Defending Zahrah

by Kendra Mei Chailyn

  Another thing caught her attention and she hurried over. But eventually they left that store and entered another then another. When they entered the store they meant to, Declan browsed, picking up shirts and asking her opinion on them. She watched him carefully. To anyone else, he seemed interested in the clothing. He walked around with a couple of shirts she thought would look beautiful on him. Declan’s eyes darted around from time to time. It was as though he was casing the place.

  He stopped at a certain section and picked up a water bottle. It was plain but it was the kind the yoga moms used. He tilted it to see the price on the bottom then handed it to her. They stayed in the store for about twenty minutes before he purchased all the things he’d picked up and the two left.

  Someone watched them from the window. Zahrah could tell for they stopped at a vendor cart to grab a couple of drinks and she stood sideway to watch the store from the corner of her eyes. Someone turned the open sign to closed the moment they were out.

  “It’s not closing time yet.” She inched close to Declan’s side.

  He handed her a drink. “No. But something is wrong. We’re going to move back to the SUV, but at a normal pace. Is the guy still at the window.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” Declan accepted his change and they turned in the direction of the SUV.

  Nothing popped out of the corners but when we left the parking lot, it was only to drive to an empty parking lot and pulled over. Declan didn’t leave the vehicle for a while and though she wondered why he stopped, Zahrah waited. Soon, he climbed from the vehicle and began inspecting it.

  Bugs. He was looking for tracking devices.

  “Tex.” Declan called when he entered the vehicle again.

  “At your service, brother.” Tex’s bigger than life voice boomed through the interior.

  “I’m going to need you to scan us.”

  “What happened?”

  Declan proceeded to explain everything—from the chase to the shopping. When he was finished, Tex whistled long and loud.

  “Makin’ friends, I see.” Tex teased.

  “I do try.” Declan replied.

  “Well, you’re clean.” Tex told them. “Listen, I heard from Zero in Germany. He said there has been chatter of Zahrah coming back into the country. He said they weren’t sure if she had. The tails back on this side can’t find her. Watch your six, Cyclops.”

  “I think they’re pretty sure where I am.” Zahrah was frustrated. “We have people following us now.”

  “Doesn’t mean they know.” Tex pointed out. “This could be something else. Still, my advice is the same. Maybe it’s time you activated Ronin.”

  Declan shook his head. “No. He’s almost finished here. He hasn’t been home in almost two years. I need him to rest.”

  “And you don’t think he’d be pissed if he found out you needed his help and didn’t ask?”

  Declan groaned.

  “Who’s Ronin?” Zahrah asked.

  “No.” Declan barked. “The answer is no.”

  “All right.” Tex sighed. “Suit yourself. But just say the word and I’ll activate CIRO.”

  Declan nodded. “Thank you.”

  They rode back to the hotel in silence. Zahrah wondered who this Ronin person was and why Declan was so adamant about not bringing him in to help. There was a change in Declan when the name was brought up, one she couldn’t have missed if she was standing on the moon. Still, she remained quiet until they arrived. Before he even turned off the ignition, she was out of the vehicle with her bags and heading up the front steps of the elegant hotel. The doorman opened the door for her, and she bowed her head slightly in thanks.

  Inside the lobby was eerily silent. The front desk was empty which was strange in itself. She figured they were on break or something but didn’t put much thought into it. She rode the elevator up and she stepped out of the lift as she balanced the bags while digging through her purse for the access card. When she finally found it and lifted her head, she noticed police standing outside her door.

  She wanted to run but couldn’t.

  My name is Afira Drummond, wife to an American businessman, Declan Drummond.

  That’s who I am.

  By the time her mind clicked in enough to slow her steps, they’d seen her. Instead, Zahrah lifted her chin, squared her shoulders and approached them.

  “Hal laa ‘an ‘asaeidak?” She asked.

  The one who seem to be in charge leaned off the wall and faced her. “Yes.” He replied briskly. “Are you the woman who belongs to this room?”

  Zahrah wanted to ask him what the hell kind of question was that? But she remembered, she wasn’t in the States at the moment and needed to keep her saltiness in check. “Yes. This is my room,” she replied in Arabic.

  “Good. We must speak.” He told her.

  “Um…Can this wait until my husband arrives?” She asked. “He is parking the car.”

  They exchanged looks among themselves before the leader faced her again. “I assure you, this will not take too long.”

  “And I appreciate your concern.” Zahrah exhaled softly. “But I am sure you are aware I am a woman, alone with three men. I may not be from here, but I have been told this situation is frowned upon. We will wait here for my husband.”

  Damn it, Declan. Where are you?

  The officers didn’t look impressed. But their need for moral high ground won out and he nodded. She placed the bag on the floor and stood a little distance from them. Her heart was like a runaway locomotive inside her chest. Still, she tried looking as at ease as possible.

  When Declan arrived through a door at the opposite end of the hall, she could have passed out. He approached the group and studied their faces. When he addressed the leader of the group, Zahrah moved to his side.

  “Is there a problem?” Declan asked.

  “And you are?” The man who’d addressed her before asked.

  “Declan Drummond. This is my wife.” He didn’t even stutter over the lie.

  “There has been a complaint that the woman—”

  “My wife.” Declan growled. “Not, the woman.”

  The man cleared his throat. “Your wife—was staying with a man not her husband.”

  “And this is a police matter, how?”

  “Well, you see, it is against the law for a woman to lay with a man not her husband.” The man replied. “We were told her husband lives in Alexandria.”

  “As you can see, I’m her husband and I do not live in Alexandria.” Declan explained.

  All three cops seem to be at a loss for words.

  “Is there anything else?” Declan asked. “My wife has been out all day and I’m sure she would like to get off her feet.”

  “Um—no. Nothing else.”

  “Good. Tabaa yamuka.” Declan turned Zahrah toward the door.

  “Also to you.” The lead said.

  Zahrah didn’t hesitate. She opened the door and stepped in. Once she heard it closed behind them, she pulled the facial piece of her head dress away from her mouth and sucked in air. The adrenaline of what had just happened threatened to suffocate her.

  “Here, drink.”

  Without looking to see what it was, she accepted the cold bottle and lifted it to her head.

  Water—Declan had given her water.

  She drank the entire thing and asked for another. Finally, they were seated in the silence of the sitting room. Declan lounged in the chair, his muscular thighs spread, one leg stretched out in front of him. He covered his eyes with a hand, but she still wanted to walk across the space and crawl into his lap like she had done on the plane.

  “We’re going to have to find another place to stay,” Declan said. “This place is drawing too much attention.”

  “Okay…where do you suggest.”

  “I don’t know.” Declan moved his hand and opened his eyes. “Let me think about it. In the mean-time, why don’t you wash up and I will try and find us something to eat.”<
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  “You don’t have to go out of your way.” Zahrah told him. “And by that, I mean I don’t want to be alone right now. After the whole cop thing—Declan, I think someone is watching us. And I think its someone who works here.”

  He tilted his head. “What makes you say that?”

  “Well, every time we leave, someone watches us from the window.” She explained. “And just now when I came inside, there was no one in the lobby. Isn’t that strange for a hotel of this calibre?”

  “It is. What else?”

  Zahrah shrugged. “Just a gut feeling.”

  “I agree.” He rose to his full height.

  Zahrah caught his arm, so he hunched in front of her. “I’m not going to be gone long,” Declan told her. “Keep the door locked. I want to take a look around.”

  “Still.”

  Declan gave her a small smile then leaned in. She closed her eyes, waiting for his kiss. In fact, she hungered for it. His hot breath played about her skin, tickling her to her deepest core. Zahrah sighed softly. Her heart raced out of control. Her palms sweated against the fabric of her clothing.

  Instead of giving her what she craved, Declan pressed his succulent lips to her forehead. Though she wanted to scream, Zahrah ran through all the reasons he hadn’t kissed her. She tucked the bad ones to the back of her mind and used the moral ones to stomp them down deep. She settled on the one where he didn’t kiss her because he thought she was saving herself for her husband. She played around with the idea that he wanted her.

  “I won’t be long.” Declan’s voice cracked. “Keep the door locked and don’t answer it for anyone. I have my key. Okay?”

  Zahrah nodded but she didn’t feel anymore at ease when he rose and stalked from the room. Maybe she should use the time to wash up—maybe the task would push the fears away. But as she rose to enter her room, the demons roared, and she was frozen in place. When she finally was able to move, it was to run into the bathroom and closed the door.

  There was no telling how long she was in there, sitting in the empty bathtub. A sound in the outer areas caught her attention. She scrambled from the tub but stopped with her hand on the doorknob knowing Declan would have called for her. Whoever was in the room wasn’t Declan, it couldn’t be.

  As a precaution, she looked around for something to use as a weapon. Zahrah remembered the blade was still covered in blood in the SUV. She didn’t like guns and nothing in the bathroom was remotely weapon worthy. She settled for the toilet tank cover and prayed it wasn’t latched on. Thankfully, it wasn’t, and she was able to lift it off with just a little wiggle. It was a bit weighty, but it was the only alternative she had at the moment.

  When she opened the door and peered out, a man dressed in a hotel worker’s uniform was busy digging through her bag.

  He wasn’t Declan.

  Zahrah used the toe of her shoe to ease the door opened further while hefting the tank cover. As quickly as she could move, she slammed it against the back of his head.

  The cover splintered in her hand.

  The man hit the floor hard and stayed there.

  She dropped what was left of her weapon then grabbed a couple of her panties and tied the intruder’s hands behind his back. She then used one of her headscarves to tie his feet together then looped the ends in with her panties on his arm to tie him down.

  “Kitten?” Declan called.

  “In the bedroom.”

  Declan shoved his head into the room and arched a brow. Zahrah darted across to toss herself into Declan’s chest. “Kitten?”

  “He was going through my stuff.” She told him.

  “Interesting. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Declan released her to roll the man over. He went through the man’s pockets but found very little. He didn’t have a worker card, or identification to prove he worked there. All he had in his pocket was a small vile of white powder, two sticks of matches and a blank card with a dagger on it. Declan didn’t speak but he inspected each item carefully.

  “Kitten, bring me a bottle of water,” Declan said.

  Zahrah left the room and returned with three bottles of water. She handed two to Declan and the other she uncorked and took a long drink. To her surprise, Declan poured one bottle over the intruder’s head. The coldness seemed to shock him awake and he instantly began struggling.

  “Welcome back,” Declan said.

  “I will not talk,” the man said in Arabic.

  “Really?” Zahrah asked. “You’re really not going to talk?”

  The man remained silent.

  “That’s all right,” Declan said. “You don’t have to talk. But when I’m through with you, you’re going to wish you had.”

  The intruder looked from Declan to me, so I repeated what Declan said in Arabic. The fear to fill the man’s eyes spoke volume but still he refused to corporate. Declan sighed dramatically and walked over to the beautiful, white chair sitting under the bedroom window. He carried it in front of the man and sat.

  “Kitten, you may want to leave the room for this.” Declan didn’t look at me.

  “Darling?”

  “We don’t have time for this shit.” Declan advised her. “It’s either he tells us what we need to know or he’s of no use to use and therefore a liability. And trust me, we cannot afford one of those right now.”

  Zahrah looked from Declan to the intruder, patted Declan’s shoulder and walked slowly from the room. She couldn’t bare for another person to die but it seemed these people played dirty. What she needed was time to put on her big girl panties and accept the world was cruel.

  The world wanted her dead. Perhaps it was time she returned the favour.

  A bag sitting on the island told her Declan had found food. She opened it and found a few containers but only opened the one with falafels. She bit into one just as the first yowl of pain flooded from the bedroom. It unnerved her but she remained seated and shoved another falafel into her mouth.

  The more the man screamed, the more her appetite disappeared. The harder it became to stay seated and not go in and stopped Declan. They needed answers and tying Declan’s hands behind his back wasn’t going to get them any. Besides, Declan had asked nicely.

  When silence came, she rushed in to find Declan standing by the window and the man panting on the floor. He didn’t have any marks on him and that caused her to arch a brow.

  “Get packed, Kitten,” Declan said. “We have to leave. Only carry what you need.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We no longer have the element of surprise.” His voice was tight. “They know you’re here.”

  “What are we going to do with him?” Zahrah asked.

  “Do you really want to know?” Declan didn’t turn to look at her.

  “You’re not going to kill him, are you?”

  Declan turned to level deep, dark brown eyes at her and she felt as if he’d light her clothes on fire. She gasped then shook her head needlessly but hurried to do what Declan had asked. She packed all the clothes she could and waited in the living room while Declan did what he had to with their intruder.

  Eventually, Declan joined her in the hallway to the door and held up his phone. In a second, Tex’s face appeared.

  “Give us a way out,” Declan said.

  “Hey, Zahrah,” Tex greeted her while typing.

  Zahrah offered him a small wave and soon they were heading down the corridor, the opposite way from the elevator. Apparently, Tex had done something with the cameras making them free to use the stairs then slip out the back door.

  “Do you see the black car with the red interior?” Tex asked.

  “I see it.” Declan replied.

  “It’s your new ride.” Tex explained. “The SUV will draw attention if as you say they know what you’re driving and where you were. I’ve found a new place for you to lay low until you’ve checked out the cave. Coordinates are in the GPS and will be wiped once you arrive. Call me back when
you know something.”

  “Roger,” Declan said.

  “Declan…”

  “No, I didn’t kill him.” Declan replied. “But in a few hours, he’s going to wish I had.”

  That reply didn’t ease her worries, but she was happy another body hadn’t dropped because of her. She tried making small talk with Declan to ease her mind, but it seemed shooting the breeze was another thing Declan was horrible at.

  Eventually, she gave up.

  The sign entering Kayaka was riddled with holes. Zahrah knew they were made from bullets. Kayaka was once a thriving town but bad elements moved in. Little by little, the good people moved out and the rebels took over. From terrorists to robbers, rapists and the drug lords, the quaint little town soon became a haven for the unscrupulous. The law left right along with those who sought peace.

  Soon, Kayaka descended into madness.

  She’d been there once—a long time ago with her father to visit a friend. Zahrah remembered playing with the little girls who lived in the house where the party was being held. She remembered they had dolls, with blonde hair and remember being told she wasn’t pretty because her hair was so dark.

  It was her first brush with the way society imprinted its values on children.

  Kayaka was the dream place to live for new families. All this was before the warlords and darkness took over. The houses had cute little fences with children playing. As she drove through with Declan, she realized how far in the wrong direction Kayaka had gone.

  Though it was night with the streetlights on, it terrified her to see what had become of the place. After passing the cave, Declan continued through Kayaka and out the other side toward Giza.

  “I thought we were heading to the cave?” Zahrah asked.

  “We are…but not right now.” Declan glanced through the mirrors then over at her. “There are too many eyes right now. We’ll come back. Right now, I need you to get some rest and something to eat.”

  “Declan. You haven’t rested since we arrived.”

  “I know.”

  She said nothing else as they turned into Grand Heights. They picked up an amount of food then continued to a villa in Six October City. Zahrah was sure it was a beautiful place, but she didn’t have time to really take it in. This wasn’t a vacation. There was no time for the pleasantries of oohing and aahing over a damn house.