Hard Choices (Blood Brothers #6)

by Manda Mellett

  “I’m keeping under the radar so no one can follow our route.”

  Biting my lip, I don’t question him, though there’s something unnerving about his answer. Okay, I wouldn’t want al-Fahri to be able to track us, but our own military? They’ll want to know where we’ve gone. “Rais, did you pre-arrange our route with General Zaram?”

  “No,” he says tersely, and I risk turning again and glance at his face. He breathes in deeply and lets out a sigh. “You should have been protected in the palace, Aiza. The damage from the explosions could have been contained, a direct attack thwarted. Yet they came into your suite.”

  “That’s where they’d expect me to be, surely?” It makes sense. It’s where I spend a lot of my time.

  “In your suite? The whole time? At that precise moment? You could have been anywhere in the palace, but you weren’t.”

  My mouth purses, my mind focusing on the words he stressed.

  “Princess, if I have to spell it out for you… There’s a traitor in our midst. Someone who is in contact with al-Fahri and told him exactly where you were at that precise time.”

  My hand covers my mouth and I feel sick to my stomach. “Who, Rais? Who would want to see me captured?” For torture or rape.

  “I don’t know,” he admits shortly. “Hence my reason for getting you away. Back at the palace they’ll have come to the same assumption and will be trying to discover who betrayed you. For now, it’s safest if no one knows where you are.”

  No one other than him. He handles the chopper with ease, flying as though he’s one with the machine. His concentration purely on the task in hand. Which may explain why, since we’ve taken off, he’s dropped the term of endearment he’d started using for me. I feel uneasy. For the first time since I met him, I wonder whether I’m right to trust him. Can any man be bought…at the right price?

  A curt exclamation, and I see his hands tense on the controls. Seeing him staring straight ahead, I can’t miss what he’s noticed. A sandstorm.

  “We can’t fly into that.” I might have lived mostly out of the country, but at heart I’m a girl of the desert.

  “I’m aware of that. We’ve still got some miles to go. I’ll fly as far as I can.”

  “Can we go around it? Or turn back?” It’s a bad one from the look of it.

  “We can’t outfly it, and it appears to be quite extensive. No, we’ll go on, then land if we’re no longer able to fly.”

  In advance of the storm I can already feel the winds buffeting our small craft. “Go up, Rais,” I warn him when the first particles of sand start to hit us and visibility is getting poor. “We’re too low, we could fly into a dune…”

  “I’m not risking us appearing on radar.”

  The thwack thwack of the helicopter blades starts sounding different. I look back at Rais in dismay as he starts to battle with the controls. He seems confident, so say nothing, just trust he knows what he’s doing.

  “We’re going down now, Princess. Brace yourself, we might roll.”

  I check my harness is holding me tightly, and then reach up to the handhold.

  “Hold on,” he warns me again as I feel the dip as the helicopter descends to the ground. Visibility is almost nil now.

  It’s not a perfect landing, and as we hit the sand hard the harsh winds blow, and for a moment I think the craft will turn over. Rais cuts the engine. Before the rotors stop turning he’s undone his harness, then reaches over to help me with mine. He gets out fast, and quickly comes around my side, holding out his arms to help me down. Reaching for my head scarf, he pulls it up over my face.

  Immediately the sand is choking. Bowing my head, I turn my back, buffeted immediately by the strong winds. Then steadying arms come around me, leading me away from the helicopter. Once out of the helicopter’s path, in case it should turn over, Rais crouches to the ground and pulls me to him, putting his larger body in the path of the wind, bracing himself to give me shelter.

  It seems to last for hours. In reality it’s only minutes before the sandstorm passes. Quickly the winds become lighter, the sun again beaming down from a clear blue sky. Analysing it’s position, I know it’s midday and have a new concern. I’m going to fry out here.

  As the sound of the storm dies, Rais unwraps himself from me and goes to look at the helicopter. Soon he’s shaking his head.

  “Will it fly?”

  “Not until the air intake is cleaned.”

  As I expected, but not as I’d hoped, it’s on foot from here. “Where are we going, Rais?”

  With his hand still hovering over the hot metal, he turns and speaks over his shoulder. “Alwadi Aljameel.”

  The Beautiful Valley, I quickly translate. I’ve heard about it from Cara, yet have never seen it myself. A picturesque place in the mountains where a river reappears for a short distance, leading to green grass and trees in an otherwise sparse desert. Nijad had taken her there shortly after their wedding. A romantic retreat. Water and shelter from the sun, nothing could sound more wonderful in this heat.

  A look at my companion’s face suggests he hasn’t got romance on his mind. Ignoring me, he pulls a satellite phone out of his pocket and places a quick call. He’s giving what sounds like coordinates.

  “Who are you talking to, Rais?” I’m hoping he’s making contact with Zaram.

  “My men,” he answers economically.

  “Can we get word to the palace?”

  “No. I told you before, I don’t know who we can trust. Come. We need to get moving.” He looks up into the sky. “The helicopter will be easy to find, we need to put distance between it and us.”

  “Rais…” I’m already sweating, and I haven’t even taken a step.

  “Princess. You must do this.”

  He sounds so distant. My lover who held me so tenderly through the night seems to have completely disappeared. He’s focus is on getting me to safety. But… “Is this what it’s going to be like?” I snap.

  “What?”

  “Our married life? You barking orders and expecting me to obey them?” That’s not the kind of man I want.

  Suddenly he’s in front of me. “Princess, how much do I need to explain? There was an attempt on your life today. You can bet even now al-Fahri has men searching for us. He’ll use all the technology he has at his disposal. My duty, as your future husband and as your subject, is to protect you and keep you safe. Right now I can’t afford the time to baby you.”

  “Baby me?” My voice rises in disgust at his term. “I’m asking for you to treat me like an equal.”

  He raises his eyes to the heavens as though seeking strength from Allah, and then lowers them to me once again. “Princess, my only concern is for your safety. Everything else must take second place. And that means we have to start walking now.”

  Huffing, knowing I’ve no other option, I start making my feet move, one in front of the other, grateful my trainers that I’d worn today are at least protecting me from the hot sand. Pulling my headscarf up over my head, I do what I can to protect myself from the harsh rays of the sun, starting to wonder whether I really know this stranger walking beside me.

  His hand reaches out and takes mine, pulls me to a stop and turns me around to face him. Placing his fingers against my forehead, he tries to smooth my worry lines there. “Habiti, I’m not being fair to you, am I?” He shakes his head in despair. “I’ve never had a relationship with a woman I love. You’re going to have to put up with my overbearing ways while I’m learning how to do this.”

  As I go to speak, his fingers move down and cover my mouth.

  “That doesn’t mean you can’t call me out on it. At the moment, getting you somewhere safe is my number one priority. Here,” he waves his free hand around at the nothing that surrounds us, “I’m in my element, and you not in yours. You have to trust me to do what’s best for you.”

  I remember his only attempt at a relationship was an arranged marriage that only lasted less than a year. I’ve less experience th
an him. Not wanting to get involved is part of the reason I’ve got my needs fulfilled at clubs. We’re both new to this and feeling our way. As the circumstances are not the best to start out, I decide to cut him some slack.

  “Which way?”

  That rare smile passes over his face again as he points. “We’ll go straight in that direction, skirting the dunes where we can.”

  Then I ask the question I don’t really want the answer to. “How far?”

  Leaning forwards, he places a soft kiss on my lips. “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, Princess.”

  Wondering how he knows where he’s going when the only thing to guide us is the sun, I do what he says.

  Quickly overheating, I try to put all other thoughts out of my mind than getting to our destination, that beautiful valley, where, if I remember correctly, Cara said there was a pool where I’ll be able to swim and cool off.

  We don’t waste energy talking, just plod onwards and onwards again. After a while Rais stops and takes a water bottle out of the pack he’d liberated from the helicopter, and I gratefully gulp down mouthfuls of the warm but welcome refreshment, and then it’s on we go again.

  The sun beats down relentlessly, the dunes not high enough to give any shade. At first I think I must be seeing a mirage when in the distance I see horses appearing. I don’t draw attention to what I believe my delirious mind is conjuring up. As they come closer, I realise it’s not my imagination, and I pull Rais’s sleeve, worrying whether their friend or foe.

  Seeing the concerned look on my face, Rais reassures me. “My men.”

  They’re approaching so fast, there’s no need for us to continuing walking. Soon desert warriors are surrounding us, foaming horses kicking up sand. A rider comes up with the reins of a free horse in his hands. Taking the reins from him, Rais jumps astride and holds out his hand.

  “You could have brought one for me,” I tell him, laughing, suddenly lighthearted that we’ve been rescued. Then I take his hand and jump up behind him, my hands going around his back.

  Chapter 34

  Rami

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Imperiously I stare at Hunter, not understanding the accusation he’d just thrown my way. “I had absolutely nothing to do with the raid on the palace, and I can’t understand why you think that I would.”

  Hunter’s gaze is unflinching. “You conveniently left the suite just before the attack.”

  My eyes go to Hunter’s colleagues, Ryan and Seth, who are standing by the door impassively with their arms folded. Seth has a bandage on his left bicep. I then look back at Hunter and frown. Surely he doesn’t want to go into this in front of his colleagues? From the expression on his face, it appears he thinks there’s nothing to hide. I decide to be as discreet as I can.

  “As you know, Hunter, I had just been turned down by Aiza. I came here expecting her to become my wife, when instead it seems she has chosen to throw her lot in with the desert sheikh.” Still enraged at the events of the morning, I can’t bring myself to say his name. “In the circumstances, you of all people should understand my disappointment, and that I needed to get away and put distance between her and myself until I’d come to terms with the new situation.” Personally, I doubt I ever will. I’d had my dreams so tantalisingly close to being achieved, only to have them swept away.

  “You left Aiza when you should have been protecting her?” Ryan sounds critical, and put that way, perhaps he’s right to be.

  “I didn’t leave her at risk. Hunter and Rais were there, as well as the guards outside.”

  “I still think it was suspicious.” Hunter’s not giving me a chance to explain. “A prince doesn’t run in such circumstances.”

  I stand, drawing myself up to my full height. “Believe what you want. This prince just wanted to get away. I couldn’t trust myself to speak to her at that moment, and if I stayed longer in Rais’s presence, I would have tried to kill him. So I went to see General Zaram and catch up with the latest information.”

  “And to the part of the palace that survived unscathed.”

  Frustrated, I turn on him. “What do you want me to say, Hunter? That Alair’s secretly working with al-Fahri to sabotage the oil fields that will bring riches to our country?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t believe Alair had anything to do with it. However, I do understand the dissatisfaction that comes with being a spare. Fuck, I saw it in Jasim often enough. Your brother is heir to the throne. When he marries and produces a son, you’ll be completely surplus to requirements. You might be setting yourself up to get your satisfaction in other ways.”

  “By working with al-Fahri?” I’m shouting now, frustrated I’m unable to get through to him. Marching across the room, I lean over him, my knuckles to the table. “I love Aiza. What I feel for her doesn’t go away just like that.” Clicking my fingers I emphasise my point. “Even if she has thrown herself at that…that savage.” I spin on my heels, quickly turning away. Then just as quickly going back again. “Just where has Rais taken her? What’s the latest on her location?”

  Now I’ve gone on the offensive, Hunter’s eyes open wide as I continue. “What has got a fucking stink to it is that Rais declares undying love for her out of the blue and decides to make her his wife. Then the palace is attacked, and he’s the one who knows the secret tunnels and spirits her away in a helicopter that we lose track of shortly after takeoff.” I thump my fist down onto the table, making the jug and glasses on it jump. “Have you considered for one second that Rais might be acting for al-Fahri? That he might even now be delivering her into his clutches?” One glance at his face shows that he has. I nod. “So why are you wasting time questioning me? I’m still here, and Aiza is not. Maybe we should be trying to find her instead of wasting time.”

  “I’d stake my reputation on Rais being innocent,” Ryan tells me with a sneer. “He’d not do anything to hurt the royal family. He’d give his life for any of them, and that includes Aiza.”

  I swing around. “You’re hung up on me being a second son, surplus to requirements. That I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. That equally applies to Rais. Rais is an ambitious man, a blind man could see it. He holds the title of leader of the desert sheikhs, yet he’s not the desert sheikh, is he? That’s Nijad’s role, even though Rais uses it for his own. What if he’s fed up with his lack of opportunities?” I’m infuriated I can’t seem to get through to these men.

  Hunter’s fingers are pinching the bridge of his nose. When I go to press my case further, he waves me down. “Give me a moment to think.”

  Mumbling, “You’re wasting time,” I resume my pacing. Aiza, where are you? Are you safe? When we find her, I’m going to redouble my efforts. Until Rais’s ring’s on her finger, I’m not going to give up. She was mine, everyone knew it. If Rais has harmed one hair on her head he’ll die, and as painfully as I can make it.

  At last Hunter rises and fixes me with a glare. “I don’t trust you, Rami. And I don’t trust Rais. Fuck, right now I trust no one except for my colleagues who’ve nothing to gain.” He glances at Ryan. “Rais’s knowledge of the palace is longstanding, yet the fact he knew which tunnel to take, and knowing the keycode does make him a suspect. I hear what you say, but someone had to plan this. Someone who could communicate with al-Fahri and get the message to him. We can’t rule anybody out.”

  “What about the guards?” Seth speaks for the first time.

  “The head guards were all old-timers, brought back for one purpose, to keep the princess safe. Their men were all handpicked,” Ryan informs his colleague. “To be certain, Cara’s rechecking their backgrounds.”

  “The guards were handpicked by Rais.” Seth sends a look of apology towards his colleague. “But then, lots of people knew where she was. It could be one of the palace servants who brought breakfast. Hell, the chef who prepared it…”

  “It could be anyone,” Hunter says patiently. “Which is why we’re looking into them all. Again.” H
e brushes back that lock of hair which seems to fall constantly over his forehead. “Look, let’s go and see what the latest is, what General Zaram has found. And I want a word with Ghalib, see if he knows where Rais was headed.” He gives me a stern glance. “You, Rami, you’re coming with us. I want my eye on you at all times.”

  As there’s nothing I’d rather be doing, I’ve no problem with that. Checking, I ask him, “As friend or foe?”

  Hunter snorts. “That remains to be seen.”

  Hunter leads the way, I follow. Ryan and Seth at my heels show me I’m far from out of the woods yet. As the Grade A man pushes the door to the board room open, General Zaram nods at us. It’s easy to see how troubled he looks.

  “What’s the latest?” Hunter wastes no time asking.

  Zaram shrugs. “The helicopter hasn’t made it to Al Qur’ah. Nor anywhere else, it would seem.”

  Bertram raises his hand to get our attention. “It’s a heavily armoured helicopter. Difficult to shoot down, and the sheikh would be able to protect himself from attack. It was one of our most sophisticated helicopters.”

  “With what range?” Hunter asks as he pulls out a seat.

  “Two five seven nautical miles. That’s just under three hundred miles on the ground.”

  Hunter’s not looking pleased. “They could be over the border in Ezirad or Alair.”

  “Exactly,” Zaram agrees. “Qudamah has all his airports on alert…”

  “A helicopter doesn’t need a fucking airport,” Hunter snarls. “Nor even a helipad. We’re looking for a needle in a fucking haystack.” He looks over at Ghalib, who doesn’t look as concerned as the rest of us. “Did Sheikh Rais mention where he was taking her?”

  “No, he did not. And I didn’t ask him.”

  “Why the fuck not?” Hunter looks like he’s going to explode.

  Ghalib suddenly leans forwards, his hands clenched in front of him. “Because I know the sheikh will only have Princess Aiza’s best interests at heart. There’s already been one leak of information, who knows who could have overheard if he’d told me? I didn’t want to know, so I didn’t ask him. One thing I’m certain of is that she’ll be safe.”