Cross the Stars (Crossing Stars #1)

by Venessa Kimball

  I seek my mother’s eyes, not directing the question solely to her, but expecting the answer from her nonetheless. She focuses on her plate and pushes her food around, then glances at my father. “We had a quiet dinner.” She focuses back on me. “Tamanna, your father, and me.”

  This is definitely about Zaid.

  “Zaid?” I ask, looking down at my plate before taking a bite of the Chicken Kabsa.

  My father responds, his jovial voice waning with the new subject of my brother, “Dinner with friends.”

  “He never returned home last night.” My mother’s comment is greeted with penalty from my father.

  “We will not speak behind his back.”

  I can see the concern for Zaid in his eyes as he stares down at his food, the tremor returning to his hand as he lifts his fork to his mouth. He shouldn’t be concerned for him, but it is obvious that he and my mother hold hope in the speedy atonement of Zaid’s misdeeds, even though they are watchful of his actions. Their hope would be disputed if they knew Zaid came out to the Wadi Rum drunk and belligerent.

  “Father...”

  The sound of the front door shutting, followed by quick, heavy footsteps, silences me as Zaid enters the dining hall.

  I don’t expect him to be as put together as he is. His hair is freshly washed, slicked back, and his attire is on point, just as Zaid had always been known for. He stops at the corner of the table. “I’m sorry I’m so late, I have spent most of the day organizing the banquet.”

  Banquet?

  My father and mother exchange a glance.

  “You have?” my mother questions Zaid as he moves to my father, kissing him on either cheek, then to my mother, doing the same. She is as surprised as I am watching him kiss her cheeks for the first time in years. Full of energy and spunk, he steps over to Tamanna and gives her a high five, then kisses the top of her head as he sits down next to her, completely avoiding my presence as he looks at my mother.

  “Yes, I left at dawn, couldn’t sleep. I have been at the palace all day.”

  My mother and father share a knowing glance before my father asks, “Where were you last night?”

  He laughs and shakes his head, beckoning the server to bring him a plate. “Dinner with friends. I thought I told you.”

  My mother makes her point, “But you didn’t return home.”

  He peers over at her. “Yes, I did. Did you not hear me come in?”

  His direct question has my mother left with a confused yet simple response, “No, I didn’t.”

  “Yes, it was late, but that is because I had to take Samir Fadel home.” My brother targets me across the table for the first time since arriving. “You know Samir Fadel, Rajaa. The one that threw the party we attended and the one you have conversed with since. Very good, loyal friend of mine.”

  He lifts his glass of water to his lips and drinks, burning holes straight through me as he places his glass down.

  Stoically, I respond, “Yes, I have seen him recently.”

  My brother sloppily places a piece of chicken in his mouth and chews it as he speaks, pointing his fork at me. “Yes, that is right. You have, haven’t you? Anyway, enough about me. How was your getaway with your American ... volunteers?”

  His pause is purposeful, highlighting one in particular, I’m certain. “I’m sure they were so ... eh, what is the word I am looking for...” He searches the table as if it will somehow appear to him, then he focuses back on me once he has found it. “Enamored by the entire adventure.”

  I return to my food, appearing to ignore his intent on antagonizing me. It is fucking getting to me and I need to end it quick or I might lose my temper.

  “This banquet, does it have anything to do with your recent meeting with the Amir, Baba?”

  My father swallows his chewed food and stares at me, bewildered that I knew about it.

  Zaid speaks up, “Baba, I called him last night and told him. I hope that does not upset you.”

  “I thought you hadn’t heard from him, Rajaa?” my mother probes, her concern transfixed on me now that I appear to be caught in a lie orchestrated by my fucking brother.

  “My Queen, please don’t blame him, he had guests to tend to. I’m sure he is exhausted from ... entertaining all night. Our conversation must have slipped his mind,” Zaid offers my mother, undermining me once again. Son of a bitch.

  Unable to contain myself any longer, I drop my fork onto the table, hitting the plate on its way down. “Actually, thank you, Zaid. Yes, too much excitement last night. I remember our conversation now and you did say something about a celebration, oh and the Amir reconsidering a proposal from myself to Daya, which is surprising since only days ago he was very much against a union. Your talk must have been persuasive.”

  I look back at my father, the false grin plastered on my face. “So what is this banquet for, exactly?”

  My father places his napkin on the table, settling back in his chair and folding his shaking hands into his lap. “The celebration was actually Zaid’s idea for something entirely different. You and Daya came up briefly, but the Amir would like to see how things ... progress.”

  I’m lost once again by my brother’s ruthless conspiring.

  My father nods at Zaid, then returns a look to me. “He had wanted to throw a banquet for the Caritas and the WorldTeach volunteers at the palace, commending them for their service to the refugees and our country.”

  I stare across the table at my brother, his grin wide and proud as my mother interjects. “I did not know you were going to start planning so soon, Zaid. I am sorry I could not go with you.” My mother’s apology seems sincere, but I see her inspecting eye nonetheless, looking for any flaw to Zaid’s words.

  Zaid nods at her as he finishes chewing. “It is fine, my Queen. I am more than happy to have started the arrangements on your behalf. It is the least I can do for the service these people have done for the refugees.” His eyes on his plate, he seems to contemplate hard. “I know in the beginning I was a non-believer of Rajaa’s program and the center all together.”

  His eyes slowly rise to meet mine. “Now that I have gotten to see the inner workings of the people ... His interaction with them.”

  His sinister glare is binding, yet he clearly obscures his reason for my sake. “Rajaa has found something there and I see its value in the big picture.”

  He breaks our heavy stare and looks back at my mother and father. “I want to be more involved.”

  Fuck him, he wants to be more involved. Too many words and too many meanings have distorted everything in my mind and I fear we are all more at risk now as Zaid steps up his game. I wipe my mouth and rise from the table. “Mama, Baba, please excuse Zaid and me. We have some items to discuss before it gets any later.”

  My mother and father nod. “Rajaa, could I also speak to you after you talk with your brother?” my mother questions, bringing me to halt as Zaid continues out of the dining hall.

  “Yes.”

  As I walk out of the hall, I see Zaid exit the house, out into the courtyard. I’m not sure why my mother needs to speak with me, but for now I focus on Zaid.

  Entering into the courtyard, I close the door behind me.

  “I have to give it to you, Raj, you have balls going over to Sami’s house,” Zaid says over the sound of the trickling water of the courtyard fountain. He turns to me as I approach. “You underestimate the loyalty I have around me.”

  I put my hands in my pockets. They are safe there, preventing the chance of strangling him. I shake my head at his naive analysis. “You really think I didn’t know Sami would run and tell you? I expected it, Zaid. I just wanted you to see I am not going to be cornered by you and I am going to stop whatever you and Tariq are planning. Your fucking glorious plan to transform the Middle East.”

  He shrugs and widens his eyes in surprise. “I really have no idea what you are talking about, Rajaa. All I know is that I have video surveillance of you at Sami’s talking to him at length. Eve
n voice recording of you asking about the Syrian Sheikh, Tariq bin Qasim.” He shakes his head and denounces me with the click of his tongue, like a child getting slapped on the wrist. “If anything were to ...disrupt my plans, this video may fall into the hands of the King, Queen, maybe the Prime Minister and his Cabinet as well. It would appear you might be under the influence of Tariq, now that I resigned all of my contact. It would be a tragedy for the favored son and perfect prince to turn into a power-hungry tyrant. Prince of a thousand enemies ... a true tragedy.”

  I feel the wrath of the lengths my brother will go to for his purpose to succeed and for my being the scapegoat if it fails. “And this fucking banquet or celebration? It is meant to put you in good light with the King and Queen. You have no real desire to support it.”

  “No, I don’t,” he says flatly. “The only value I see is the one you fucked last night.”

  I close the space between him. “You will not get near her.”

  “Hmm, we’ll see.”

  Zaid takes a step back from me and runs a free hand over his mouth, grinning loosely. “You know, you say you know her so well. Did you know she is a U.S Congressman’s daughter? She is American royalty.”

  He stares at me now, enjoying the impact this surprise has on me.

  My unbelieving silence is his satisfaction as he continues. “The things you can learn when you befriend staff at the center. Tom Stern is a very kind man ... a very malleable individual.”

  I don’t believe him. He is lying. “You are a fucking pathological liar, Zaid.”

  He walks around me slowly. “Did you know she is putting herself through college? She rejected her family’s help, their influence? A defiant little bitch that doesn’t respect her father, her mother, won’t respect anyone. Like I said, she is a risk and now you have made her a valuable asset to me and our Syrian friend.”

  As he comes to stand in front of me, he tilts his head and raises his eyebrows as he looks down at the sandstone beneath us. “If something were to happen to her...”

  I take hold of his shirt and pull him to me. “I will fucking kill you if anything happens to her.”

  Zaid pushes me off of him, forcing me to stumble backward a few steps. The fire in our eyes being exchanged could set this whole country ablaze.

  “Rajaa?”

  My mother’s presence at the door is a surprise as she inspects what has happened between Zaid and me. “It is getting late. Can I please speak to you before I retire?”

  Trying to blink away the pure anger to calm my breath, I look down and respond, avoiding her probing gaze. “Yes, Mama.”

  I glare at my brother before turning away and following my mother into the house.

  As I follow her into the office, her silence and distance are ominous, resulting from the conversation she walked in on. It is just her and me in the office that is usually occupied by my father. “Where is Baba?”

  She folds her arms over her chest as she paces in front of me. Speaking quickly, her voice quivers with anger. “He has gone to bed and I am happy for that, because if he would have witnessed what I just did ... He had a stroke just days ago! Lying to us about talking to Zaid last night, telling him that you will kill him if something happens to her? I assume it is this American girl from the center!”

  “Her name is Ella Wallace.”

  My stating her name is like adding fuel to an already tempered fire. “You would turn against your family for her? Kill your brother? Lie? Have you turned against your values too?”

  I can’t answer without sending her into another fit of anger, knowing my answer would always contain me choosing Ella, so I stay silent.

  “Zaid told us he thought you had changed, but I didn’t see it until just now, being caught in a lie! Fighting with your brother! Willing to risk everything you stand for, your status, your reputation, a proposal for this girl?” She searches my eyes for any understanding. “Whatever is going on with you, fix it. End whatever you have started with her. It will corrupt you Rajaa. “

  She turns away, leaving me standing there tangled in the web of deceit and lies Zaid is artfully weaving.

  The hallway to my classroom is quiet with the sounds of teachers working in their classrooms. I wasn’t sure if Ana was already here, but seeing the room is dark through the small window, I assume she hasn’t made it in yet. It’s still early though.

  Opening my classroom door and flipping on the light, I don’t notice the figure standing behind me until I start toward my desk. I nearly jump out of my shoes. “Holy Shit! Raj, what are you...”

  Before I can finish, he takes me by the waist and backs me flush against the wall next to the door. “Shhh,” he hushes me with a devilish grin, staring into my eyes then moving quickly to watching my lips as I ask, “What are you doing sitting in the fucking dark?”

  He reaches for the door lock, making sure it’s secure as he dips his lips down to meet mine softly. “Waiting for you.”

  His lips consume me, his tongue tangling with mine. The grating moan coming from him is my undoing as I drop my bag to the ground, needing to touch him, hold him again. “I missed you.” My breathless words are brief, as my coming up for air is hurriedly taken from me by Raj claiming my lips again and again.

  “I thought about you all night,” he says against my lips as the kisses soften, becoming tender touches.

  Worried Ana is going to knock on the door any second, I place my hands on his chest and kiss him tenderly once more before putting a small distance between us. I’m surprised to see his eyes lacking the golden luster they usually do. Instead, they’ve darkened underneath. “Your eyes look tired.”

  My observation sends his gaze down for a moment before it returns to me. Something is wrong. “What is it?”

  “I didn’t sleep last night. I was thinking about something I need to ask you.”

  His statement makes my heart drop, not knowing if this could be Raj telling me what we had done was a mistake, or we can’t continue our affair, or someone has discovered us.

  I watch him closely, waiting for him to deliver his question. “Why didn’t you tell me who you your father is?”

  “What?” I search his eyes, having expected something completely different from him.

  “This morning, I asked Tom to show me your profile. Your father is a Congressman. Why didn’t you tell me?” The searching glimmer in his eyes no longer is tender or filled with passion, but urgent and consumed with what he has discovered.

  “Yeah, so what if my father is a fucking Congressman? Does that change the way you feel about me?”

  “No…”

  I don’t let him continue. “Look, I made my own fucking decision to come here. If he would have had it his way, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. And why the fuck would Tom let you see my file. It was confidential.”

  He looks everywhere but at me as he runs his hands over his face, frustrated by my explanation. “Tom works for me. He is obligated to show me records. Ella, your being the daughter of a Congressman makes things more complicated.”

  Is he really fucking doing this because of my father? “So, you and I are complicated because you found out about my father. That is your out?”

  He shakes his head at me with confusion. “What? My out?”

  I fold my arms over my chest and glare at him. “Your way out of this, us? You know what? I don’t want to hear it! Don’t do me any fucking favors!”

  I start to walk away from him when he pulls me back to the wall, holding me by my arms. His tired eyes have been sparked. “You will listen to me. There is no fucking out! I’m in this with you forever. I told you that! But, you being a fucking Congressman’s daughter is something I should have known. It makes everything more dangerous for you.”

  All of a sudden he is consumed with fear, his eyes losing the luster they held seconds ago. “Raj, what is it? What is more dangerous?”

  He must see he has worried me, his eyes searching mine more tenderly. “I’m sorry. I did
n’t mean to come to you and frighten you. I just ... Now that we are together, I fear something might try and pull us apart. I will do everything in my power to not let happen, Ella.”

  He runs his thumb against my jaw, resting it on my chin as his lips seek mine deeply once again. The feel of his lips, the way they move against mine. I will never have enough of Raj. His touch stuns my mind and awakens my body, enslaving me in the most blamelessly innocent and magnificently pure way I have ever known. The only way I ever want to know love. Only with him.

  But as he pulls away, the concern in his eyes gives me lucidity to ask, “Raj, if there is something you aren’t telling me...”

  He runs his hands along my arms. “No, no, it is fine. I’m just being overly cautious. Listen, come to my car in the back alley after you finish today.”

  “Why?”

  “I am giving you a ride,” he says, his brow furrowed like he is daring me to deny his command.

  I try to make light of his demanding words, hoping they will ease his mind. “Oh, you are? What if I choose to walk?”

  His grin is only partial as he looks at me through his abnormally thick yet so alluring eyelashes.

  “Yes, I am.” His arrogance used to be an annoyance, now it is just disarming as hell.

  “You know, there should be some kind of law against guys having eyelashes like that.” I nod to his eyes, trying to keep my growing smile concealed.

  “Hmmm, should there now?” he asks as he leans in, intent on seduction as his hands find my waist again, tucking me closer.

  I pull back, taunting him, his grin widening. “And dimples. Dimples so sinful they should be outlawed.”

  He hovers his lips over mine, a feather’s touch with enticing gravity. “Then I am a sinner.”

  Yes, yes you are in the best possible way.

  I swallow hard, holding back my urge to cave and submit to his luscious tease, aiming to turn the tables. “Maybe I shouldn’t take rides from sinners.”

  I can feel the smirk on his lips, my eyes half shut from the sheer pleasure of his breath against me. This volleying of cat and mouse has gotten to him as he succumbs to his desire, kissing me wholly.