by C. M. Steele
“I would say hello to him every day. I had no idea he was the one.” She said it without looking at me, like she was trying to understand what went wrong.
“My queen. I say hello to hundreds of people throughout my day. It is the way of life. Being kind and civil is not a crime. Did you say you’d go out with him?”
She was shocked that I asked that, but usually men take a simple date as a reason to go insane. Hell, I didn’t even say a word to her and fell madly in love. “God, no. I didn’t even say more than a few words at all.”
“So, then he has no reason to think you have feelings for him,” I reminded her. She was feeling the guilt that was only natural, but I hated seeing her tears. “Please don’t cry, Mina. I can’t stand it.”
I turned her face to mine and kissed her sweet lips. She melted into my kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck. I ran my hands up her thigh until I heard a cough. Shit, I forgot we weren’t alone. “I’m sorry. I got carried away,” I whispered in her ear, then I gave Hassan a nod as a thank you. He knew I would be pissed if they heard her moan for me or if they got a look at her body. I righted her dress and sat her next to me.
“We’re almost there. We’ll drop you off at the ER entrance, and Rahimi and I will walk you in. The others will stand guard outside,” Hassan said.
“That’s perfect.”
“Let us get out first. There’s too much going on,” Hassan informed us. The limo came to a stop and Hassan went first, followed by Rahimi. I stepped out next, then grabbed her hand and brought her to my side. My eyes looked all around to see if there was anyone lurking. I rushed her into the hospital and to the desk.
“Amir,” my mother called out. I let go of Mina’s hand as my mother wrapped her arms around me.
Mina
I watched her run into Amir’s arms and my heart was happy and sad all in one. His dad, who definitely looked like the twins, walked up silently behind his wife, waiting his turn to hug his son. Once she let go, the manly exchange happened. Mrs. Askari looked directly at me and as I waited for her to examine me. We’d met before, but it wasn’t the same thing. Her eyes were full of pain, but for a moment a brief moment, she looked happy. “Mina,” she said, coming to hug me. My tears broke free, streaming down my face as I welcomed her comfort. I almost didn’t see their little sister Sansa standing there. She was only about five-two and a perfect size four. She was stunning, and even with a tear stained face, she looked like a beautiful princess, like she was. Amir pulled her into his arms.
“Any news on Michael?” Amir asked, loosening his hold on Sansa, whose eyes immediately fell onto Hassan. When I checked to see if he noticed, he was staring hard at her. The way Amir used to look at me before we became a couple. Mrs. Askari pulled back from me and stepped into her husband’s arms.
“He’s in surgery. He was stabbed many times. We won’t know anything until they come out of there,” Mr. Askari said.
“Okay, is this where you’re waiting?”
“Yes,” Sansa answered.
Amir came up to me and gave me a soft peck. “Love, I’m going to get something to drink and a snack. I’ll bring you something.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” I asked, hating myself for being so pathetic.
“No, love.” He shook his head and gave me a meaningful gaze. I didn’t question him. He nodded to Hassan, who followed him to the vending area. I knew it had to do with John. I didn’t care either. Diplomatic immunity ran through my head. If I saw him right now, there would be no guarantee that I could control myself either.
Rahimi stayed with me and Amir’s parents and sister. They also had two guards in the corner. We were as safe as we could get. His mother clutched my hand and led me to a row of seats.
Sansa sat down next to me and said, “So, I hear that congratulations are in order.”
“I hardly feel like celebrating at the moment,” I confessed. My best-friend could die and my love may decide I wasn’t worth the effort.
“Preaching to the choir. I want my baby to be well. I have hope. It’s the only thing keeping me on my feet. I was making plans for you and Amir when I got the call. I feel like I need to keep planning or I’m going to break down.” I grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. His mother smiled up at me. “We got to get the ball moving on the wedding, please.”
“Okay, but what if Amir changes his mind?” With everything going on I was worried that he would think I wasn’t worth the effort.
Sansa grabbed my shoulders and spun me back to her giving the sternest look and said, “He’s not going to change his mind. So, tell me what kind of dress do you want to wear? You can wear a more traditional Khaleel type gown or an American type.”
“I don’t believe we have a lot of time to get a pretty gown in either tradition.”
“Oh, don’t you know that’s the easy part. Although I do believe one week is too soon, but no more than a month. I suspect my brother wants his heir.” I blushed profusely, having been a virgin less than a day ago and with the terrible scenario we’re living in, the thought of Amir loving me was so tempting.
Chapter 10
Amir
I knew I said some shit about ending Borg, but it wasn’t going to be fast and virtually painless. He was going to pay, and I didn’t want her to know about it. I was going to enjoy every minute of it. There was no way I could allow him to get away with this.
“Hassan, we know who he is, but he doesn’t know it, he’s more than likely at his home. Research before you go after him. Set up a very lovely welcome party for our guest.”
“Understood, I will pull his information before I leave here. I don’t want to leave you with the two fuck ups and Rahimi. I can’t leave your family without proper protection for a long time.”
“I understand. I must go to Mina.”
“Don’t forget to get your snacks,” he said, reminding me that my hands were still balled up into fists.
“Thanks, I almost forgot. Too bad we never got to eat our gaz.”
“Yeah, it really is a good treat.”
“I’ll have to take her back to the village again.”
“Next time there won’t be so much PDA going on,” he joked, halfheartedly. I think he was concerned about the impropriety of it.
“Yes, I will use my better judgement, or at least try where Mina is concerned.”
I looked at the two vending machines and selected several items from each. I didn’t know what she liked, so I collected options for her to choose from. “Come on, let’s get back before she starts wondering.”
We headed back into the waiting room and there were tears all around. “Oh no, what’s going on?”
“He’s out of surgery. They’ve stabilized him. We can see him in a bit,” Sansa said through sobs.
Mina jumped up from her seat and stepped into my arms. “Did you get to discuss what you needed?” Damn it, she was too smart for her own good.
“Yes, but please don’t even think on it.” It was the last thing I wanted to talk about with her. I didn’t want to sully her with the necessary matters of men. I’d do anything to protect her, even shielding her from the bad.
“I won’t, Amir. I know you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Whatever your decision is, I’m behind you.” I was stunned by her response. I thought she would tell me to let it go or something. That we need to let the police handle the matter, but she didn’t. She seemed to want the same thing I did. I hoped her heart wasn’t damaged from this.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“You don’t, but that’s cool with me,” she teased, giving me a wink. I leaned down and kissed her lips briefly. I lifted my face to see my family smiling back at me. Hassan was shaking his head at me.
“Hassan, we are not back home.” He just shook his head at me with a smirk on his face.
About an hour later, we finally got to see my brother. He was on a machine, and I felt a rock in the pit of my stomach. We were told it was just a precauti
onary step, but it was still gut wrenching to see. His color was off and it just didn’t look like him. His hands were covered in white bandages that had tinges of red that seeped through. His other injuries were covered by the blankets on him. His dark hair was matted down.
I had to stay strong for my family. The women were consumed with tears as they watched Michael let the machine breath for him. The constant beep of the heart monitor struck me hard. It was steady and strong, but I was waiting for it to have a scary blip. I was transfixed by the heartbeat as the waves ran across the screen, would he suddenly flatline? Fear engulfed me and I felt a little, gentle hand squeeze mine. My mood changed immediately as if I was taken over with hope. I looked down at the love of my life and wordlessly thanked her for calming that panic in my soul.
We were only allowed to stay for another hour before they told us we had to let him rest. Hassan made us reservations at the hotel down the street before he went to deal with my request. We left two of our guards there with three NYPD officers to watch over my brother.
It was already two in the morning, so we just went back to the hotel and slept naked in each other’s arms until my phone went off at seven in the morning. Mina had rolled over and was laying on her belly next to me, so I gingerly got off the bed and picked up the phone.
“What is going on?” I asked Hassan in hushed whisper.
“As requested. The car will be waiting.”
“Okay.” I wanted to say more, but I wanted nothing discussed over the phone. I placed a kiss on her head and started to get ready. As soon as I got out of the bathroom five minutes later, she was sitting on the bed, wide awaken and her arms crossed. “Shit,” I muttered to myself.
“Just so you know, I’m not good with you sneaking off after a whispered conversation, Amir.”
“Mina,” I pleaded.
“No, you hear me out. I will not allow you to make a fool of me ever. That is one thing I will not tolerate. Now since I know what you and Hassan have been talking about, I get it, but if this happens again, I’ll think it’s because of another woman.”
“I would never do something like that.”
“No, but I want to stick to my guns. You may be a ruler, my lover, and the love of my life, but don’t think I won’t leave you for betraying me. Just a warning. Now, if you will please kiss me and promise that you’ll be safe. I can’t have him hurting you.”
“I love you more than words can say,” I admitted, rushing up to her and pulling her to a kneeling position on the bed so I could kiss her like she demanded. My lips tasted hers, slipping my tongue along the seam, parting them for just a quick sample before pulling away. “But I have to go. I will be well. Have my parents and their guards escort you to get some essentials.”
“Okay, but come back to me soon.”
“I promise.” I left there with one more small kiss because anything more and I wouldn’t leave her. The anger in her lovely eyes went straight to my cock, but now wasn’t the time to dive into her depths. I made my way to the car and Hassan was standing outside holding the door. I shook my head and hopped in.
“It’s not too far from here. I know you didn’t want to leave her alone for long.”
“Good man. Now let’s get on with this. I’m not feeling good about what I’m going to do, but it needs to be done.”
“Sire, it’s up to you. We can just turn him in to the police and let them take over.”
“No, I want him to pay.”
“Whatever you want. I personally want to put a bullet in his head.”
“I’ve considered it.”
We arrived at the location just a couple of miles from the hotel. I walked into the small abandoned building in a residential area of the Bronx. I smiled at my enemy and it sent fear straight to his face. “Mr. Borg, we have a serious problem.”
“How?”
“Mina. My wife saw your picture. You were stalking what wasn’t yours. Do you have a death wish?”
“Wife? I attacked the wrong brother.”
“Yes, you did. I could kill you right now and get away with it. I could gut you from ear to ear and enjoy every moment of it. You will never look at my wife again or I will take my time ending you.”
“What are you going to do to me?” The fear in his voice was back and stronger than the first time. I didn’t tell him, I just cold cocked him, sending the chair and him crashing to the floor.
“Pick him up. I’m not finished yet.” They lifted him back up and I decked him again, this time the guys held the chair. Can’t be making too much noise. “Untie him,” I ordered.
They did so, and I stood him up and I gut checked him. It did help that I won several pugilist tournaments in college. Boxing was the way I relieved stress and it seemed it was doing me wonders again. With a quick knee to the nuts, I said, “That’s for scaring Mina and for making her cry.”
I nodded to Hassan and he made the call. Ten minutes later the cops were there and they hauled him away with the evidence we gave them. It was simple shit he had on him when he was in his car. His address was around the corner from their apartment. He moved about seven months ago and stalked her from close by. That was why my men couldn’t find him, he didn’t take the subway, he lived around the corner. I hated this fucker more than anything, but I needed to remember who I was.
Now it was time to get back to my woman and then to my brother.
Chapter 11
Amir
I stepped into the hospital room where they were all gathered. The ventilation tubes had been removed and I thought the worst, but I saw him move his head an inch. I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Mina turned her eyes to me and smiled, moving from her seat next to Michael and settling his hand back on the bed before coming to me.
“I missed you, my queen,” I whispered.
“My king,” she muttered, pressing her face against my chest.
“What happened to your hand, Amir?” Sansa said, looking directly at my swollen knuckles. Fuck. I was going to be in for a scolding.
“He lost his temper this morning thinking about the situation and punched the wall,” Mina said. I could kiss her for that, the quick thinking little brat.
“Amir, you mustn’t lose your temper on a wall. Take your frustration out on a heavy bag.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have. It’s just been a rough day.”
“Let me see your hand,” Sansa snapped, pulling my hand from around Mina’s body. “It looks like it’s just bruised, but let me make sure. Flex your hand open and closed.” I did it for her, she was in her first year of med school and of course at the top of her class. My parents were proud, hell we all had been, even though she could be a pain in the ass. “Does this hurt?” She grabbed around my knuckles on my first two fingers where it was the most swollen. I winced, not because of the bruise itself, but because for such a little thing, my sister’s grip as strong as a man’s.
“Only when you use your Kung Fu grip on me.”
“That’s the death grip,” I heard from the bed. We all turned to see Michael with his eyes half open and a crooked smile on his face.
“You’re lucky that you’re already hurt or I’d use it on you for scaring us,” Sansa warned him, trying to sound tough, but the sob in her throat was a giveaway.
My parents were the first to clutch onto his arm and tell him how much they were glad he was going to be okay. Mina walked past me and to the bed, pressing the call button.
“Hello,” a nurse answered.
“He’s awake,” she spoke back into it.
“We’re on our way.”
“Mina,” he whispered, his eyes opening a little more to look at her. “It was John, the stage hand.”
“We know. The police are looking into it.” Before we could say more, the doctor and a nurse walked in to examine him. My family moved to the other side of the room so the professionals could do their jobs. Naturally, I took Mina into my arms, holding her so her back was against my chest and my hands w
rapped around her waist. Sansa was standing closer and closer with each question they asked Michael. She was going to make a wonderful doctor one day.
Michael looked our way, just slightly, and saw Mina in my embrace and gave a small smile. “It worked,” he muttered, closing his eyes again.
“We’re going to need him to rest some more. You can stay, but you’ll have to remain as quiet as possible. Rest will be key to his recovery.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I said, nodding at him. The medical professionals left the room and we all smiled at each other. Michael was going to make it.
“Michael set you two up,” Sansa mumbled.
“What do you mean?” my father asked.
“He said ‘It worked’ when he smiled at them. He got Amir to take Mina to Khaleel hoping that they’d get together. That’s freaking genius.”
“Yes, and as terrible as it was that Michael was home that day, I’m afraid to think would have happened if you hadn’t taken Mina with you,” my father said, looking over at us.
I shuddered. My mother was right, according to the doctors, my brother had two pin burn marks from, they believed, a Taser. The thought of what he could have done to her scared the shit out of me and only made me regret turning him in. I could have ended him; I should have. I felt her tiny hands press over mine and over her flat belly. Again, she had been the calm and the reason, I came down from my intense rage.
Throughout most of the day we sat in the room, quietly waiting for him to wake up. Every so often he’d wake asking for water or when the nurses came to check on him and his wounds. We left when they had to rebandage him and decided to get something to eat. The women stopped in the ladies’ room first and my father pulled me to the side. “Your bride is smart and quick and a hell of an actress, but you, my boy, weren’t thinking straight today. Is he dead?”
