Chapter 8
“What the hell happened to you?”
Angela stumbled slightly at the harsh, unexpected question. But she looked up to find her Uncle Khal standing in front of her, his muscular arms folded over an equally impressive chest. She’d just entered the palace and was eager to find her cousins for a brainstorming session before she presented the bullet points she and Tiro had discussed.
Obviously, strategizing with her cousins would have to wait. Especially since she could see her Uncle Joran and her father storming down the hallway, wearing matching scowls, as well.
“Uncle Khal!” she replied, hugging him. She smiled as he gently hugged her back. But before she could speak, her Uncle Joran pulled her out of his older brother’s arms. Joran gripped her upper arms tightly as his eyes searched her face.
“Are you okay?” Joran demanded in the gruff, gentle voice that he used for her and her cousins.
“Angela!” her father called out before she could answer her uncle’s question.
A moment later, she was yanked away from Joran and pulled into a bear hug. He rested his cheek against the top of Angela’s head. “I was so worried!” Raj whispered. When he pulled back, he made the same examination. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Angela blinked at him. “Who?”
“That bastard!” Uncle Joran snarled.
Angela looked at her father and uncles. They were all big, strong men and, if a stranger were to glance at them, they were obviously of the same bloodline. But if one were to look more closely, there were differences. Her father was slightly taller. Uncle Joran had more muscles in his shoulders and biceps, while Uncle Khal…well, he was terrifying to anyone who didn’t know what a teddy bear he was underneath the grumpy facade. All three had a touch of silver in their previously dark hair, and there were more wrinkles around their eyes than in pictures from their youth. But her father and uncles were still incredibly big, strong, and sweet men. She wasn’t worried about their scowls because she knew that they all adored her and wouldn’t hurt her for the world.
Still, their questions baffled her. “What bastard are you talking about?” Angela asked, thinking about Tiro. Which wasn’t unusual since he’d been on her mind ever since she’d stepped on the plane to come home for Zayn’s birthday dinner tonight.
“Sheik Tiro,” her father snarled. “I saw the video.” He moved closer, pulling her back into his arms . “I’m going to kill him.”
Angela pulled back as far as her father’s arms would allow. But it was enough to look up at him. “What video?” she asked, as her stomach sank. She knew which video! The one that showed her kissing Tiro ravenously in the bar .
Someone o n the hotel security staff must have leaked the video to the press!
Uncle Khal touched her shoulder gently, his gaze stern and concerned. “We saw the video of you in that bastard’s arms. Did he hurt you?”
Angela rolled her eyes and pulled out of her father’s arms. Carefully, she adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder and looked at each of them. That’s when she saw Zayn, Laith, and Rafi behind her father and uncles. Each looked just as angry and dangerous as her uncles and father! What the hell was going on?
A movement to her right caught her attention. That’s when she caught sight of Saif, her brother. He was only nineteen, but he was just as tall as all the rest of the men in the family. And then Rylan and Ramzi appeared. Suddenly, she was literally surrounded by angry, overly protective, alpha men!
That’s when she put it together. Her Aunt Marianna had married Sheik Amit of Uftar. Obviously, her aunt and uncle, along with Ramzi and Rylan, had arrived for Zayn ’s birthday dinner as well! She’d been so focused on Tiro that she hadn’t realized how many people would be here !
Instead of answering their questions, she turned and ran to Ramzi and Rylan, throwing her arms around their necks. Because these two were the youngest of the brood, and lived in Uftar, the rest of the family didn’t get to see them often enough. Both chuckled at her enthusiastic greeting, lifting her into their arms, hugging her back and tossing her around slightly, like they’d always done.
When both cousins finally set her back down, their eyes turned serious. Obviously, they were just as worried. Ramzi, as the older of the two, spoke first. “ I heard,” was all he said. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Angela was too stunned to reply at first. But when she looked around at the men, all of whom looked outraged, she burst out laughing.
When she finally got herself under control, Angela took a deep breath and smiled at her family “Thank you, everyone,” she said. “I needed a good laugh.” She rubbed the sore muscles of her stomach and sighed . “I have no idea why you think that Tiro,” she realized she’d slipped up with her father’s gaze sharpened. She glanced around at the others, noting that everyone had picked up on her slip.. “Sheik el Maistri,” she corrected carefully, “might have hurt me. He was an absolute gentleman.” Except for that one kiss, she thought silently. “In fact, I was able to sit down with him for a long conversation. Apparently, he’s willing to work with us to ease the tensions between our countries.”
“Not that way!” her father snarled in alarm. “We won’t throw you to the wolves, Angela!”
Confused, she blinked up at him. “What are you talking about?”
“He ravished you!” Uncle Khal snarled, stepping closer. “We saw the video, darling. We know what he did to you!”
“But…he didn’t!” Angela protested, horrified that anyone would think that Tiro had been anything other than a gentleman.. “Tiro, Sheik el Maistri, was an absolute gentleman. In fact, when he heard about the murder, he rushed to me just to make sure that I was safe. If it weren’t for him, I would probably still be back in Paris, answering questions.” She grinned at her father and uncles . “He didn’t hurt me in anyway. He was very kind.”
“But…the video!” her father snapped, looming over her, which he was incredibly good at doing.
“Right. Well, it was just…a kiss.”
Khal stepped closer, looming even more effectively than her father. “We don’t negotiate that way, Angela,” her uncle repeated firmly.
Her jaw dropped in astonishment. “The negotiations…,” she began, then looked around. Every face surrounding her was scowling with fury. With a patient sigh, she tried again. “I spoke to Sheik el Maistri before the kiss. ” She paused again, looking at each in turn to. “In fact, he said he wanted to get the negotiations with you over with quickly, so that he could take me out to dinner!” She looked around again, but the men weren’t convinced. Valiantly, Angela restrained an eye roll and a huff of impatience. “I’m telling you that I would never sell my body. Not for anything,” she exploded. “You should know that already !”
And with that, she stomped away, outraged that her family could believe something so horrible.
Angela ignored her father’s call to stop. She barely slowed down as she called over her shoulder, “I’m going to sleep. It’s been a long day and I need rest. We’ll talk once I’ve calmed down and all of you remember that I’m not the type to sell my body for diplomatic rewards !”