by Holly Rayner
Beth thought about that for a moment. Of course, he had a point.
She rose, moving in a defensive stance. “All right then, up you get.”
Osman rose, and was instantly taken down on the rug, his arms pinned behind his back.
“Rule number one: never let your guard down,” Beth said, releasing his arms and extending a hand to help him back up.
Osman took it, and when she went to pull his arm behind his back again, his hand shot out, holding tightly to her wrist.
When their eyes met, his gaze was victorious.
“Lesson one: check,” he said with a grin.
Beth grinned back, then swiped her leg across his knees, and before he knew it Osman was back on the floor again with his head pinned down.
“This must be what you felt like losing at chess all those times,” he said, his voice muffled as he spoke into the rug. Beth dug her knee into his back for good measure, and he laughed. “All right, all right, I give in! Next lesson.”
They spent the early afternoon doing some basic self-defense training while they waited for their team to arrive. After about an hour of Beth showing Osman just how skilled she was, they were both wiping glistening sweat from their brows.
“Let’s take a break,” Beth suggested, heading to the kitchen to fill two glasses with ice water.
Osman gratefully accepted his, taking a deep sip of the cold liquid.
“So, what else have you done that I don’t know about?” he asked.
Beth took her time thinking about it until Osman laughed.
“Jesus, Beth, have you really been that conniving?”
Beth frowned. “How is trying to protect you conniving?”
“I didn’t mean it like that, but now that we’re talking about it, I wish you could have just told me first. You see how not mad I am about it? If you’d told me you wanted to put a tracker on my phone for protection, I probably wouldn’t have had a problem letting you.”
Beth gave him a sideways glance. “Probably?”
Osman shrugged, grinning. “I mean, I might have been annoyed if you’d done it before I realized there was any need to, but after the attack at the beach, I would have agreed that that was actually a really good idea.”
Beth was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “Since we’re confessing things, I should tell you that I’ve spent some time in your storage closet.”
“My what?”
“When I first arrived and you told me to explore the grounds, I found a locked door and couldn’t resist picking my way in. Obviously, there was nothing to see there—just some old boxes and toys, and a baby blanket, but that was it.”
Osman stared at her quietly, then mumbled, “I’d forgotten about that closet.” He stared out into space for a moment before focusing back on Beth. “Do you think you could take me there, when we get back?”
Beth laughed. “Sure, if I can find it.”
“You’re very nosey. You know that, right?”
“I’ve been told it’s one of my many flaws,” she agreed, and he frowned.
“You don’t have many flaws that I can see.”
“Well, you don’t know me very well, then.”
Osman’s gaze was penetrating. “Then tell me. Tell me why a beautiful woman like you has no man in her life, and has to ship out all the way to the Middle East just to provide for her mother.”
Beth glanced away, not wanting to have this conversation. Osman sat in silence, waiting for her to answer, so with a sigh, she finally gave it to him.
“I have trouble trusting men. In my experience, all they do is let you down.”
Osman frowned. “Some men will do that. I’d like to take a pounding on the ones who hurt you, though.”
Beth lifted an eyebrow. “And what about you? How many girls did you go to bed with and then never call again?”
Osman’s face burned hot at her words. He thought about the girl he’d been with just days ago. How he’d left her with a large meal, thinking that would suffice for just leaving her there. As he looked into Beth’s eyes, he felt like kicking himself. Had he really been that selfish? Had he truly believed that his actions didn’t cause harm?
“You’re right,” he said, his shoulders slumping. “I’ve not been the kind of person I ought to be. I’ve been selfish, and even though I didn’t act maliciously on purpose, I can see how my actions would be hurtful to others…”
Beth stared out at the overgrown grounds, thinking. “Do you suppose one of those girls would have reason to harm you in any way?” she asked, clinging to the new lead.
Osman shook his head. “I can’t believe any of them would stoop to this level. First of all, my circle is very closed off. All very rich. None of the girls I’ve slept with have come from a family with less than a hundred million in value.”
“A hundred million!” Beth gasped.
Osman blushed again. “It’s not our fault we’re born wealthy, Beth,” he said quietly.
Beth composed herself, trying to understand. “I know, I know. To judge you would be no different than judging someone for being poor—which, I might add, I believe you did when I first arrived.”
“I did not,” Osman defended, and Beth lifted an eyebrow.
“Then why did you have an entire new wardrobe bought for me? Like my clothing wasn’t good enough for you?”
“I bought those clothes because there are people in my circles who wouldn’t even speak to you if you weren’t dressed a certain way,” Osman replied hotly.
Beth bristled. “Then make them! If you don’t want to be judged for who you are, you should defend others against the same onslaught.”
They were quiet for a few moments, then Osman said, “I didn’t order them for you because I don’t believe you’re enough. It’s just that my whole world is defined by what we have, and not what we are. The fact that I could spend fifty thousand dollars on clothes for you was just another way of showing off. It’s all about status. It’s all about who can buy the biggest diamonds and the most expensive houses.”
“And then what? You live in a giant castle alone, with your servants paid to act like they care about you?”
“You think they’re pretending?” Osman asked, suddenly looking upset.
Beth backtracked. “No. I can tell they really do like you, but how many of the people you call friends actually know who you are, actually care about you?”
“Just one,” Osman said. “You met him at the club—Faraj.”
Beth scoffed. “That pervert? I hope you can do better than that!”
“He is not a pervert! Faraj is a caring guy, deep down. His behavior toward you at the club was him just trying to show off for those girls.”
“Well then he needs a lesson in what women want,” Beth huffed.
“Beth, that is what those women wanted. They wanted to see you belittled. Faraj played into their game because he desperately wants to be liked. There’s more to him than that, I assure you.”
“If you say so,” Beth mumbled.
“I do,” Osman said. “When this is all over we’ll have dinner with him so you can meet the real Faraj. He is my one true friend…except for you, of course.”
“I’m still a member of your staff,” Beth said, clinging desperately to the last of her professional restraint.
Osman frowned. “Yes, I suppose so. But would you be honest with me Beth? Would you tell me if you didn’t like me?”
Beth thought for a minute. What did she have to lose, really? Chances were she’d be out of the job by the end of the week. She’d already failed at protecting the Sheikh. How could he possibly want her to stay after all this?
“Well, at first, I thought you were a pretentious, frat boy jerk,” she said, and Osman laughed.
“That is a lot of adjectives to describe me, Beth,” he chuckled.
“I know, and if I’m honest, I accepted the job mainly because I really needed the money. Then I got to know you a little better, and I got to see how much respons
ibility you took for the people who work for you, and for your family—even if you do need to call your mother and make amends. Now, I think…” Beth paused.
Osman stared deeply into her eyes, waiting earnestly for her answer. “What? What do you think now, Beth?”
Looking back at him, she realized she couldn’t tell him how she really felt. She couldn’t let her guard down completely. Not now. Not when they were still in danger.
“I think that you’re a pretty decent guy, but that you cheat at games, and it’s well past time I show you how it’s done.”
Osman grinned, allowing for the break in tension.
“Then I will have to change your mind again, for I never cheat. I am simply talented, with a gift for winning at all things,” he said, as Beth reached for a deck of cards.
“Prove it,” she said with a giggle, opening the deck and starting to shuffle.
“I intend to,” he replied, but somehow Beth thought he wasn’t simply referring to their card game.
TWELVE
Beth
The day passed surprisingly pleasantly, considering the shadow hanging over their heads. For some time, Beth continued to glance out the windows every few seconds, keeping an eye out for Connor’s men, or anyone else that might be coming. By midafternoon, however, she was fully enjoying herself with Osman, who was really just a big kid at heart.
“You are such a cheater!” she cried, pulling at the cards in his hand in protest. He held them up and away from her, laughing.
“I am not! I’m just really good at cards, and apparently, you’re really, really bad,” he laughed, holding up an arm in defense as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
“I am exceptional at cards. You are a card shark. I bet you’ve got six aces hidden in those sleeves!”
Osman snorted, flexing his very visible arms in his short-sleeved shirt.
Beth swallowed, but if Osman noticed his effect on her, he didn’t act like it.
“I may be skilled at many things, Miss Coolidge, but pulling cards from short sleeves without my opponent noticing is not one of them,” he grinned.
The afternoon passed genially, with the two of them laughing and throwing pillows back and forth when the other won a game. It was the most fun Beth had had in a long time. Still, every so often she would glance out the window, and frown when she saw nothing there.
The sun began to set, and Osman and Beth went to work preparing a pasta dish from some nonperishables. Beth found salt, dried chilies and olive oil and tossed them in with the pasta water for some flavor, before pouring canned tomatoes and olives into another saucepan. Osman disappeared for a moment, and when he returned he had a bottle of wine in his hand.
“What do you think? This is a very good wine, and we’ve had quite a stressful couple of days. Dare we indulge?”
Beth hesitated. Technically she was on the job. It didn’t feel like it, though. Right now it felt like she was cooking dinner with her boyfriend, but she shook that title right out of her head no sooner had she thought it.
Osman set the bottle on the counter and opened a drawer, pulling out a bottle opener.
“Beth, you’re not always on the clock, you know. One glass of wine isn’t going to hinder you, and besides, we have Connor’s men arriving any minute, I’m sure.”
Beth wondered if he was right. Connor had told her to sit tight, that he would have a team there soon. Granted, he was based in America now, so maybe soon did mean more than one day. She hoped not. Every minute that passed was another one that Osman’s enemies could be figuring out their location.
Beth’s thoughts were interrupted by a full wine glass being held under her nose. She took a step back, and Osman laughed.
“Beth, breathe it in. This was an amazing year,” he said, still holding out the glass.
Oh, what the hell, Beth thought, taking the glass from him and sipping at the hearty red liquid.
Osman was right. It was delicious.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against the counter, savoring the taste; the warm sensation that calmed her body as it absorbed the alcohol.
When she opened her eyes again, she found Osman staring at her with a grin.
“What?” she asked.
Osman broke his stare to pull the pasta off the stove and pour it into a colander in the sink, draining the hot water. “You just look really beautiful when you actually relax,” he said, still not looking at her as he mixed the pasta with the sauce and started scooping servings into two bowls.
Beth hoped she wasn’t blushing; if she were, at least she could blame the wine.
They sat at the table, across from one another, the candles lit once again as the house grew darker with each passing minute. They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, enjoying the simple meal.
“Have you spoken to your mother recently?” Osman asked suddenly.
Beth blinked in surprised. “Uh, not really. I let her know that I’d arrived and that I’d accepted the contract, but otherwise she’s been…quiet.”
“She doesn’t approve of you being here,” Osman guessed.
Beth sighed. “It’s not that she doesn’t approve, exactly. It’s more that she worries. She worried the whole time I was in the service, and I can’t say I blame her. I know the world is a scary place. I tried to make a life for myself back home, where it’s safer, but I couldn’t. Sometimes I’m just so scared that I’ve…” Beth couldn’t say it.
“Disappointed her?” Osman asked with a knowing look.
Beth nodded, gazing down.
“I know the feeling,” he said with a sigh, twisting his fork to collect a mouthful of pasta. “You can’t beat yourself up about that, though, Beth. You’re a better person than I am. She can’t possibly be disappointed in you! You sacrifice yourself for others every single day, and you have for years. That’s who you are—you give, all the time, and expect nothing in return. In fact—and forgive me for saying this—it seems that you push others away so that they can’t help you, even when you need it,” he said, and her gaze crashed into his when she looked back up.
How could he see her so clearly, maybe even better than she saw herself?
“Well,” Beth said, clearing her throat. “That’s something I’ll work at getting better at, then,” she said with a small smile, which he returned.
“I’d love it if you could do that. Because I find that I rather like treating you to the finer things in life. It’s nice to have someone to share them with.”
Beth was going to protest. She was going to say she didn’t need his pampering, when the back door blew open, and her hearing was briefly muted.
She looked up to see several men rushing through the door, and she jumped up and unsheathed a butcher’s knife.
“Stay down!” she shouted, though all she could hear in her head was a loud ringing. They must have bombed the door to get it open.
As the first guy approached, she dodged him and buried the knife in his side. His agonized cry was an echo in her muted ears. The next was the same. She took down at least four men before she realized that she was surrounded by half a dozen more.
Panting, she found herself backed into a corner, looking wildly around for Osman.
“Beth, stop!” she heard him cry.
To her horror, she saw that he was being held at gunpoint across the kitchen. She froze, lowering her knife.
One of the men approached her, ripping the weapon from her hand. He spoke in a harsh accent. “You will come with us now, or we’ll let you bleed out here. What do you choose?”
Beth glared up at the man, who was barely taller than she. Slowly, she held out her hands in submission, and they were instantly cuffed. She was dragged by the arms, back out the mangled doorway, before being tossed unceremoniously into the back of yet another unmarked black van. She was soon joined by Osman, who grunted as they tossed him in and slammed the door. They were both thrown against the back door as the engine revved and the van sped off into the night
.
Beth’s gaze darted around the space for anything she could potentially use as a weapon. Her mind was blank. She cursed herself for drinking that glass of wine, but deep down she knew that had nothing to do with it. These people, whoever they were, were experts. But letting her guard down hadn’t helped.
Pushing aside her feelings of guilt and remorse, she glanced over at Osman, who was trying to force the handcuffs open. Gently, she reached over and pressed her own cuffed hands to his, and he stopped.
