Page 42 of Warlord’s Empire

“I was a senior member of the elite South African National Defense Force. You don’t get to that position without having precision and perfection in everything you do.” Her gaze dropped. “I just… know I could have done better last night, saved you from the shock.”

Saskia was warmed that Shola seemed to care about her mental wellbeing as much as her physical. “You’re right, it was definitely a shock when the man I love whisked me through the house to the basement and locked me in a room.” She smiled slightly. “But it was minor compared to some of the things I experienced back home in Prague.”

“It shouldn’t matter what you’ve experi….” She cut herself off, her eyes widening. “You love him?”

“Yes, I’m very certain I do,” Saskia said, then added, “Don’t change the subject, we’re talking about you. It sounds like you’re beating yourself up over something you can’t control. Maybe you prefer things to be perfect, work like clockwork, but that doesn’t happen when other people are involved.”

Shola nodded slowly. “I suppose you’re a little chaotic for a principal who’s supposed to be used to having bodyguards.”

“Excuse me. I meant Radik, not me.” Saskia wanted to be offended, but Shola was right, she’d always been bad at having bodyguards. “I’m saying that you probably didn’t count on a boss with post-traumatic stress disorder when you first took the job. Radik brought me here to be his companion, and he brought you here to protect me. You probably didn’t count on having to protect me from the man who hired you.”

Shola didn’t speak for a minute, then said, “This is my first civilian job outside the South African military. I suppose I’ll have to learn to be more flexible.”

“For your own sake,” Saskia agreed. “You can’t take on Radik’s PTSD. All you can do is manage as best you can when he has an episode, like you did last night. Who knows what could’ve happened if you and Nuani hadn’t stopped him from leaving the house.”

Saskia saw a flash of vulnerability in Shola’s eyes, but it was quickly shuttered.

Shola spent the rest of the day at Saskia’s side or a few steps behind depending on what she was doing.

As it was a lovely warm and not too humid day, Saskia decided to wander Marefiya, getting to know the people who lived within the walls. When she hit the shops and street vendors, Shola told her she had access to Radik’s money and should charge whatever she wanted to the main house.

Saskia had money of her own, saved up from her job and from her late parents’ estate. She thought about saying so and making a point of never using Radik’s money, but then she rethought the situation.

Was she allowed to leave? Go visit her family? No, she was not. Therefore, she was still the victim of a kidnapping, even if she loved her kidnapper. It was her prerogative to spend his money. He owed her compensation until the situation was resolved.

She made a point of purchasing at least one thing at every place she visited. “So beautiful!” she exclaimed at a street shop that sold hand-sewed linens. She bought a new set of sheets for Radik’s bed and a couple of pillows for her room. “Need anything?” she asked Shola, deciding her bodyguard had earned a gift after her terrible night. When Shola refused to pick, Saskia bought her a gorgeous handsewn yellow, orange and white patterned quilt for her bed.

At the next stop, Saskia bought ceramic cannisters for the kitchen and a basketful of beads at the next. For Nikka, she purchased a colourful headscarf and a leatherbound journal. For Nonna, a wide-brimmed straw hat and rubber boots that she could wear in the garden.

Satisfied with her purchases, she told Shola she wanted to grab a cold drink at the cafe Radik had taken her to earlier in the week.

As they walked, Shola said, “Radik will meet you at the cafe.”

Saskia frowned. “How does he know where I’m going?”

Shola tapped her head.

“You sent him a message telepathically?”

Shola rolled her eyes and bent to show Saskia her earpiece.

Saskia gasped. “Is he listening to everything I say when you’re around me?”

“No, not at all,” Shola reassured her. “When I push a button on it, it connects with him directly and I update him on your whereabouts. He can connect with me the same way.”

“So he’s tracking my every move?” Saskia didn’t know why she was surprised. The man had been tracking her for the past several years, why would he stop now that they were living in the same household?

“Not your every move,” Shola said, then flashed her a wry smile. “But most of them.”

“That’s incredibly invasive and I’m not sure I’m okay with it.” She thought about it for a few seconds. “Nope, not okay with it.”

“Well, you can take it up with the man himself.” Shola nodded as a giant shadow stepped away from the building they were approaching.

Saskia opened her mouth to give him hell for constantly invading her privacy but before she could say anything, he wrapped his arms around her and bent over, capturing her against his chest as he lowered his mouth to hers.

He ravaged her lips in a hard, hot, sizzling kiss. His tongue swept against hers, sending a storm of sensations through her. Her heart stopped, her brain fried, and her hands sweated as she gripped him for dear life.

He didn’t give her a chance to catch her breath and soon her head was swimming and black dots were threatening to carry her into unconsciousness. She decided she was fine with swooning as long as it was in his arms.