In the years after Shahad had been banished from Cairo, his brother’s fortune had increased tenfold. The business relationship he’d struck with shipping tycoon Ramses Shakir allowed him to amass more wealth than either sibling had ever dreamed possible. Shahad tried unsuccessfully to bilk additional funds out of his brother while he was still alive. However, when that didn’t work, a more permanent solution had been devised. His plan would have worked, too, had it not been for Anwar’s meddling daughter. Her postulations raised serious concerns about the nature of Anwar’s death, causing his own children to second-guess the coroner’s initial report. Like her mother, Maliyah had grown into a snooty, overly inquisitive American brat. Shahad knew that Celeste D’Agostino had a lot to do with his exile. Distaste for his brutish behavior was never something she kept secret.
Anwar loved his ex-wife unequivocally, and fell into a deep depression once their marriage ended in divorce. The only thing that kept him from sinking into a pit of inconsolable desperation was the child the couple had produced during their short-lived union. Surely, Anwar had bequeathed the family estate to Maliyah. With her out of the way, the rightful successor to the Aziz fortune would come into question. Once Shahad stepped forward, an Egyptian court had no choice but to acknowledge his right of inheritance and award him the proceeds. Over the past several weeks, he’d used whatever means at his disposal in order to procure the young girl’s demise, even seducing his brother’s long-time servant and coaxing her to take part in two attempted homicides. Yet Maliyah had proven more resourceful than anticipated. The fact that Ramses Shakir refused to leave her side, made the task of killing her all the more difficult.
Ramses was most likely dead. The explosives expert he’d hired had assured him that the small blast would kill anyone within fifty feet of detonation. By now, the bastard had taken the bait and been blow to bits, leaving the fate of the remaining Aziz heirs to Shahad. As soon as the limousine came to halt at the entrance to the family plot, he’d unceremoniously shoot them both and reclaim his place in Egyptian society. If necessary, he’d murder Salma too. But Shahad had the feeling that that wouldn’t prove necessary. Salma could easily be manipulated. After all, she was her mother’s child.
The car came to a standstill at the mouth of a natural desert hot spring. For several minutes, Shahad sat, humbled by his surroundings. The water hole encompassed a vast area with a handful of large rectangular-shaped structures dug below the surface of the earth. Well-to-do Egyptian families utilized the underground tunnels for centuries as burial chambers for the dead. Shahad’s father, his father before him, as well as several other ancestors were enshrined in one of the sacred tombs. It seemed fitting that this particular spot served as the stage for his return to glory. Like the prodigal son, his forefathers would welcome him back into the family fold with open arms.
Finally, Shahad exited the vehicle, covering his face with a scarf to shield him from the brutal sun. He opened the rear door in one fluid motion, then cocked his head to one side and let the material dramatically fall away. Bearing his coffee-stained teeth, he smirked at the couple in the back seat as a form of intimidation. Then he pointed the gun at the limo driver, who hadn’t move from the front seat, and shot off two rounds of ammunition. One bullet hit the man in the throat, the other between his temples.
Before Husani could make a move, Shahad aimed the weapon at Maliyah. “Don’t do anything stupid, son. I will shoot her.”
Chapter Twenty
The Final Blow
The drive home should have lasted no more than twenty minutes. Yet in Maliyah’s estimation, much more time had passed since they fled the press conference. On the highway, she noticed that the limousine started to veer east into the desert, instead of south toward the shoreline near her father’s home. Those were her first clues that something was amiss. She glanced at Husani, whose eyes darted left to right as recognition spread across his face. He shot up out of his seat and stared out the window, taking in his surroundings. Then, he used the palm of his hand to beat on the glass divider that separated the front and back seats. The window was sealed with a tint so dark that they couldn’t quite make out who or what lie on the opposite side.
“Tariq! Lower the glass this instant!”
Husani’s fist pounded on the partition for several minutes. He let out a slew of expletives in Arabic. Still, the chauffeur failed to respond. Maliyah could make out two distinct shadows through the glass and wondered who was behind the wheel. Had Shahad commandeered the driver? Regardless of their protests, the vehicle kept its course as if nothing was out of sorts. Maliyah’s heart began to race. Sweat gathered at the base of her skull. She opened her purse and found a handkerchief to wipe off the dripping perspiration. Then, she noticed her cell phone peeking out from one of the pockets. Maliyah grabbed it, and immediately dialed Ramses’ number. She waited for the call to connect, even though she knew it was hopeless; they’d ventured too far from civilization. Cellular service in the desert was spotty at best, and the further east they traveled, the less likely they were to reach anyone who could help.
“No cell coverage. What do we do now?” Maliyah asked, looking to her cousin for advice.
“I’ve got a shotgun holstered to my ankle,” Husani said as he lifted his pant leg to show her the weapon. “But play it coy. I don’t want those bastards up front to be tipped off.”
As the car continued to creep along the deserted highway, Maliyah suddenly realized where they were headed. She could make out the outline of a watering hole in the distance, as well as several tall stone figures that shot up toward the horizon. The Aziz family crypt was just ahead along the perimeter of the sacred pool of Amun. No doubt Shahad had planned a dramatic end to the cat and mouse game they’d been playing for the past month.
The limousine came to a rolling stop in front of a natural hot spring, which was populated by a few scattered people who had come to pay their respects to the dead. One woman, in particular, caught Maliyah’s eye. She wore a long, azure blue gown made of a shimmery fabric. Her dark hair had been pulled back away from her face. Several damp gray strands clung to her hairline as a result of the humidity. When she turned to face the approaching vehicle, her weathered features came into focus and Maliyah instantly recognized her as Anat. A moment later, the back door swung open and Shahad appeared, a gun brandished in his hand.
Before either of them could react, Shahad aimed the weapon toward the front seat and shot off several rounds of ammunition. Maliyah couldn’t see the driver through the tinted glass. Nonetheless, she knew he was dead. Then her uncle turned the weapon on Maliyah and cocked the trigger again.
Husani’s jaw dropped once he came face-to-face with his father. A look of shock was etched into his normally-stern expression. His mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, but no words escaped his lips. Then, he shoved Maliyah back against the seat, away from the pistol’s aim. Unfazed, Shahad shifted his hips and repositioned the gun so that it pointed directly at her head. “Don’t do anything stupid, son. I will shoot her.”
By that time, Anat had started toward them. As she came around to the right side of the vehicle, Shahad handed her the weapon. “Keep this aimed at them, while I get them out of the car.” The killer spat the order out at Anat. She took the gun from him and did as she was told, although her hands shook with nervous apprehension.
Shahad grabbed for Maliyah first. He took hold of the lapels of the blazer she wore and yanked her out of the limousine. As her body was thrust from the car, her forehead came into contact with the pointy edge of the door. Suddenly, everything went black. Blood tricked down her nasal passages and she grew limp in her uncle’s arms.
“What have you done?” Maliyah heard her cousin ask through the foggy haze of semi-consciousness.
“Shut up!” Shahad roared at his son. Then, Maliyah felt two fingers apply pressure to her neck. “She still has a pulse. She’ll be fine. But if you want to live, you’ll help me carry her to shade.”
> ***
“Why are you doing this?” Husani asked, Maliyah’s shoeless feet held firmly in his grasp. With Shahad cradling her head, Ramses watched the two men carry her toward a shady spot underneath one of the stone monoliths. She was unconscious. A drop of red liquid slid from her nose into her mouth, which caused Ramses’ own blood simmer to a boil. Claws and razor-sharp teeth sprang fourth, primed for attack. If Shahad hurt his mate, he’d rip the man’s jugular out of his throat.
However, the vampire showed considerable restraint, forcing the demon inside into a dormant state. Their best defense was the element of surprise, and so far, Shahad hadn’t been tipped off by his presence. Ramses arrived moments after the limousine and for the past ten minutes, the tan-colored Jeep he drove in on sat parked behind an adjacent structure, hidden from view. Luckily, he’d been able to track the limo’s whereabouts. Before his death, Anwar installed a GPS device, so that it could be located in case of theft. That’s how the vampire had found them. He only hoped that he’d be able to cool his jets long enough to listen to what Shahad had planned. Then he would swoop in and strike down the unsuspected bastard before he knew what hit him.
Instead of hearing the details of a plan, Ramses felt as if he were eavesdropping on a very private conversation. “You abandoned us decades ago. Why come back now?”
“Surely I don’t expect a family reunion,” Shahad answered rather matter-of-factly. “I only want what’s mine.”
“So this is about money?” Husani repeated, as he set Maliyah’s body down below the shadow of an unmarked tomb. “Why didn’t you say so from the beginning? Salma and I would have happily paid to see you disappear for good!”
“It’s too late for that now,” Shahad shook his head with authority as he scrubbed a hand over his wiry beard. Then he took the gun from Anat, who stood a few feet away. “I got a call from a friend at the police station this morning. The coroner is issuing a new death certificate. Anwar’s death will officially be ruled a homicide. I do hate to implicate family and friends, but I’ve got no other choice.”
“”How do you mean?” Husani crinkled his brow in speculation.
“Anat’s hasty departure already looks suspicious. Who’s to say she wasn’t having an affair with my brother? Maybe she’ll decide to blackmail his daughter for money. If that were to occur, this whole fiasco could end badly.”
“But that doesn’t explain what happens to me?”
“Why of course it does!” Shahad sneered into his son’s ear, yet refused even a glance at his scorned paramour. “You’ll foolishly come to your cousin’s aid. Like one of those horrific Clint Eastwood westerns, a shootout will ensue, resulting in both your deaths. By the time the authorities get wind of what happened, I’ll be long gone from here.”
Without warning, Shahad cocked the pistol and fired, hitting Anat straight in the chest. The maid’s eyes sparkled with tears as she stared up at her lover. However, the look of betrayal on her face was short-lived. She soon collapsed, crumpling over onto the sand. Her hand was nestled to her breast. A dark blotch stained the iridescent blue fabric of her dress.
Anwar’s brother showed little remorse as he watched the woman keel over and take her last breath. Once he knew the shot had killed her, the maniac turned the weapon on Maliyah. Ramses was poised to jump out of the Jeep and attack, when he heard Husani’s beleaguered plea.
“Don’t. Kill me first.”
His father laughed. The sound was loud, deep from the belly. “Not a chance. I’m saving the best for last.”
At Shahad’s words, the vampire leapt from the vehicle. Keeping his alter ego in check, Ramses stalked toward the tomb. But by the time he reached them some five hundred meters away, a scuffle had already broken out. A moment later, bullets were fired. Ramses dove to the ground, covering Maliyah’s body. As the dust settled, he lifted her up off the sand and examined her from head to toe. Luckily, he found no injury, other than the gouge in the center of her forehead and the blood dripping from one nostril. Thankfully, she was still alive.
Next, Ramses turned toward Husani, who held a small revolver in his grip. His lower lip quivered, but his eyes remained fixed on the elderly gentleman who sat slumped over against a stone structure nearby. He’d shot his own father. Blood oozed from bullets that struck various parts of his torso. Nonetheless, the man continued to fight for his life. Ramses would right that injustice.
The vampire kicked a handful of rocks out of his path, and carefully set Maliyah back down on the soft earth. Then, he approached his best friend’s brother. He placed the palms of both hands over Shahad’s ears, and tilted his chin up, forcing the bastard to meet his gaze.
“For Anwar,” Ramses said as he snapped the man’s neck.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Proposition
Maliyah riffled through her purse in search of the small vial she’d shoved to the bottom several weeks earlier. Her hands shook as the wheels of the plane skidded across the runway, preparing for take off. Eventually, she found the bottle of Xanax her doctor had prescribed, twisted off the top, and downed one of the tiny pills. As she swallowed the medication, Maliyah closed her eyes. A blur of images replayed in Maliyah’s mind, reminding her of the whirlwind of events that had transpired in the last few days.
Three days prior, she had relinquished much of the family fortune in the hopes of drawing out her money hungry uncle. The son of a bitch had not only murdered her father, and made numerous attempts on her life; he was also the underlying cause of her broken heart. Had it not been for his antics, she would have only stayed in Cairo a handful of days. Not nearly enough time to let herself fall head-over-heels for Ramses Shakir.
The two lovers had overcome so many obstacles. After everything they’d gone through, Maliyah thought that nothing could keep them apart. Of course, in the beginning, she had doubts. The man was a vampire, after all. But somewhere along the way, her feelings had changed. The experience had altered her outlook on life. Maliyah had resigned herself to one simple fact: she was madly in love with Ramses. That was all that mattered. She refused to dwell on the uncertainty the future might bring. To make their relationship work, she’d have to accept his true nature and take things one day at time. If only Ramses reciprocated her feelings.
Unfortunately, Maliyah never got the opportunity to share exactly how she felt. After the confrontation with Shahad, Maliyah had been rushed to the hospital with a concussion. Semi-conscious throughout the brutal exchange at the sacred pool of Amun, the injury to Maliyah’s head had rendered her helpless and weak. She could hear, but not see or react to the events around her. Needless to say, she cheered inwardly when Ramses dealt the final blow that shattered every bone in her uncle’s neck.
Yet once the ordeal had ended, a new brand of misery took its place. While Maliyah sat cooped up in a hospital room trying to recover, Ramses was nowhere to be found. Two days in the intensive care unit, and not a single visit from the man that had claimed her as his mate. Hell, not even a phone call to make sure she hadn’t succumbed to her injuries. Maliyah left her lover a slew of voicemail messages, and plead with him to at least sit down for a chat so they could work things out. She even asked Salma to put in a good word or two as he packed up his belongings and unceremoniously left her father’s house. Nothing seemed to faze the stubborn hunk of a man.
Maliyah had no choice but to leave town. Once the doctor cleared her for travel, she booked the next available red-eye back to Sicily. First, she’d gathered her luggage and engaged in an emotional goodbye with her cousins. Still, she refused to cry. It wasn’t until the airplane taxied down the runway, that Maliyah allowed herself to grieve. Out the small window to her right, she could see the bright lights of the city on the horizon. Egypt, and everything about it, made her heart ache with thoughts of the man she’d loved and lost. The gritty desert sand, harsh and abrasive as ever, reminded her of Ramses’ tough exterior. In contrast, the gentle lull of the Nile conjured memories of her enveloped in his
warm, comforting embrace. Her vision panned to the left and she spotted a large rock nestled along the river’s edge, much like the one where they shared their first intimate moments. All of a sudden, Maliyah’s restraint shattered. Tears streamed from her cheeks, a fresh wound inflicted by her lover’s scathing rejection.
“Pardon the intrusion. But I thought you might need these,” a voice called from the seat behind. Then, a handful of tissues dangled above her head. She looked to the left, and glanced at the other two passengers in her row who sat oblivious. One read a magazine, while the other appeared to be taking a nap.
Maliyah would recognize that voice anywhere. Her fingers fumbled with the seatbelt, trying to break free of it. She turned in her seat and continued to sob as she came face to face with Ramses, the man she loved. The one person she realized she couldn’t survive without.
“What are you doing here?”
“Claiming what’s mine,” Ramses answered with an inconsequential shrug of the shoulders. In contrast, his eyes pierced her with a look of smoldering lust. For several seconds, Maliyah sat on her knees with her hands clutching the back of the seat, mesmerized by the man who for years she’d adored from afar. Finally, he’d come for her. She couldn’t believe it.
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