‘Cosima!’ His scream made everyone below look up, and Harpa and Mikah burst out from her bedroom as Arlo darted for the elevator.
‘Arlo, what the…’
He was wild-eyed and breathless as the other two crowded into the elevator with him. ‘It’s her, it’s Cosima…’
He was babbling, press the down button again and again until Harpa took his hand away.
‘Stop. Breathe. What about Cosima?’
Arlo looked at her, his mania calming. ‘She’s downstairs…’
They burst out of the elevator doors as soon as they opened onto the hotel lobby and saw her, their Cosima, alive, breathing, as Steve and Roger carried her inside. Harpa screamed her sister’s name and ran to the wilting woman as she began to sob. She hugged her sister, reaching out to Arlo as he wrapped his arms around them both, shaking his head in disbelief, saying her name over and over and over…
Sabine hissed in frustration as the news reporter, standing outside the LaBelle brought the viewers the news of Cosima Malhotra Bedi’s miraculous escape. God damn it. She wondered what Naveen had been thinking, keeping the princess alive.
To Sabine’s dismay, Arlo hadn’t risen to her offer of help, just thanked her in a dead voice and ended the call.
And now Cosima was home, safe in Arlo’s arms again. Sabine sighed. Maybe it was time to let it go after all. Sabine simply didn’t have the energy to break them up. Maybe she should concentrate on Naveen; a man of means certainly, the ease with which he moved around the world constantly, never staying in one place too long.
Yes, she could get used to a life like that…
‘Okay, Arlo, you win,’ she said aloud to the picture of her former lover that flashed up on the screen. ‘You keep your princess. I have bigger plans.’
If only she knew how to get hold of Naveen.
Arlo waited until the doctor had finished his examination then stepped back into Cosima’s room. He still couldn’t believe that she was here, in front of him. In the melee that had followed her arrival at the hotel, the emergency services were called, and it wasn’t until the police insisted that Cosima go straight to the emergency room to be checked out that Arlo had time to gather his thought. The doctors and hospital staff had been kind and thorough; Cosima didn’t appear to have any significant injuries, apart from cuts and bruises, but mentally, Arlo could see the pain, fear, and confusion in her eyes. After being locked away for so long, Cosima got quickly overwhelmed by all the people around her. When the doctor had told her, gently, he needed to do a rape kit, Arlo had been heartbroken when Cosima looked ashamed and nodded slowly. God, what she must have been through…
The doctor smiled at him. ‘She’s exhausted and dehydrated, and we’ll keep her in for a couple of days. She’ll need to talk to the psychiatrist and of course, the police but for tonight, she should rest.’
They both went back into the room, and Cosima’s delighted smile made Arlo’s heart soar. He kissed her forehead. ‘I love you,’ he whispered.
She leaned into him as the doctor wrote some notes. ‘Can I shower now, Doctor?’
He looked and smiled. ‘You can, then I’m going to order some hot food for you. I want that drip to stay in overnight; you’re dehydrated so drink plenty of water. I’ll be back in couple of hours to give you a sedative to help you sleep.’
Cosima sighed. ‘Sounds good.’
‘Can I stay with her, doc?’
‘Of course, I’ll have a cot brought in for you.’ He patted Cosima’s hand gently. ‘Rest as much as you can, Cosima. You deserve it.’
‘Thank you, Doctor Arno, you’ve been very kind.’
When they were alone, Arlo tipped her face up to his and kissed her softly. ‘God, I missed you, every second, Cos. Thank God you’re okay.’
She smiled, but her eyes were troubled. ‘Arlo…there was one day…he drugged me and I was hallucinating that it was you…’
‘I want to kill him for doing that, but it wasn’t your fault, Cos, you realize that, I hope? I’ll make him pay, I promise you. Are you sure you didn’t recognize him?
Cosima shook her head. ‘Maybe Jack will have something in one of his files but, to be honest, I’m just relieved to be away from him. Did the police find anything at the house?’
Arlo shook his head. ‘Jack said he was going to find out what they knew, what the crime scene people could find.’
‘Is he okay?’
‘Jack? I think like the rest of us, he’s overwhelmed you’re safe. He said he’ll come see you as soon as he can.’
‘Good.’ Cosima leaned against him and sighed. Then her eyebrows shot up. ‘Oh, right, I was going to ask…who was that guy with Harpa at the hotel?’
Arlo grinned. ‘That, my darling, is Mikah Ray. They met in Seattle and were hot and heavy until you disappeared and Jack made Harpa come to New Orleans.’
Cosima chuckled. ‘Arlo Forrester, you sound like an old gossip. Wow, so that’s Mikah? Nice work, sis.’ She grinned at Arlo but then her smile faded. ‘I keep waiting to wake up and find out I’m still trapped in that house.’
Arlo stroked her face tenderly. ‘Cos…you’ll never have to go through that again, understand? Look, we’ve got a lot to talk about but for now, please, you need to rest.’
Later, when Cosima had bathed, eaten and was finally asleep, Arlo stepped out into the hallway to call Jack again. The FBI agent sounded harassed. ‘Hey, sorry for not calling you back, Arlo. Got dragged into another sting and got clobbered by the perp.’
‘You okay?’
‘Oh yeah, just had the wind knocked out of my sails. How’s our girl doing?’ Jack’s voice warmed considerably, Arlo noticed, but he pushed any jealousy aside. Now was not the time for that.
‘She’s doing okay, I think. They’ve treated her so well here, but I think we need to wait a few days for it to fully hit her. She seems dazed.’
‘Not surprising, really.’
‘Jack?’
‘Yeah.’
Arlo sighed heavily. ‘Jack, he raped her.’
‘God.’
‘Yeah.’
Arlo heard Jack curse softly under his breath. ‘Is it wrong to say that as horrific as it is, I’m not surprised? That it was kind of inevitable?’
‘Terrible thing to say to think but, yeah, in the world we live in.’
‘Arlo…I’ve never brought up the money thing, your wealth, I mean, because it’s none of my business and I know Cosima always shies away from any mention of it but just this one time, can I make a plea?’
‘Go ahead, whatever you want.’
‘Get the best psychologists, psychiatrists, and hypnotists, whatever. For her, for Cosima. She shouldn’t have to have this on her plate for the rest of her life.’
‘Oh don’t worry, I’m going to insist,’ Arlo’s voice was firm, ‘there’s no price I won’t pay to make this right, Jack, you can be assured of that.’
‘Good. Thank you. Arlo…cutting all bull here, you know how I feel about Cosima…and I want you to know I think you are the best thing that has ever happened to her. I wouldn’t be able to give her half what you have, even with the best will in the world and despite my family money. I just ask…don’t shut me out. I promise I’ll keep my feelings to myself.’
Arlo was touched and nodded. ‘Of course, Jack, you will always be a part of the Malhotra’s lives.’
‘Thanks. Now, I may be gone for a few more days, we want to follow every lead, every suspect. I still think this has nothing to do with the Malhotra family, but we have to check.’
Harpa sat down by her sister’s bedside. Mikah pulled up a chair across the room. ‘Are you sure it’s okay for me to be in here?’
Harpa smiled at him and nodded. ‘Of course. I want Cos to meet you properly at least once before you go back to Seattle.’
He smiled. ‘I’m here for as long as you need me, Harpa.’
Really?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Of course. Besides, when your sister’s better, I ne
ed to take you out on a proper date.’
Harpa pretended to consider. ‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Don’t be a tease,’ Cosima’s voice was wooly and thick, but she smiled sleepily at her sister as she opened her eyes. Harpa smoothed her hair from her forehead.
‘I’m sorry, Cos, did we wake you?’
Cosima shook her head as she pulled herself into a sitting position. ‘Nope, I’ve just been pretending, waiting for you two to talk dirty or something.’
Harpa and Mikah both laughed. ‘Sneaky,’ Harpa stuck her tongue out at her sister then beckoned Mikah closer. ‘So, Cosima, this is Mikah, Mikah, Cosima.’
The two shook hands and Cosima grinned at him. ‘So, I’ll just say that the sedative they gave is making my brain a bit squirrely so I apologize if my filter doesn’t work.’
‘Fair enough. How are you feeling?’
‘Glad to be back.’
Harpa squeezed her sister’s hand. Arlo told us you went ninja on the asshole…did he tell you they found the place?’
Cosima nodded. ‘Yep but not Goaty.’
Harpa looked bemused. ‘Goaty?’
‘He had a goat’s mask, he wore it over a balaclava. I called him Goaty – not showing that much imagination,’ Cosima tried to laugh it off but her breath caught in her chest. ‘He’s still out there.’
‘But he will never get close to you again, Cosima, I won’t permit it. Arlo’s already hired extra security…’
Cosima sighed. ‘I don’t want to be a prisoner again, though, Harp.’
Harpa nodded, her eyes full of understanding. ‘I’m sorry, Cos, but until we catch the guy…’
Mikah sat forward again. ‘Look, I just had an idea…some friends of mine have an island just off the coast of Hawaii. They’re always telling me to make the most of it, go down there, and take whoever I want. How about the four of us go away – when you’re out of here, obviously?’
Cosima smiled at him warmly. ‘That does sound tempting, but it might have to wait for a while. Arlo’s lined me up some pretty hardcore counseling for the next month.’
‘Well, the offer stands. Just say the word.’
Cosima looked at Harp and nodded at Mikah. ‘This one’s a keeper,’ she pronounced as Harpa rolled her eyes.
‘And with that, you need more rest. Come on, Mikah, before she has us picking out china patterns.’
Cosima went back to sleep after her sister and Mikah had left but this time, her dreams were terrifying; Goaty in her hospital room, her loved ones on their knees as he pressed the muzzle of a gun to her and fired more bullets than a gun could possible hold into her…she felt the pain of each burning piece of metal slamming into her, but all she could feel was fear for Arlo and Harpa as they begged Goaty to stop killing her. He swung the gun around and shot Arlo between the eyes as Cosima screamed; Arlo dropped to the floor, eyes staring, lifeless as Goaty dragged Harpa to her feet by her hair then shot her through the heart. Cosima screamed….then realized she was being shaken awake, but she couldn’t stop screaming, a panic attack in full flood.
‘Cosima! Cosima, darling, calm down!’
Oh. God.
Her mother.
Naveen showed up on the Friday following Cosima’s escape. Sabine opened the door to him, smirking. He looked amused as he took in her expression. ‘Something funny?’
She shut the door and leaned back against it. ‘Couldn’t quite keep a grasp on the little princess then?
His face shut down. ‘No idea what you’re talking about.’
She chuckled and cupped his face in her hands, pressing her lips to his. ‘Yes, you have. Cosima…all of a sudden she reappears, bedraggled, tormented and yet still beautiful – and still very much alive.’
Naveen nodded. ‘So I hear.’ He shrugged out of his jacket – dark blue today which highlighted the salt and pepper hair at his temples – and pulled his tie loose.
Sabine waited. ‘Well?’
He shrugged, his expression insolent. ‘So what? I told you before, Sabine, what I do or don’t do to Cosima Malhotra is my business. Now, I came here to fuck – I assume that’s what you want too?’
Sabine flushed but reached for the zipper on her dress. Naveen smiled his tone warming. ‘Allow me.’
As always with him, Sabine forget everything else as soon as he touched her, his strong hands working her body like no one ever had, and when she was panting and gasping his name. As his cock drove her towards heaven, she realized she didn’t care about Arlo or Cosima and anything else in this world apart from this dark, dangerous man in her arms. When she came, she looked at him with tears in her eyes and, forgetting her nature, forgetting that she wanted to remain aloof, told him she loved him.
Naveen waited until Sabine fell asleep then got up and swiftly dressed. He wasn’t good at this despite his outward coolness. When Sabine told him, she loved him, just for a second, he had seen a future with this blonde ice queen – kids, a mansion, and family dinners. He had dreamed of that all of his life – had envied his childhood friends who had that – the Malhotras. He’d fallen in love with the elder sister the moment he had seen her, and both the girls and their father were more than generous with all they had. But his own father was a proud man, and had hated the Prince and his ‘whore’ daughters and had eventually instilled that hatred in Naveen, who’d built up so much resentment towards Cosima that all his adult life, he’d been trying to find a way to get to her.
But someone else had beaten him to it. Someone had taken her and he didn’t have a clue who it was. That pissed him off – and at the same time, he was astonished to find he felt some relief – that his burden had been taken from him, that he had a choice about the life he led.
Because he had watched the news reports and seen Cosima looking exhausted, worn down, hunted – and he had felt sympathy…and, unbelievably, fondness. He saw again the young girl he had played with, had adored, and he felt ashamed. His hatred – for so many years, a burning, raging thing inside of him, dissipated. The realization hit him like a sledgehammer. She was just a young woman trying to live her life and he – as well as her father’s enemies and clearly now this new threat – had made her life a living hell. For years.
For no good reason except petty revenge and childish jealousy.
Last month the order had come down from the families; the threat to the Malhotra children was no longer acceptable. Naveen had called his father who had railed against the order, of course – impotently as it turned out as the order came through again, stronger: Cosima and Harpa were not to be harmed under any circumstances.
And then Cosima had disappeared, and the in-fighting had begun. Naveen flew to India to make sure his father didn’t have anything to do with it; that he wouldn’t be censured or worse by the powers that be. But no-one knew anything – or at least that they would admit to.
Which meant there was a new threat, and Naveen, in an about-face that staggered him, wanted to know who it was and how to stop him coming after her again. He’d thought hard about what he should do, and now he was contemplating going to the one man who he knew would desperately want the same thing as he.
The ex-lover of the woman he had just fucked.
Arlo Forrester.
After days and days of other people, finally, on the fifth day after Cosima escaped, they were alone – really alone – in their apartment in the hotel. Cosima walked slowly around, acclimatizing herself to it again.
‘It’s weird, it feels brand new,’ she smiled at Arlo, who was watching her. He laughed.
‘Well, if you think about it, it is. Come here, beautiful.’
She went into his arms, and he kissed her. ‘God, I missed you.’
Me too, baby,’ she rubbed her nose against his, All the time, I just thought of you and every day we’d been together, what we’ve done or haven’t yet done. I came up with so many ideas for things to us to do together or new projects…and of course now I’ve forgotten them all.’
They both
laughed. ‘We can make new lists, he said softly, and she touched his face.
‘There’s only one thing I want right now.
He looked surprised then stepped back. ‘Cosima…with what you’ve through…’
She was stung. ‘You don’t want me?’
‘God, of course, I do, every second but Cos…you were raped. You need time.’
‘Rape is not sex, Arlo, it’s violence. I was subject to a violent act. It had nothing to do with you and me making love…unless of course…’ She didn’t finish the sentence, but her meaning was clear.
Arlo shook his head. ‘No, Cos, no…’
‘I’m soiled goods.’ Her voice was flat and dead. ‘Okay. then.’
‘No, hang on a minute, you are putting words in my mouth, Cos, that’s not what I meant at all.’
‘It’s okay, Arlo, I don’t want to fight.’
‘Me either, baby. I just think you need time…god, Cos, there is nothing I want more than to take you back to our bed right now, but one of us has to be…’
‘…if you say responsible, I’ll scream.’ But she smiled when she said it. ‘Like I said, I don’t want to fight. Look, okay. I’ll see the psychologists or whoever, I’ll work through what I have to. But don’t keep me waiting too long, Forrester.’
Arlo, relieved, chuckled. ‘I promise. Now, in lieu of our favorite activity, how about you join me in our second favorite pastime?’
She looked excited. ‘If you mean ‘eating’ then bring it on, Julia Child.’
Harpa and Mikah were at a restaurant in the Quarter. To give Arlo and Cosima some privacy, Mikah had offered Harpa, the suite next to his in his hotel, but she had waved it off.
‘Baby, if this has taught us anything, it’s not to waste time being ‘polite.' We both know what will happen if we go out on a date – why pretend?’
She had been all big talk but now, as they lingered over coffee, she was nervous. He was so beautiful, so present and vital that she felt awkward and kiddish, like a lovesick teenager.
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