Apparently, Thunder was Ryosuke Saito a member of the Japanese Special Forces Group—Japan’s Delta Force—Ghost Battalion.
He was one of the best.
Zahrah nodded and while Darius went off to gather food, the rest of us sat down to go through an update on what we had and what was to come next. Zahrah wasn’t all the way there. She couldn’t even pay respects to her father without having world war two go off. Sure, in the end her father hadn’t taken her side and she was no longer daddy’s little girl, but he was her father.
They’d raided that private moment with guns and hatred showing zero respect for her moment of mourning. Deep down she couldn’t forgive them—wouldn’t forgive them. How dare they interrupt such a precious moment between her, her father and her God.
She wondered if Farhad had anything to do with this mess. No matter what happened, she always thought he would protect her. Wasn’t that the big brother’s duty? Had she gotten it all wrong?
Zahrah frowned.
That meant she’d watched too many movies where the big brothers always protected the little sister no matter how desperately they fought. But images on a screen did not translate to real life and before she knew what was happening, she was out in a world that was big and scary—and she was all by herself. Farhad hadn’t ridden in on his white horse and saved her.
Tex said Farhad had tried finding her and she wanted to believe that. But data lied.
Once again, her heart broke.
“Okay, I’ve been digging’ while y’all were getting shot at.” Tex’s voice emanated from the small speakers when I pulled myself from inside my head. “I have locations for the major players so far.”
“That’s precisely what we need,” Thunder said. “Intel. We really don’t want to go in blind unless we have to.”
“Gather around, children.” Tex teased. “And let me fill your mind with wonder.”
Zahrah smiled.
She really liked him.
What was to follow was a full-on tutorial about my brother’s habits with his friends. It was as though Tex had gone through Hadeel’s head and pulled out all his regular haunts—the restaurant on the Corniche to the whorehouse close to the cave. Hadeel had taken over their father’s house and was living there. No one knew where Farhad had been staying. That worried Zahrah but she said nothing.
“We should probably stake out these places.” Thunder suggested. “I want to know who comes and goes, when, how many…I don’t like surprises.”
“Agreed.” Declan nodded. “We’re going to need a few more wheels. The car won’t be able to fit us all.”
“Especially when we need to divide and conquer.” Thunder nodded.
“Listen, Zero is on his way.” Tex reminded them. “He’ll have wheels. Thunder…what about you?”
“I got wheels.”
“Cool.” Declan rubbed his eyes. “We know he ran back here. So, we’re going to stake out his house and the restaurant. Thunder, you and Ronin hit the restaurant. Zahrah and I will take the house. Since no one here has seen Zero yet, he can deal with the—den of ill-reputed.”
Zahrah laughed out loud then.
“I was trying not to be rude.” Declan scrunched his nose up at her. “We can’t do any of this until it’s dark so we might as well…”
Darius entered with two large bags and a medium size one. He set them on the floor between everyone before handing Zahrah the medium size one. “Um—y’all forgot we have someone in the trunk?”
“Shit!” Declan surged to his feet and headed for the door.
Zahrah wanted to follow him but a look from Darius had her falling back into her chair. She waited, chewing on the insides of her cheeks. Though she wasn’t sure how long she’d sat there, Zahrah had began nibbling on breadsticks from her bag.
“Kitten?” Declan called.
She turned in her chair to look at him.
“You should join us.”
Before rising, she glanced over at Darius who tilted his head in Declan’s direction. She swallowed the lump in her throat, smoothed her palms over her head-wrap and walked over to where Declan was standing at the door. He took her hand and led her along a corridor and into the back of the house.
She entered the room behind Declan to find their unwanted guest tied to a chair. He was awake and made as hell. Declan merely looked at him like the man was a bug he was about to squish.
“The lady has some questions.” Declan spoke. “And you’re going to listen and answer her. If you lie, you’ll get to deal with me.”
“I am not afraid.”
Declan smirked and hunched down in front of me. “You should be.”
“Who hired you?” Zahrah asked.
Declan rose and moved to the side. Instead of answering, the man spat at her. Zahrah frowned and slapped him hard across the face. It hurt her hand but hitting the asshole did make her feel better. “You sorry excuse of a human being!” She snapped. She wiped the crap off her cheek and leaned in closer. “One more time—who hired you?”
“Malik.”
“I’m so sick of that—who or what is Malik?”
“I’ve already said too much. They’ll kill me.”
Zahrah shook him. “And what do you think I’ll do to you?”
She was tired of running for her life and having to wait until—if they got back to the States—to make love to Declan. This guy was going to tell her what she wanted to know or shew as going to make sure he was never able to get an erection again.
“You need to reign in your woman.” Their captive looked to Declan.
Declan smirked. “Not the way to get on her good side. Kitten, what do you want for dinner? I think you have this under control.”
He headed for the door. Zahrah watched her prey intently. “Surprise me.” She didn’t break eye contact with him. The old Zahrah would quiver and break under the stare of a man. She’d wither like a flower in the sun too long. But she wanted her life back and if she didn’t learn to get her shit together, she’d be stuck on the run or dead.
Enough was enough.
If this waste of human flesh think she was going to breakdown because he stared daggers at her, he was in for a very big surprise.
“Wait!” The man hollered. “It’s your brother. Hadeel. Don’t leave me with her!”
“He didn’t tell me why, but the money is good.”
Zahrah smiled. “You do know money isn’t everything.”
“I know, okay? Can I go now?”
“Oh no. We’re not done with you yet.” Zahrah muttered.
It didn’t take long afterward for Zahrah to get the information she wanted. To say Cyclops was proud would have been an understatement. They left their captive in the room and closed the door. In the hall, she sighed and fell against his chest. It surprised him but only for a moment. Zahrah wasn’t a soldier. It must have taken a lot out of her to manhandle a grown man the way she had. He held her without hesitation and kissed the back of her head.
“I hated having to act like such an ass. But how else were we going to get anything out of him?”
“I never imagined you could be like that.” Cyclops admitted. “And even though I was surprised…well—it made me hot.”
She moaned and looked up into his face. “That should at least score me a spanking, right?”
Cyclops coughed, choked on air. “Kitten?”
“I don’t know.” She pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “I have no idea what I’m into. But the thought of your hand falling against my cheeks—” She trembled.
Cyclops smiled.
“Anyway,” she said. “I’ll figure it out later. Right now, we have to eat and try getting some rest before Zero gets here.”
Cyclops agreed, reluctantly. When they entered the room, Ronin handed them takeout boxes. The food was lukewarm, but they sat down to eat and talk about what Zahrah got out of their guest.
“Well done, Sunshine.” Ronin teased. “Remind me to take you out for a drink when we g
et the chance.”
She smirked at him but said nothing.
After they ate, Zahrah went for a shower while Cyclops wandered around the property. He wanted to ensure there wasn’t anyone lurking around. When he found nothing, he headed back inside. Thunder was napping on the sofa and Ronin was standing at the window, staring out at the darkness behind the house.
“You okay?” Cyclops asked.
“Just thinking.” Ronin’s shoulders rose and fell. “I’m thinking if you wanted to meet a girl there are less dangerous ways of doing it.”
Cyclops smiled and moved to stand beside him. “I didn’t set out to meet a woman. I mean, I wasn’t closed off to it, but I wasn’t actively looking. But the moment I saw her…”
“I get it, man.” Ronin turned to face Cyclops. “You’ve answered the question I’ve been asking for months now.”
“What question?”
“If there’s more to life than what we are.”
“And your answer?”
Ronin smiled. “There is. Can’t you see that answer when you look into Zahrah’s eyes?”
Cyclops sighed.
“Man, you don’t see the way she looks at you?” Ronin shook his head and faced the night again. “Get some sleep.”
“I’m taking first watch.” Cyclops told him. “You need to rest.”
He left his brother and found somewhere outside to get comfortable. He ran through all the information they knew. All of it was hard on Zahrah. She hadn’t complained but he knew she was hurting. When she walked into his arms after grilling their guest, He felt as if the bottom had fallen out of his chest feeling her pulsed against his chest. Zahrah hadn’t cried. Instead she merely took some of his strength.
What was he doing falling for a woman like Zahrah? Why did he think he even came close to deserving her?
No—he couldn’t think like that. He’d promised her.
The time ticked by. From time to time he switched positions at the property ensuring he didn’t get too comfortable. Though he wasn’t sure how long he was out there, he was happy when Thunder came out to give him a break. There would be no sleep for him, still he figured his body could use a moment stretched out.
Once he was inside, he checked on his brother and their prisoner who was fast asleep in the spare room. With everything quiet for the night, Cyclops washed up then dressed and let himself into Zahrah’s room with a pillow from his. He watched her sleep for a moment, the moonlight streaming through the room and running monsters across her skin.
He resisted the urge to push some hair from her face. Instead, he set the pillow on the floor and stretched his body out. His lower back throbbed deliciously, and he moaned softly.
At some point, he fell asleep. As usual, his head was a blank space. The darkness surrounded him, but the monsters remained hidden. Something moved against him and he shifted but didn’t open his eyes. He figured he was dreaming. After a while, it happened again, and he opened one eye. The softness of the body against him told him who was now cuddled into his chest.
“You can’t be comfortable on the floor,” Cyclops said.
“I could say the same for you.”
He kissed her forehead. “I wanted to be close to you.” Cyclops admitted.
“Why didn’t you get in the bed?”
“I didn’t want to cross a line.” He leaned back to see her eyes. “Come closer. We need to rest because we don’t know when we’ll be able to do that after tonight.”
Zahrah nodded, kissed Cyclops’ neck and shifted in closer. There was something about that moment with her. He didn’t want to question it or focus on it too hard, but how could he not. She smelled like every beautiful thing he’d ever inhaled. He wanted to taste her, to see if she would melt for him.
She started breathing evenly, her hot breath washing against his skin. He pressed his mouth to her covered forehead, taking all the beautiful things she offered as he closed his eyes.
Chapter 12
The silence of a stakeout was unbelievable. There was a pulsing in the air Zahrah could barely handle. When she looked across at Declan, he sat beside her immovable and strong. She knew the tenderness and wrath he was capable of, yet he didn’t scare her—not anymore. She licked her lips and turned her attention back to the house. It seemed Hadeel was having some sort of get-together. It was loud, bright, confusing.
Men and scantily dressed women entered frequently, which was strange. This sort of behaviour would be frowned upon. She knew they would judge her for wanting Declan, for offering herself to him the way she had, for removing her hijab in his presence. But there was a difference between what they were doing and what she had done. Declan had caressed her tenderly but never once inappropriately. He’d made her feel loved and sexy without her having to take her clothes off or dressed so provocatively. Zahrah never thought was possible with a man.
“Declan…”
“Hmmm?” He didn’t look away from the house.
“Before, when I—well, when I crawled into your arms on the floor.” She cleared her throat. “I hope you don’t think any less of me.”
“Why would I think less of you?”
“Because girls like me aren’t supposed to do things like that.”
He did look at her then. She didn’t have to meet his gaze to know it. Zahrah knew when Declan’s eyes were on her for it was always the same sweet heat to trace her skin.
“I don’t think any less of you.” Declan told her.
The heat went away.
“And what do you mean girls like me?” Declan asked.
Zahrah exhaled and tilted her head to watch the madness across the way. “I know what people think when they seem me—well not everyone, but most. They think I wear this thing on my head, that I’m not allowed to feel sexy or seek intimacy.”
“I don’t think that.”
“I know—I know.” She sighed. “But I’m a woman. Even after everything that has happened to me, I’ve always wanted to feel like a woman. I want to buy lingerie and feel like a goddess for the man I chose. That’s not so bad, is it?”
“No. Men have the same yearning. We just don’t ask for it out loud.”
“Well, men are stupid.”
Declan chuckled. “Yes, we are. Jesus Murphy. How many people can they fit in that house?”
“And how long is this party going to last?”
“I wanted to get a better look.” Declan shifted in his seat. “But we can’t with so many eyes around. We have to wait.”
“Um…Declan?”
“Mmmm.”
“Um…I…um…I gatta pee.”
Declan stared at her with a raised eye-brow. “I told you not to drink so much of that juice!”
“Freshly squeezed orange juice—freshly squeezed cold orange juice in the desert?” She retorted. “Are you kidding me? That’s like telling the moon not to rise!”
He glared at her. “Plus, half a bottle of water! We are nowhere near a bathroom. Unless you wanna wander across the street and ask to borrow their bathroom.”
Zahrah began tapping her feet on the floor of the vehicle. She squeezed her legs together while trying to think of every non-water thing she could possible think of. But the more she tried keeping her brain away from waterfalls and the delicious, refreshing coldness of the orange juice sliding down her throat, the more her bladder shrank.
She reached up and switched the interior light to off so when she opened the door it wouldn’t illuminate to give away their position. When she opened the door, Declan’s voice stopped her.
“Where are you going?” Declan asked
“To pee.” Zahrah told him. “It’s dark enough…just keep your eyes forward.”
“Kitten, I can’t turn my back on you in a warzone.” He explained. “I can’t protect you if I can’t see you.”
“Listen.” She whipped to glare at him. “If I pee myself, I’m not cleaning it up. So, face frontward Monster Boy.”
Declan tilted his head.
“Besides—this is totally not the picture of me I’d like to paint in your head. Okay?”
Declan opened the glovebox, felt around then handed her some napkins. She didn’t ask where they came from. Zahrah was only thankful to have them. She glanced around then headed toward the back of the vehicle. Quickly, she did what she needed to, then hurried back to the passenger side. Feeling around in the dark, she found the rest of her water and used it to rinse her hands. When done, Zahrah dried her hands in her thighs then climbed back into the vehicle and closed the door as quietly as she could.
Declan turned toward her and opened his mouth.
She stared straight ahead. “We will never speak of this again.”
When he said nothing, Zahrah turned her head to see he was once again watching the house, a small smile on his lips.
She frowned.
Time ticked by. It was well after three in the morning before the party died down. People streamed from the house and got into their vehicles. The front yard was a thunderous uproar of engines starting then fading into the distance. When silence descended and peace was somewhat restored, Declan cleared his throat.
“Okay, I’m going to take a closer look.” He told her. “I know, you’re going to insist on coming. And since I don’t have time, I’m not going to argue.”
“Good.” She lifted her chin.
“There’s a camera, there.” He pointed to the north side of the house. “And there. I’m going to need to follow in my footsteps. The last thing I need is to let them know we’re here. We don’t know how many are still inside.”
Zahrah nodded.
“Are you ready?”
She reached into the backseat and pulled the gun he’d given her from her purse. Though she hated the thing, they were walking into a bizarre situation and she would rather be prepared. Once it was in the holster around her waist and clipped in, she met his eyes.
“Let’s go break some eggs.” She inhaled deeply.
“Okay, then.” Declan leaned across the seat and dropped a quick kiss to her lips. “I know you’re not okay with the weapon.”
Defending Zahrah Page 11
