good liar so she walked to the buffet side-table to get the plates. "When was that?"
Margo followed. "When I was in my room getting dressed. I thought I heard him kiss you."
This wasn't a good topic. Navid wouldn't... she wouldn't... She should have been more careful! "What does kissing sound like?"
"Mmchh." Margo croaked out her example.
Elle hid her smile as she placed the first set of dishes. "That sounds more like a song."
Margo smacked her lips and said, "Like that?"
Elle giggled as she couldn't help herself. "Are you imitating a fish? I'm going to get more plates."
"Did you kiss..." Margo was about to ask again when the doorbell rang.
Elle grabbed her fingers and squeezed tight. "The food must be here, Margo. But your dad said if anything happens we should run into the safe room."
Margo's eyes widened but she now clutched her hand and side. "Where is Pedar?"
West handed someone his badge at the door.
Elle stayed absolutely still and watched the transaction. She spoke in calm tones. "He went downstairs to talk to the police. He'll be right back up."
West’s partner gave two paper grocery bags to West, who brought them inside and put them on the counter before returning to his post. Margo released Elle. "It's the food!"
Elle still felt shaky, but she admired Margo's spirit.
She then leaned down and whispered in Margo's ear. "Can you show me your safe room?"
Margo blinked and lowered her shoulders, clearly getting that Elle was nervous, but then she waved at her and marched past the bags of food. "Sure."
Elle rushed behind Margo down the hall. They needed to celebrate the holiday, but with Leila missing and Navid out of the condo, her heart was heavy. Hopefully Leila was found safe and unharmed.
Margo opened her bedroom door and then her closet. "It's just past there. You can see the door if you squint."
"Yes." As Elle stared at the safe room, she wondered why Navid had one. Right now she had to act like everything was normal. She offered her hand to the little girl. "Oh, okay. Let's put the food on the dishes and finish with the plates and silverware."
Margo swung their hands. "I want Pedar to enjoy Norooz."
They returned to the kitchen and Elle took the rest of the plates and walked to the dining carpet, her toes against the red fabric. "I'm sure he will. He's with you."
"And he kissed you!" Margo declared, gathering the spoons.
The front door opened and West left the condo. Elle's hands shook as she set the next plate down, shook her head and pretended everything was okay. "I never said that."
"I heard you." Margo insisted. "And it's my New Year’s wish that I get you as my new mom."
Navid's voice boomed from the foyer. "Enough of that Margo. You'll scare off your nanny."
Elle jumped—she hadn’t heard the door open again. She’d never been so happy to see anyone, ever. With Navid, she could breathe. Here, with him and Margo, she had a place where she was safe and felt like a home. Her lips tingled for another kiss, but she lowered her lashes and looked away. After this family dinner, he'd promised pleasure. Should she want that still, even with Leila missing? Desire.
She continued her work to ensure the Persian setting of the sofreh was elegant and that his family might ask what everything meant. She'd dream about Navid, later.
Elle stared into Navid’s sexy blue eyes and her heart pounded in a different way. He seemed so tense that he must be worried about something, though he walked into the kitchen and peeked through the paper bags. She placed her hand on his arm. "What's happening?"
"I'll help with the trays." He washed the first quickly in the sink and didn’t look at her. He scrubbed, rinsed and then set it aside to dry in the rack. "Gabe is talking to the FBI now."
She sucked in her breath. He’d contacted his half-brother? She squeezed his biceps and scooted closer. "What's happening?" Have they found Leila?"
Margo came into the kitchen and Elle let go of his arm immediately. Navid washed the third tray. "Let’s work and talk or we won’t be done in time."
Elle reached into the paper bags. She chose the salad from the deli and poured it in the newly washed ceramic bowl for serving. She handed it to Margo. "Margo, where should this go? You’ve done a wonderful job getting things ready for our guests."
Margo grinned. "Elle would be a great mama, Pedar."
Navid smiled at his daughter and winked. "You've told me. Now put that out for our guests. The servers I hired will be up once security clears them."
Margo walked out of the kitchen as she held the bowl of greens in front of her with her thin arms trembling. Elle felt protective and patted her shoulder. Margo breathed easier and Elle took a step back and opened the next tray which seemed like herbed rice. She poured it into a serving tray and then moved onto the next dish, but once Margo's feet were clear from view, Elle asked, "So?"
Any second, the doorbell announcing his family would ring, and his shoulders tensed as he washed the last of the serving trays. "The plan right now is that Gabe is going to make the updated virus to trade for Leila."
She clenched the next bowl for the second salad. "But then Paul gets to steal billions!" Her family was in jail for doing just that, though they never would have, really. "I don’t understand the FBI at all when that’s what they said my father..."
"We’re going to stop him from doing that, once we get Leila back." He stared at her, his expression unreadable.
Crime was still a crime and Paul shouldn't get to profit when her family had done nothing wrong but were in federal prison. "Don’t get me wrong. Leila should be with her family and loved ones, but you, Margo, my brothers and my parents are the people I care about. And stealing is wrong. My parents would never…"
Margo came back in the
room. He walked over and took the bowl from Elle and put the salad in it. She used the kitchen counter to steady herself. Navid then gave it to his daughter. "Margo, this one is ready too."
Margo saw through her attempt to act unaffected. Elle was sure of it when Margo asked, "What are you talking about?"
Navid pushed the bowl into his daughter's hands. "How she's never had kabob with sumac."
"Really?" Margo looked at her and Elle swore the girl was psychic, though she said, "Why would you eat it plain?"
"Oh, and here." Navid put serving utensils in her pocket. "Take this for the rice. Elle and I will carry the rice trays."
Margo hugged the salad bowl and walked past her.
They waited in silence for her to be out of sight. Then Navid poured the white rice on a tray. "Elle, just promise me that you won't go out on your own until Paul is behind bars. I have to protect you too."
"But the FBI is giving him what he wants. Right?" She picked up the herbed rice with a slight smell of dill.
She stared at him. Finally, he said, "Gabe is putting a tracker on the software so they can also trace it. Once Gabe is done, then I'm leaving to make the trade. I can't have Leila get hurt because of me."
A tracker meant setting a trap for Paul, away from the condo and Margo. Navid would be in danger by physically bringing Paul the software. She held the rice, but her fingers itched to hold him. "Be careful, Navid."
They walked out of the kitchen, elbow to elbow. "Why do you care?"
"Because I do." Navid's belief that he was uncared for made no sense to her. He had a daughter who loved him and he had her feelings too. His grim expression and white face said enough. He didn’t need her emotions on top of everything else. "How I feel is not your issue, and nothing for you to worry about."
"Elle, what are you saying?" He placed the rice on one side of the carpet.
Neither of them moved as they stared at one another in heated silence. Margo broke the tension by pointing to the kitchen. "Pedar, we still have the rest of the food in the bags."
"Fresh radishes to go with the basil. Right?" They needed bowls for serving. "Basil, onion, and radishes are what we eat before kabobs." Elle smiled at Margo and hoped she believed the smile. "Get the tongs, Margo. I'll get the salad bowls and then I need you to make sure every setting has a bowl."
The doorbell rang. All of his family was about to descend. Elle whispered, "Navid, we'll talk about whatever is happening between us after Paul is captured."
"Bashe, bashe." Navid brushed her arm where warm goosebumps grew on her skin simply from his touch. "That must be the others."
Navid stood tall and imposing, like he could kill with his bare hands, though he wasn’t threatening anyone. He quietly walked to the door and spoke with the gangly blond Hank West for a moment. Elle straightened her dress and then followed him to the door. Margo waited by the food, just out of view from the door.
One at a time the Hawke family entered and took off their shoes at the door. Navid waved them in and kissed everyone's cheek. "Father. Andrada. Everyone, please come in."
Elle's gaze first locked with Scarlett who came over and hugged her. Then she looked into the kitchen and asked, "Ohh, can we help set everything up?"
"No-Rooz mobarak!" Olivia called before she kissed Navid's cheek. Elle hid her laugh at how big Navid's eyes grew from his half-sister's greeting. In her pale blue silk pantsuit, Olivia never blinked as she asked, "Where do we put the presents?"
"Eeyed tud moborak," Navid responded. He then pointed Olivia and her husband Conner to the living room that adjoined the dining area. Her best friend practically glowed with happiness, but Elle expected nothing less. Olivia ended up married to the prince she’d had a crush on since they were both teenagers. Navid pointed toward the grand piano. "You can pile gifts on the couch if you like."
Olivia stopped next to her sister Scarlett and then turned around to stare at the dining table with the mirror that reflected all the seven herbs, the painted eggs and garlic, the display she and Margo had worked hard to create. "Now this table looks amazing."
Navid’s eyes gleamed with pride. "Margo, and Elle, set up a proper sofreh that could compete and win at the local competition for best setting."
Elle walked beside him and brushed her arm against his. "Really, Navid? You like it?"
He turned toward her. "Haven't I told you?"
She shook her head. "No, you haven't noticed at all as far as we knew."
"My mother’s mirror is proudly displayed." He glanced at his daughter and she straightened. "Well, it's great and your mother and Mamanbazord would be proud of you, Margo. I hope my father's family doesn't mind sitting traditional tonight."
Mr. Hawke added fast. "Not at all." He joined Navid and walked next to him. "Son, I want you to think of us as your family too, all of us."
Olivia’s bright blue scarf flowed behind her as she headed to the kitchen and called out, "Elle, I'm going to help."
"I’ll be right there." She watched Navid, who spoke quietly with his father, and then she walked into the kitchen to talk to her friend, with Margo right on her heels.
Scarlett picked up a serving tray and went to the rice container to pour it out. "What's the rice with all the herbs?"
"We set the rice already." Scarlett stopped and Margo quickly added, "We eat sabzi polo first once night arrives. It's herbs and fish."
Scarlett winked at her and picked up the fish tray. "Well, it looks good. Tell me where to put this."
Margo escorted Scarlett into the dining area. Elle stood with Olivia for a minute. It was good to see her again. It had been almost two weeks and she'd been friendless because her best friend now lived in Europe in a castle as a princess. So her familiar face made everything easier to bear.
Navid then popped his head in the kitchen and said, "Elle, they need me downstairs. Please make sure my father's... my family stays. Gabe and I will be back in a few minutes."
She was to serve the bread and pretend nothing was wrong? She prayed they saved Leila from Paul, but Elle broke away from Olivia and reached out for Navid's hand to stop him from running off. He walked with her toward their bedrooms for a quiet spot in the hall. She waited until no one could see them and then asked, "Are you going with the FBI now?"
"Yes." He held her hands. "I don't know how long this will be, but I have to get Leila back to her family."
Anything could happen to him while he was gone.
"I understand." He slipped his hands from her. She reached out and held his waist. "Wait."
"Elle, Leila's in danger. I need to go."
"I get it." She licked her lips. "I wanted to tell you to be careful, that’s all."
He kissed her forehead. "Elle, I'm just glad you and Margo are safe."
She stood on her tiptoes and changed his kiss to her lips. She needed to tell him without words that she cared. He had to know that they were all waiting for him here at home and his safety mattered.
Navid, in the back of the spacious FBI van, stretched to keep his body limber. If, during the trade of the software for Leila a fight broke out, Navid was stronger and faster, so he'd have every advantage. However, he'd have to keep his edge because Paul was unpredictable, which made him dangerous.
Gabe had the same profile as their father though he had his mother’s clear blue eyes and blond hair. He left the front of the van to stand beside him and patted him on the back. "Remember the plan. Don't be brave."
Navid rolled his shoulders to ensure he was mobile and light on his feet. "I can take care of myself. It's Leila I'm worried about."
The FBI agents circled around them as he waited for the signal that they were ready. In a minute he'd go into the address Paul had given. Gabe shook his head. "If you get hurt then I'll have to explain to our father. I'd rather just watch your back than have that conversation."
Surreal didn't begin to describe how it felt having Gabe stand beside him. His brother acted like all was forgiven between them, but inside,
Navid still remembered being that angry kid who lashed out. "Gabe, you didn't have to do this."
"Someone's threatening my family. Of course, I'm here with you," Gabe said.
Family. Margo was all he had left—or so he thought until his father's family had been so welcoming. He hadn't expected that of Americans in general, or the Hawke family specifically. He’d let stories about culture and people influence him instead of seeing it for himself.
He stretched his hands and flexed his feet. In a fight, no one beat him. Training was a lifestyle he'd never changed because it was up to him to protect what was his. "You don't have to pretend that I'm your family, Gabe, but I still want to thank you for creating the update."
Gabe stepped forward, his gun in hand as he checked the clip. "In the desert..."
"Stop-" Navid interrupted. Navid had acted out of anger and immaturity. Gabe shouldn't have forgiven him so easily.
Gabe thumbed the safety and stuck the gun in its holster. "In the desert, I had no idea who you were when you were fighting with James, but when I almost died, you helped me. I'll never forget that."
After he had helped put his brother in that situation in the first place, because of a stupid revenge he thought he wanted for his mother’s honor. Theft wasn’t honorable, let alone letting Gabe die. Granted he hadn't known the exact plan and when he realized it was just theft, he wanted nothing to do with the money offered as the reward. Guilt weighed him down though this had happened over eighteen years ago.
The FBI signaled that it was time to leave. Navid left the van, hidden out of sight, and went toward the door of the abandoned factory. In front of the door, he was absolutely sure Paul had a view of them. "Let’s get Leila out."
Leila was innocent and only here because he had made bad choices.
Gabe stayed next to him as they crossed the parking lot. "Scarlett told me you helped her escape from Maddox when you were on the island with them. I won’t let you down now."
"Meeting her at that conference was accidental, but I couldn’t let Maddox hurt her." His half-sister had immediately accepted his story of who he was and never once questioned him—the exact opposite of what he’d expected. "Scarlett has an incredible heart."
Tempting Navid Page 7
