Huh. No idea how to process those words. Things like that—this—didn’t happen to him. This violated the whole pretty-girls-don’t-choose-him belief. No, it didn’t. Because she wasn’t just pretty. She was beautiful. With a whole lot of hurt and if he misspoke, mistook his own adrenaline and action-drive for love…
Does that really make sense in that thick skull of yours?
“It is okay,” she said. “I know you cannot love someone like me.”
“Hold up.” His hand slipped to her face. He caught the back of her neck. Thumbed the small scar on the right side of her cheek. He’d given her that when they’d sparred six months ago. “Just because I need time to figure things out … don’t disqualify me.”
Her expression shifted, surprised by his words. Hope smoothing out the torment in her beautiful face.
Say it. Say you’re falling in love with her.
Nah, it’d just jinx things. Every time he stepped out and confessed his feelings, his face was shoved in a pile of manure.
Her gaze shifted past him. “Oh. There he is.”
Range saw a man standing to the side, holding open an opaque door that led to a courtyard. “That’s a pretty mean scowl.”
“Like you, yes?” she teased. “Zahir does not know any other way.” She unbuckled. “Allah, help me convince him …” Snatching up a scarf, she opened the door. Wrapped the scarf over her head and neck. Climbed out. “As-Salaam alaikum, Zahir.”
Not liking the timidity in her tone and posture, Range slid a weapon to the holster at the small of his back, and got out. Waited by the car, feeling like this was something she had to do.
Wary eyes met Range as the man spoke to Kasra. “Wa-alaikum as-salaam, Kasra.” He frowned at her. “What are you doing here? Why did you bringhim? Are you trying to get us all killed?”
So he knew about the video.
“Can we please move out of the street?” Kasra kept her head high.
Though Range was tempted to clock the guy for the way he talked to her, he let her run this show. She was more than capable. But he moved in behind her to let the guy know she had back-up.
Zahir shifted, then huffed and moved out of the way. But he didn’t go into the house.
“I never knew you to be rude, Zahir,” Kasra challenged him. “But since I am not wanted here, I will take Atia and be on my way.”
The man’s face reddened. “She is not here.”
Kasra faltered. “What?Whereis she?”
“With my father at his home.”
“Why did you send her to him? He is not—” She drew up. “This was Hasna’s doing, was it not?”
“She did not think it proper for our children to be with Atia.”
Kasra growled. Pounded a fist on his chest. “Youpromisedme you would protect her!”
Though chagrined, Zahir did not seem the type to suffer a woman’s beating.
Range shifted to the side, reaching for his weapon.
“That is what I did,” Zahir hissed. “You do not know … it was much better for her to be with an old man than a bitter woman.” He faltered, seeming to regret his words. “You must go. Hasna will be in an uproar if she finds you here.”
In a blink, she had the guy on his backside. “It is a shame your wife is more a man than you are.” She pivoted and stalked out of the courtyard.
Range couldn’t help grin. Felt proud of her. He gave the guy a cockeyed nod. “Lady’s got a point.”
“If you truly love her, get her out of here,” he sneered. “They will slaughter her and her daughter!”
Smile vanished, Range froze.Her daughter …?In a daze, he returned to the truck. Eyed her. Couldn’t process the bomb that had just been dropped. He got them back on the road. “Assuming you know how to get to this other man’s house.”
