How did the Viper miss one of the richest warlords in the regiongetting out of the game?
Because the auctions didn’t stop. Only the supplier changed. I missed it because I didn’t give a flying fuck who took the girls. My job was to save them.
“Did I surprise you?” he asks. “I did not think that was possible.”
“Neither did I.”
Shapur unlocks his phone and stares at the screen. “Hajira spent eighteen years with a father who thought she was worthless. He sold her to me for thirty thousand dollars. I sent him away the night you left and brought her mother to live with us a month later. We have a family now.”
In the photo he pulls up, Hajira smiles at the camera, wearing a golden hijab over a deep blue dress, and holding a babe in each arm.
“Twin girls. Farah and Bibi,” he says with a wide smile and a hint of awe in his voice.
“I’m happy for you, Shapur. Truly.”
His joy fades, sapped away in a heartbeat. “They will be a year old next month, and I fear for their future. Hajira is expected to hide away from the world for the rest of her life. To let her brilliant mind go to waste. Our daughters will not be allowed to go to school. To walk through the markets alone. To be anything other than wives. If they are mistreated by their husbands, they have no recourse. Not even I could help them.”
He’s right. Those two girls will don burkas by the time they’re twelve, and never see the world through anything other than mesh again.
“You have money, Shapur. Leave. Take them and run. Find them a better life. Hell, when this is all over, I’ll even help you.”
The gratitude in his eyes shouldn’t affect me. He was a target. Nothing more. He understands now—how fucked his world truly is—but I’d bet he loves those girls like they’re his everything.
He lowers his voice and glances at the closed bedroom door. “If Darius had not called me yesterday, we would already be on our way. When Lisette and Mateen are safe, we will disappear.”
“Holy fuck. Get out of here.” I get to my feet and offer him my hand. “I’m serious. Go home. Get your wife and your children and disappear.”
“I will help you, Viper. Or Hajira will never forgive me.” He must sense my confusion, because he chuckles and bats my hand away. “I tell her everything. She is my most trusted advisor in all things. And when we find a new home, she will be free. I will need to beg her to stay with me.”
I nod at the photo on his phone. “I don’t think you’ll have to beg, Shapur. That look in her eyes? That’s love.”
* * *
Lisette
Someone bangs on the door. I jerk up with a whimper. The bone-deep bruises across my back ache, and tears burn my eyes.
“The boy needs to be ready for Fajr in ten minutes!” a man shouts.
Mateen sits up and rubs his eyes. “Maman?”
“You need to wash,mon chou. Hurry. Your uncle will be upset if you do not makewudubefore prayers.”
My hands shake as I lay out fresh clothes for Mateen. The little dresser has six identical tunics, six pairs of pants. All shades of brown. All the right size, down to his socks and underwear.
“Put these on,” I say when he trudges back into the bedroom. His hair is still damp, and sleep blears in his eyes.
“Maman?” He reaches up to touch my shoulder. “What happened?”
Even the light pressure from his fingertips is too much. I shrink away and blink back tears. “It is nothing. Get dressed.”
“Uncle hurt you.” His lower lip wobbles, and he throws his arms around me so quickly, I cry out. Mateen only tightens his grip.
“Please, baby. Let go,” I manage. “My back.”
“No. I am not going to pray. I want to stay with you.” His voice carries an edge of anger.
Fear floods my limbs. My hands shake. “Mateen, you cannot disobey your uncle. Not now.” I grab a clean tunic and slide it over his head. “He only let me stay with you because I told him it would help you. If you fight him, he will lock me away and I will never see you again.”
