“Did you know him?”
She hesitated before nodding. “He was the son of my husband.”
“Hold on… You were married?” He glanced at Hassan, who looked to be around Grayson’s age. “How old was the guy?”
“Old, and it wasn’t my choice. My uncle ambushed me at my father’s funeral. Gagged me during my wedding to Hassan’s father, ensuring I couldn’t refuse.”
“Holy fuck. You obviously escaped.”
Her lips twisted as she rose from the bed, rubbing her wrists. “On my wedding night, I fought rather than be raped. Hassan’s father had a heart attack. Nothing could have saved him, seeing as how he died on the spot, but I knew no one would have believed me, and even if they did, my uncle would have simply married me off to another man. So I escaped through a window and fled to the city. I hid for a few days and contacted some friends from college, hoping they could help get me out of the country, but one of my cousins found me on the way to the embassy, where I was planning to ask for asylum. I fought him off and ran. Somehow, I stumbled onto a portal and ended up in Tower.”
“Where you found safety. No wonder you didn’t want to leave and have no interest in people.”
He understood immediately, and yet she sheepishly shrugged. “It’s been hard to trust when my own family betrayed me.”
“That’s not family,” his harsh reply. “Family protects.”
“And so do heroes,” her soft addition.
“Let’s get out of here.” He held out his hand, and she didn’t hesitate to take it. As they headed out of the hotel, he stated,“We’ll have to change hotels just in case the asshole didn’t get the hint.”
“Or we could start our trip early.”
“I thought you wanted a shower.”
“It can wait. Let’s get this mission done. Hassan will never think to seek us out at Lake Natron.”
“In that case, let’s head out.”
They drove out of Arusha toward the unknown. It should have been terrifying, and yet, as she glanced at Grayson’s profile, she’d never felt safer.
“How did you find me?”
“Aquarius tracked your cell phone.”
Her eyes widened. “Thank goodness I had it on me.”
“No shit. I would have arrived sooner, but the roads were a little crazy. Apparently, that late at night, traffic rules are optional.”
A good thing she’d not woken a few minutes sooner or Grayson would have barged in on a much different scenario.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“Anytime. I’m just sorry it even happened. I should have protected you better.”
“Hardly your fault. It was ill luck I ran into Hassan in the first place.”
“Well, hopefully, it’s the last we’ll see of him. Now, why don’t you try and get some sleep?”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. I napped pretty good on the plane, and besides, me Zodiac Warrior, me strong.” He mocked himself, and she couldn’t help but smile.
No way would she be able to sleep, but with the panic having faded, the long day of travelling, and just having Grayson near soon had her slumbering. She woke to find herself drooling onhis shoulder, the vehicle stopped as Grayson took a turn getting some rest.
She studied him in repose, morning having arrived and, despite the cloudy sky, making it light enough for her to see the strong features that some might call brutish. A tough-looking man, and yet a gentle one, as well, with morals and a sense of honor that didn’t have him hesitating to come to her aid.
Tonight marked the first time someone rescued her. In the past, she’d been the one to always save herself. First when she’d scrimped and saved money to leave Afghanistan and head to Europe to get an education. Struggling to overcome the language and culture barrier on her own while remaining firm with her parents—and other meddling family members—about her decision to stay in Europe even after she graduated. She’d escaped an untenable marriage and avoided a life of servitude and violence. So much she’d done on her own, and almost destroyed in one instant. Thankfully, Grayson had been around to play hero because Leila didn’t doubt without his intervention, she’d have died.
