Chapter 14
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
“Get up,” Nasir snarled as he caught Leighton’s arm and hauled her upright.
She staggered, reaching for Owen, who groaned when Ghalib and another man grabbed him and jerked him to his feet. “Easy, easy,” Leighton pleaded, but her words fell on deaf ears that were hauling Owen to a vehicle.
Stumbling along behind him, she felt every twitch and jerk they levied against him in the pit of her stomach.
For a half second, she considered telling them the doctor hadn’t finished his ministrations, but she wasn’t entirely sure Abeni could be trusted to not betray that the men who’d taken them were actually allies.
Thrust toward the same Cruiser, she climbed in, noticing two more vehicles loaded up and poised to follow.
Owen angled into the SUV beside her, wincing as he lowered himself onto a seat with a long moan.
When the engine revved and lurched away from the bustling town—earning another groan from Owen—Leighton realized Mugo was their driver. Oh mercy—would he betray them?
No…not unless he wanted her to betray that he’d taken a bribe.
Owen leaned his head back and closed his eyes, hand to his right pectoral that the lion had swiped.
“It was very foolish to try to escape,” Ghalib growled from the front passenger seat.
“Escape?” she balked around a racing heart. “Those men tried to kidnap us!”
“They knew,” Owen grunted and braced as the vehicle bounced down the road. “Knew she was a princess. Said a lot of money would be paid for her.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Ghalib snapped.
“Up to you, man,” Owen said with a moan. “But if you really think I’d try to escape in this condition…” He chuckled, then grimaced.
Relieved when silence fell on the vehicle en route back to the reserve, she watched the bustling city vanish beyond the windows. Prayed this story they’d given him would not only be delivered to the crown prince but believed.
She heard another grunt from Owen and glanced at him.
“You okay?” Only as she studied him did her mind suddenly, vibrantly return to that terrible attack.
She’d never forget watching him throw himself into the fray to protect her.
This time—straight at an angry lion. When he’d fallen off the monument and landed beneath the great beast, she just knew he was dead.
Or would be soon. But this man, this warrior, was as wild and untamed as the cat he’d fought.
He lolled his head in her direction, winked, then closed his eyes again.
Admiration stirred in her chest. How had she ever deserved to have a man like him in her life? Her stomach rumbled—loudly. The kebabs had been a nice appetizer but not enough to miss their only full meal.
“Me too,” Owen murmured.
“We missed dinner.”
“Yeah.” He swiped a hand over his mouth, then grimaced. He had five stitches along his jaw and six more on his neck. “Hey, uh, Mugo?”
The driver glanced back at them, his eyes likely begging them not to rat him out.
“At camp, is there a way to get something eat?”
“Sure, sure,” Mugo said eagerly. “Anything you want, Mugo get.”
When they drove up the long road to the tents a half hour later, Leighton spotted Rayan and Maaz walking toward the Cruiser. “Oh no.”
Owen’s hand covered hers and he squeezed.
It was comforting—but not as much as she needed facing these two. Her heart sank, unplugging the dread that she had managed to bury while with Apollo at the clinic.
“Let me handle it,” Apollo said, grim-faced as they climbed out. And he made a really good show of being in pain—or maybe it wasn’t a show.
Maaz considered them both. “Apollo, you are well?”
Owen maneuvered to put himself between her and the princes. “Not even hardly. Guide abandons us on the road, I get mauled by a lion, take thirty-something stitches, then have to fight off thugs who wanted to ransom Nouri.”
With a sharp intake of breath, Rayan stalked to her. “You are hurt!” He was reaching for the seared path left by the bullet.
“I am okay. Really, your concern should be for O—uh, Apollo.” Pulse jackhammering at using his given name—deemed inappropriate here—she worked up a smile. “The doctor did not even get to finish stitching him before the men tried to kidnap me.”
“We found them in an alley,” Ghalib said. “Running.”
Owen gave the guy a glower. “Not sure I like your tone—yeah, we were running—you were shooting at us!”
Maaz snapped a fierce look at the man.
“They were with two other men.”
“Kidnappers!” Owen snapped, then drew in a ragged breath and braced himself.
Was he in real pain? Or was he acting to give the story more weight?
“Wasn’t like we could get far,” Owen continued, leaning against the Cruiser. “Still too weak.”
“But you stopped them from taking her,” Rayan said in a tone that almost conveyed respect.
“Or was helping them,” Ghalib suggested.
Leighton gasped. “No! That is not—”
“Enough.” Rayan lifted a hand, his expression tender as he again considered the welt on her cheek. “Perhaps Mr. Apollo should rest. Nouri can come with me—”
“Negative,” Owen spoke up, much to her relief. “We’re both starved since we missed dinner. Mugo said we could get some food, so that is our pl—”
“This is a lot to believe,” Maaz said speculatively. “One would wonder how village men knew Nouri was a princess.”
Leave it to Maaz to find a flaw in their story. Leighton held her breath as she eyed Owen.
“Got me,” Apollo said. “Wouldn’t surprise me, though, if the same man who left the princess and myself on the side of the road to be eaten by lions put word out to locals that they could make some quick cash.” He shrugged.
Yes. Yes, that made sense. It even sounded legitimate. She swallowed, silently begging Maaz to believe them.
The crown prince’s gaze probed Owen, then Leighton, her heart pounding so loud she was sure all the wildlife in the park would hear it.
Finally, he nodded. “Perhaps.” He started walking, indicating for them to follow.
“Rest. And maybe we should send you both back to Jeddah first thing in the morning. For both safety and health concerns.”
“No.” Leighton flinched at her quick rejection. Her breath stalled in her throat, the plan for Omen to come for them tomorrow completely upended if they were sent back in the morning. When she saw Maaz’s scowl, she stiffened. “I—Dr. Abeni said Mr. Apollo should rest.”
“This night has been most regrettable,” Prince Maaz said, his expression wrapped in cordiality and…something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “What happened out there is inexcusable, and I would understand if you felt it safer to return Nouri to the palace.”
Her heart pounded as Owen—she really needed to just stick with Apollo so she remained focused on why he was really here: to get her out—again considered her.
To be fair—Omen hadn’t agreed to her suggestion.
And returning did make sense. But could they risk it?
Besides, returning to Jeddah right now somehow felt like a giant step backwards.
“I should rest tomorrow. No travel. My head can’t take it.
We’ll see about the final day later.” As he eyed her, Apollo shook his head.
“I think Nouri has been enjoying the safari, and I would not want her angry with me if I cost her the Serengeti as well.” Hand held to her, he angled toward the tent. “If you’ll excuse us…”
“The princess can stay with me,” Rayan insisted.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Apollo said curtly, pulling her toward himself as he seemed to grow several inches. “Sorry, but after what happened tonight, I’m not taking any chances.”
Rayan jerked straight and scowled. “Is that an accusation?”
“Call it what you want. For me, it’s a reality check,” Apollo countered as he walked backwards toward their tents.
“No guide should leave two tourists in the reserve at night to be killed by the wildlife,” he noted.
“It’ll take a lot to convince me that his abandoning us wasn’t intentional.
” He gave them a clipped nod. “Since the king has tasked me with her protection, Nouri stays with me. That includes tomorrow.”
When Rayan glowered at Apollo and started forward, the crown prince swung a hand in front of his cousin, stopping him. Leighton wanted to kiss Maaz’s feet.
Owen gave a sharp nod. “Night, Your Highnesses.” He motioned her onward.
The fifty paces to her tent were the longest ones of her life. Leighton did not breathe easy again until they were inside and Apollo lowered the canvas flap, giving them a modicum of privacy.
“I can’t believe that actually worked,” Leighton whispered with a giggle as she shoved her hands into her hair. “That look he gave you—I thought for sure he’d punch you or something.”
“Half expected him to.” Apollo gingerly lowered himself to the couch and hissed a groan.
Guilt harangued her at the obvious pain in his tense posture. She hurried to him. “What can I do?”
“Nothing, I just need to not…move.” He sagged back and let out a long moan.
“I was so scared Maaz was going to mess up—”
“What?” Owen gave her a stiff look, reminding her that this place wasn’t likely secure, that there might be bugs. “Our plans to sleep in?”
Her laugh was hollow, and she couldn’t help it as she joined him on the couch, folding her legs up under her.
“Like I told Maaz—food and rest. No change in plans.”
Just as Dante had warned them. Which meant if nothing happened tomorrow, then they would fly out the next morning to the final stop on the safari.
“Can I confess to a smidgen of relief that I get to see the Serengeti?” Her selfishness screamed across her conscience.
“I’m a terrible person—that lion nearly killed you, you were mortally wounded—”
Apollo barked a laugh, then grunted, lightly touching his chest. “I have no mortal wounds.”
“Still, it’s terrible of me to be excited to see—”