But all her good humor vanished the moment she saw Hassan, the last person she ever wanted to run into from her past.
The blood drained from her face and shock froze her as Hassan snarled, “If it isn’t the whore who murdered my father.”
“I didn’t kill him. He had a heart attack.” Technically true, however, she’d been the trigger that set it off. Apparently, the old man couldn’t handle his reluctant bride.
“If you were innocent, why flee?”
Because she knew they wouldn’t believe her. Never mind the overweight Ali had been in poor health. She’d be beaten and then married off again. She lifted her chin. “I left because it was never my intention to remain in Afghanistan. I only came to attend Father’s funeral. The day I was supposed to leave, my uncle forced me to marry your father against my wishes.”
“Force. Ha. A woman does as she’s told and honors her family. Your uncle sold you to my father, and rather than be abiddable wife, you took his life, and now I shall take yours.” He grabbed hold of her arm, his fist a tight vise that she couldn’t escape.
“No.” She huffed in panic, because she had no doubt Hassan would hurt her. Hurt her badly. He had an even more sadistic side than his late father, her short-lived husband.
Her protest fell on deaf ears. Hassan shoved her into the backseat of a car carrying two other men and snapped, “Bring us to the hotel.”
Leila scrabbled across the seat and reached for the door handle, only to cry out in pain as Hassan yanked on her hair.
“You’re not going anywhere, whore. Or should I call you witch? You haven’t changed one bit.”
“I know a good plastic surgeon,” she lied.
“Even he won’t be able to fix you once I’m done.”
A blow to her temple knocked her unconscious, and she woke tied to a bed. Immediately, she thrashed, her breath huffing in panic. She couldn’t escape. Why oh why had she ever left Tower?
Hassan approached the bed and stood leering over her, a knife in hand. “Well, that was quicker than expected. You must be eager for your punishment.”
“Don’t do this. Please.” A plea that only served to heighten the vicious glint in his eyes.
“Begging? Guess it’s to be expected from a whore. Perhaps I should take what you denied my father.”
The threat of rape stole her voice. It was like her wedding night all over again. Only this time, she couldn’t push him away, couldn’t fight him off. Even if she weren’t tied, she doubted a struggle would result in Hassan keeling over from a bad heart.
A shout from beyond the room turned Hassan’s head. He frowned and barked, “What’s happening?”
The reply came in the form of a door being kicked open, and a hero strode in. A glowering, beautiful man who spat, “Release the woman.”
“This is a family matter. Mind your business.”
“This is my business because that’s my wife,” Grayson growled, taking a step forward with clenched fists.
“You married the whore?”
Wham. The fist flew so fast Hassan couldn’t avoid it. His head twisted to the side, and a tooth cut his lip, leading to blood dripping. The blow didn’t deter Hassan, who charged at Grayson, still gripping the knife.
For a newly minted warrior, Grayson knew how to move, sidestepping but also grabbing the arm wielding the weapon. A twist of it led to Hassan uttering a sharp cry of pain and dropping the blade. Grayson spun him and yanked, drawing Hassan down, which led to a knee connecting with his chin. A shove sent Hassan reeling and hitting the floor on his buttocks, but Grayson wasn’t done. Fists clenched, he stalked after Hassan, who spat a mouthful of blood. “You want her, take her.”
“Oh, I intend to, but I’m not sure you’ve learned your lesson. I’m thinking the only way the world is safe from a degenerate like you is if you’re six feet under.”
While Leila agreed, she couldn’t condone murder. “He’s not worth it, Grayson.”
“A man who kidnaps women and ties them to a bed and threatens them with a knife seems like the kind of evil I’m supposed to fight.”
A valid point. “We have a mission to accomplish, though, and killing him might have repercussions that will impede it.”
His lips pinched. “Fine. I won’t kill him, but…” He hauled back and slugged Hassan hard in the face, knocking him unconscious. “That’s better.” Grayson then snared the knife and slit through the ropes binding her. “Where are you hurt?”
“Nowhere, really. Bit of a headache, but you got here before he could do anything worse.”
