He nodded, but felt the spot the guy had struck. Recalled that crack—had the guy broken the implant? A knot was forming there. “What was that for?”
The crown prince and his brother drew away the enraged Hassan.
“He said you are a dog who should not be here.”
Owen blinked. “What…?”
“I fear,” Rayan said as the others left, “he saw you blocking the princess’s path.”
For the love of all that was holy… “He hates her,” Owen objected.
“Yes, but she belongs to House al-Zahrani. You do not.”
“Got it,” Owen said around a grunt in his aching throat.
“This way,” Rayan said and started walking. “I came to find you and deliver the itinerary for the trip. You will need to be prepared so you can keep Nouri on schedule to meet trains, flights, and vehicles. I trust you are able to do this, even though you could not remember when to come in from the garden.” He gave them both a disapproving look as he led them to an elevator, stepped in, and indicated for them to do the same.
When the doors closed, Rayan huffed. “You will both have to be much better behaved, or you, Mr. Apollo, will be removed from her security detail. If that happens, we cannot promise Nouri’s safety.”
It took everything in Owen not to react to the not-so-subtle threat.
“As it is,” the prince continued, “several have already made threats against her, thus the reason King Faruq put you in this position. Get along or get out, Mr. Apollo.”
As if timed to his words, the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
Prince Rayan exited, ever moving in authority and confidence.
Jaw tight, Owen motioned for Leighton to go ahead of him. Her gaze met his for the briefest of moments and he saw both an apology and frustration. Maybe exasperation.
He couldn’t blame her—he felt all of those and much more right now. Falling in step behind her, he realized they weren’t in the same wing. Or the same level for that matter. They were up one. “Where…?”
“You have been relocated to a suite,” Rayan said without preamble. “It has two bedchambers, since you made such a spectacle of yourself this morning, Mr. Apollo. Windows and the shared bath are smaller, but I would advise you not to complain. The king was angry when he heard of the incident.” He flung open the door and stepped aside. “In.”
Leighton slipped in, head down.
Rayan produced the room key. “Remember to keep it locked at all times.”
They had armed gunmen on the roof and perimeter walls. How far did they think someone would get?
“Clothes are in the dressing room,” he said, then handed Owen a folio. “All the details. Zayna has already packed a trunk for Nouri and for you.”
That was a little weird, having someone pack clothes and gear for him…clothes and gear that weren’t his. “Thanks,” he made himself say.
Rayan caught the shoulder fabric of Owen’s kaftan and yanked him over. “Keep her in line, or you will not like what happens.” He thrust him back, then released a taut breath, dark eyes telegraphing a warning. “Out there… Be. Careful.”
Dude totally just gave him Silence of the Lambs vibes right there. Half expected him to call him Clarice.
Owen felt the thrumming nerves and anger from Leighton too. “Understood.” He deliberately put more room between him and the prince, trying to send the message he could leave. No idea what was going on, but there was too much to unpack with him in the room.
He looked over his shoulder and found Leighton down the hall.
“Get her under control,” Rayan warned. “Maaz and Nasir will be on the safari as well, and they are not known for their patience.”
Alarm speared Owen. He eyed the prince.
“They will silence her if you do not.”
There were not many days when Leighton beat the sunrise. The humiliating command the prince had given Apollo to “get her under control” was infuriating to the point of tears. Unwilling to let either of them see her cry, she had fled to one of the bedrooms in the suite and stayed there for the rest of the day. Hadn’t been able to sleep at the thought of fourteen days on a safari, far from anything she knew, far from hope and any semblance of control.
