Defending Zahrah

by Kendra Mei Chailyn

  When he was finished, he began going through his backpack. Zahrah shoved her feet out of the bed and started pulling on her shoes.

  “You still have more time.”

  “I won’t be able to sleep,” Zahrah replied. “I just—I want to get this over with. I want to spend and entire night in your arms without impending doom on the horizon. That seem to be too much to ask.”

  He said nothing and she was thankful for that.

  She was dressed and ready to go by the time the others arrived. Thunder checked her weapon on Declan’s instruction while he went over the map again. Soon, we all snuck out of the hostel—with no one at the front desk—and piled into our vehicle after Declan went over it with a fine-tooth comb.

  With Declan behind the wheel, I sat between Zero and Thunder in the backseat while Ronin sat in the front. She said nothing while Ronin spoke softly with Cyclops in the front. Instead, she craned her neck to watch the way the neighbourhood went from broken down, to slightly middle class then wealthy. The buildings told the story of the stark division of wealth and power in the area.

  The moment they drew close to the Corniche, Zahrah’s body went into war mode. She found the gun in her purse, shoved it into her hip holster right as Tex’s voice boomed in her ears.

  “Good mornin’, Ladies and gentlemen. This is your cap’n speakin’.” He announced.

  Zahrah met Ronin’s gaze and shook her head and climbed out of the vehicle behind Thunder.

  “We are here,” Tex said.

  “We?” Declan asked.

  “The drone is overhead. You may not be able to see it. But it can see you-oh!” Tex explained in a sing-singed voice.

  “Fan-fucking-tastic,” Thunder muttered.

  “Will you look at that.” Tex mused softly. “Their cameras are now malfunctioning. Man, they really need to upgrade their system.”

  “You’re a dick,” Zahrah accused.

  “Why thank you, Zahrah.” Tex chuckled.

  They closed the door and glanced both ways before jogging across the street, dodging traffic as they went. Declan picked the lock then with Zahrah sandwich between the others, they entered the building and closed the door behind them. Going through the back brought them through a room filled boxes then the kitchen. There wasn’t much to the restaurant area—a few tables and chairs, a long bench at what looked to be the bar and a private area roped off with a frayed and tattered velvet rope.

  Zahrah, Thunder and Declan headed down to the basement while the others remained as lookouts. The steps were rickety and old, creaking fiercely as they made their way down. Luckily, there was no one there to hear the sounds.

  The basement was a cash horde of weapons. Zahrah stood back and watched the way Thunder and Declan moved through the weapons. In the end, Declan strapped a long, black bag over his shoulder and Thunder had what looked like a duffle in his hand.

  They managed to get out and back to the vehicle without incident. But the good feeling was gone when the earpiece in her ear crackled and Tex made another announcement. This time, his voice was serious.

  “Incomin’.” He announced.

  “Where?” Declan asked while the others stash their take into the trunk. Declan set his bag on the floor in the back and Zahrah, Thunder and Zero worked their way in around it.

  “North east.” Tex explained. “Let me get a better look…get ready to move.”

  “Roger that.” Declan replied.

  Zero removed his gun from the holster and rested it in his lap. Zahrah glanced over to see that Thunder had done the same. She didn’t have to look to see if Ronin did—it was a given.

  “Hadeel’s motorcade is heading your way.” Tex came back. “Don’t engage—this area is too busy for that and we don’t want any collateral damage.”

  “He’s right, Cyclops.” Zero agreed. “We’ll get him. Just not right now.”

  Declan looked back at Zahrah as if asking her permission. She blushed but nodded.

  “They’re right. We don’t want innocents getting caught in this.” Zahrah agreed.

  “Guys?” Tex called, worry filling his voice.

  “Moving out,” Declan replied.

  “Good,” Tex said. “I’ll give you a route out to avoid them.”

  Zahrah removed the earpiece but she kept looking back to see if her brother or his friends would come after them. Even after they had blended back into traffic. Once she was certain they were okay, she replaced the earpiece and slumped heavily back into the seat.

  “Okay, now, I’ve found you guys a place to stay,” Tex was saying. “Can we try not to blow this one up or leave it with bullet holes? Please?”

  “Not like we planned it.” Thunder chimed in. “They keep finding us and I don’t know how.”

  “Interesting.” Tex went silent after that one word. “I have an idea but this one requires Thunder and Zero.”

  “I’m gamed,” Thunder said.

  “What is the plan?” Zahrah asked.

  “Do you really wanna know, Zahrah?”

  When she didn’t reply, Tex led Declan to a parking lot across the street from what looked to be a car sales lot. She looked over at Declan and his jawline was rigid, his brows furrowed into a frown. She knew he didn’t like this idea but said nothing. At this point, it was what it was.

  While Thunder went off to carry out Tex’s plan, Zahrah reached through the seats to hold Declan’s hand. He looked down at where their hands meet then lifted hers to his lips. He turned his attention back across the street.

  When Zahrah looked over, Thunder and Zero were nowhere to be seen and she couldn’t believe how nervous it made her. They couldn’t lose one of their own. She wasn’t sure if she could come back from that. These men had rallied around her without question, without hesitation and it would kill her if any of them was lost in this mess.

  For an eternity, they waited.

  “Two SUV’s are going to pull up behind you.” Tex’s voice filled the earpiece. “Don’t freak out. It’s Thunder and Zero.”

  Zahrah looked back to see what Tex was talking about. She released Declan’s hand and relaxed in the seat. Declan didn’t leave the car, instead, he started the ignition and they drove in convoy to a place just outside of Alexandria where Tex had found for them.

  They washed up, ate something and while the others slept, Declan roamed the darkness. Zahrah laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind hadn’t dwelled on any one thing. Instead, it fluttered from Declan, feeling him, wanting him—to death, blade slicing through flesh, bullets tearing through skulls.

  How could she have gone from hating violence to carrying a gun?

  But it was the lessor of two evils—was it not?

  The bed she laid in was like stone. She missed her own in that moment so desperately, she wanted to cry. But deep down, it didn’t escape her if she started crying, there would be no stopping. Zahrah rolled to her side then onto her back again.

  Footsteps outside her door drew her attention and she sat up. But it didn’t stop by her. Instead, the person kept on down the corridor. She figured it was Zero for he was the only room down that end. She fondled the dragonfly pendant around her neck, remembering the happiness to float through her knowing he’d bought it for her, knowing he was paying attention. That small token made her feel special, wanted, necessary.

  “First, you need to stop seeing yourself as broken.”

  “And as what?”

  “Mine.”

  In that moment, Zahrah wanted desperately to be his—to belong in his arms, in his bed, in his heart. And why couldn’t she get this one thing she wanted—she yearned for? She deserved a man like Declan. She deserved a family and the kind of love they write about. If they made it out of this mess alive, Zahrah was determined to fight for Declan. She was determined to show him she could be the woman he gave forever to.

  How?

  She didn’t even know the first thing about pleasing a man like Declan Stone.

  Ugh—stupid mi
nd.

  Stupid, stupid self-esteem issues.

  “I’m good enough.” She whispered to herself as she rested back onto the pillow and the rock. “I’m good enough. I’m deserving of happiness and I will get what I want even if I have to push through Hadeel to get it. That little bastard is going down.”

  A couple of days passed by. Zero and Ronin took turns keeping track of Hadeel and his movements while Thunder, Declan and Zahrah scoured most of the city for Farhad. They ran down leads from Tex and the CIRO team in Germany but none of them panned out. Someone had to know something—someone must know what happened to Farhad. A human being just didn’t disappear off the face of the earth with no trace.

  Hadeel wasn’t holding him at any of the properties he owned or Afram owned. Tex had checked, Farhad hadn’t left the country—not in any of the legal ways anyway.

  She was grateful to Tex. She hadn’t had to worry about Craig for the time being. Tex reported that Craig was fine and was in Tahiti. He’d flown back in the states, tried calling Zahrah then left again. Tex had a friend working on the island who went and checked on Craig and reported back. The news gave her some happiness but being in Egypt left her feeling angry and hallow.

  After Declan was relieved by Zero for guard duty, Zahrah met him at the door and led him into the bathroom. Without a word, she stripped him down to his boxers then stopped. Her face exploded with fire as she turned her back so he could finish getting undressed and get into the tub.

  “Okay, foam is covering all the naughty bits.” Declan warned.

  Zahrah sat on the edge of the tub and looked down into his eyes. “Feeling better?”

  He smiled. “Much.”

  “Good.” Zahrah exhaled.

  “This is my first bath in—well, years.”

  “You don’t take baths?”

  Declan shook his head. “I was deployed for most of my time in the service. You don’t get many opportunities for baths there.”

  “I thought you were going to say something like, men don’t take baths.”

  He tilted his head. “That too—except when a lady climbs in with them.”

  “Maybe when we get home.” Zahrah grinned.

  She rose to grab a wash rag and a towel. “Here.” She handed him the washrag then folded the towel and placed it on the vanity. “Take your time. When you’re done, I’ll be in the bedroom.”

  She headed for the door.

  “Kitten.”

  “Mmm?”

  “You’re forgetting something.”

  Zahrah giggled, ran back to kiss him then hurried out the door. If she had stayed, chances were, she would have climbed into the tub with him. But Declan needed a break from the madness around them. Even though he hadn’t once complained, she knew he needed a break to breathe.

  She fixed him a plate in the kitchen, set it in the oven to keep warn then sat on one of the chairs, picking at the corners of her fingers.

  “Couldn’t sleep?”

  Zahrah glanced over her shoulder to see Darius standing there, his hands in his pockets. She smiled at him.

  “No—I’m waiting for Declan to get out of the bath.” She confessed.

  “Mind if I joined you?”

  “Sure. Do you want a drink?”

  “No. I’m okay.” Darius sat on the chair across from me. “You know I have to ask, right?”

  Zahrah cleared her throat. “Ask what?”

  “You and my brother.” Darius told her. “I know I don’t have to tell you he feels something for you. What do you intend on doing about it?”

  “Doing? I don’t even know if we’re going to survive this.”

  “You have some of the world’s best soldiers at your back.” Darius frowned. “Most importantly, you have Cyclops rooting for you. How can you think you won’t make it?”

  “I’m facing reality.”

  “Okay, let’s get one thing clear.” Darius shifted to face her pointedly. “You’re going to make it home. Now, you have to decide what you want to have with my brother. It’s been a while since he’s been with someone.”

  “So, he’s bitter against love.”

  “Declan?” Darius laughed. “No. Hardly. He was deployed when his ex split. It hurt him but he just saw it as a sign she wasn’t the one. It’s rare that men grow up these days with a certain kind of view when it comes to love. But we learned from our parents—who were together for forty years before my father passed. Our mother is travelling the world right now. I’m pretty sure she’s worried sick, but it cannot be helped.”

  “Maybe you two should call her.”

  “Maybe.” Darius inhaled loudly and exhaled. “What I’m trying to say is this—”

  “Hurt him and you’ll kick my ass?”

  Darius laughed. “That’s a given but he doesn’t need my help for that. What I’m saying is, if this works out between the two of you, all he really needs is love—and your body.”

  “My body—wow—”

  “Don’t be shy, Sunshine. You do know what happens between a man and a woman when the man looks at the woman the way my brother looks at you, right?”

  “Um…how does he look at me?”

  “The next time we’re having a quiet moment, look over at him.” Darius instructed. “If you can’t see then I can’t explain it to you. I’m going to check on Zero.”

  “Yeah.” Zahrah watched him leave, passing Declan at the door.

  Declan patted Darius’s shoulder, told him to be careful and entered.

  “Let me get your plate.” Zahrah was getting up but Declan stopped her. “You must be hungry.”

  “And you must be tired.” Declan countered. “Sit. I can get it. Do you want a drink?”

  She shook her head. He was shirtless again, his wide shoulders calling to her. She tried not thinking about how safe she felt in those arms, how warm and comforted. He looked over at her and smiled as he set the plate on the table then walked back to the fridge to grab a couple bottles of water.

  “Do we have enough information to take down Hadeel yet?” Zahrah asked. “I mean, we’ve been spinning our wheels and we still don’t know where he’s holding Farhad. I say we make him tell us.”

  “Oh, Kitten. I love it when you get blood-thirsty.” He purred at her.

  Though the sound of his voice turned her on, she bit into her bottom lip to focus again. “I mean it, Declan. I want to go home. I want you to take me home and the longer we stay here the more I think I’ll never be able to…never mind. This entire thing sucks.”

  He set his fork down and eased the plate away. “It’s frustrating. I know, trust me. I want to go home so I call my mother, to see how she’s doing. But we can’t rush into a fight with Hadeel. We’ll see where we are after tomorrow, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Come.”

  She grinned and hurried around the table to sit in his lap. Zahrah cuddled into his chest, her head resting on his shoulder and the two talked softly while he ate. They talked about his mother, Mira—who spent her whole life taking care of people. She worked as a nurse then went home and took care of her family. His father, Wilson, was strong. He was a plumber who went to school part-time then at fifty started his own, successful chain of grocery stores. When he retired, he sold them all, took his millions, split it among his children, himself and his wife and the two went off to travel Europe.

  “He died when I was away on a mission,” Declan confided.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Darius was state side. He took care of things, but I never got over the fact I missed his funeral.”

  “You’re saying the guilt won’t go away?”

  He kissed her head. “It will—I suppose—eventually. But you shouldn’t feel guilty. You were going through your own storm. As humans, our hearts and brains can only handle a certain number of catastrophes at a time.”

  That made sense. “I’ve been thinking about the ones here—catastrophes, I mean. And Hadeel, if we let him go, he is just going to come after
me again. And with the money he has, he can buy any judge he wants.”

  “Kitten?”

  “But I also don’t want him to die.” She frowned. “I’m a bleeding heart, aren’t I? This man probably killed my father and older brother. He’s been trying to kill me! I’m his baby sister whom he barely knows, and he wants me dead! You said you wanted me to be yours—I fear I have to warn you. I come with a whole lot of crazy.”

  Declan pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. “We’ll figure this out. Once we get Gulzar and Hadeel, you’ll be a lot more level-headed.”

  “I doubt it.” Zahrah sighed. “I still have to go home and deal with my building and the insurance company and all that mess.”

  “I thought you were doing this one catastrophe at a time?”

  Zahrah chuckled. “Sorry. I’m just angry.”

  “I tell you what—why don’t we go back to the bedroom and you can take that anger out on me?”

  “Declan!” She pressed her face into his neck.

  He merely laughed. “We’re going to have to talk about what turns me on, Kitten. When we have that talk, you’re going to have to decide if you want to stay or run.”

  “I won’t run.” She sat up to look into his eyes.

  “And I know you want to believe that. But you should probably hear my likes first before you make that decision.” Declan gave her a sad smile.

  She yawned.

  “Come—” He stood with her in his arms. “You should get some sleep.”

  Chapter 16

  In bed, Zahrah snuggled into Declan’s chest. While he tried sleeping, she nibbled at this throat, his chin, the parts of his chest her lips could reach.

  “Kitten—you’re playing with fire.”

  She sighed. “But I so want to get burned.”

  Declan rolled her to her back and climbed over her. The moment he did, darkness swarmed her. She was back in that dark room with Gulzar over her, holding her arms above her head and forcing her legs open with his knees. Zahrah whimpered, closed her eyes and winced.

  “Kitten?” Declan called. “What’s the—shit.” He rolled off her and flopped to his back, breathing hard. “I forgot. I’m an idiot—I’m sorry.”