Chapter 17
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Hena woke past nine o’clock the next morning, the hazy maroon walls of the bedroom sharpening slowly in the soft morning light. For a surreal moment, she wondered if last night had been a dream. They’d returned to the resort late. When Reza suggested he stay over, for safety, she hadn’t disagreed.
She replayed their night together in her mind’s eye.
His mouth on hers. His body pressed against her, his arms around her as they drifted off to sleep in this very bed.
The deepest sleep she’d had in days. Years, really.
She reached over to the spot where he’d been, only to feel the cool touch of linens.
Oh.
Before she could dwell, she heard the front door open and shut. She grabbed a plush robe, cinched it at her waist, and stepped into the main suite. There he was, standing at the kitchen island, a brown paper bag in his arms.
“You’re up early,” he observed.
“Later than you,” she countered, eyeing the bag. “Where did you go?”
“Thought I’d make us breakfast. I left a note.” He gestured to the fridge. “Figured you wouldn’t see it since you were snoring when I slipped out.”
“I resent that. I do not snore.” She feigned offense.
“You absolutely do.” He stepped closer, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes. “And it’s very cute.”
He kissed her—a slow, lingering kiss. She draped her arms around his neck as she drew him closer. This moment felt suspended, free floating above all that weighed on her.
“You don’t need to make us breakfast,” she said when she pulled back. “There’s enough food downstairs to feed a small nation many times over.”
“Well, first, I’d rather stay here with you. Second, you need to try my omelet. It’s way better than the ones they have here.”
“The ones made to order by Michelin-rated chefs?” She gave him a look. “That’s quite presumptuous.”
“Tells you how confident I am.” His dimple deepened. “It’s my family recipe. Figured you should try it.”
She tried not to melt on the spot. And though she offered to help him prep, he insisted he only wanted her company. She watched him chop onions and sweet peppers, season and stir. The rhythmic clatter of knives and pans filled the space. God, he looked so sexy cooking.
They sat down to eat. She was about to take her first bite when his phone rang. He checked it and placed it back on the table.
“Do you need to get that?” she asked.
“It’s my nephew, Bilal. He likes to randomly video call sometimes.”
“You should answer it.”
“I can chat later.”
She insisted he take the call, and though she stayed out of frame, she couldn’t help but listen in, warmth filling her at how gentle he was with his nephew.
“Did you see an alligator?” the little boy asked.
“More than one,” he said. “I took photos.”
“What was their names?”
“Hmmm. Well, one was Suzy. And Cox, who could forget him? The others…I don’t know.” He seemed truly troubled at this realization. “Maybe you can help me name them?”
Bilal loved this idea and rattled out ten options. When they hung up a few moments later, Reza looked at her apologetically.
“Sorry about that.”
“For what? He sounded so sweet.” She took a bite of her omelet. “Wow. This is good.”
His expression fell. “Good?”
“Wait.” She frowned. “I mean it’s very good. Why do you look disappointed?”
“Good isn’t great.”
She suppressed a laugh and stood up, settling onto his lap. “What I meant was, this right here is the best omelet I’ve ever had in my life.”
“See? Now, that’s more like it.”
His finger traced her collarbone, sending shivers through her.
How did he do that? How did one touch light her entire body up?
The first night she laid eyes on him, she’d hoped Reza would be a good distraction—perhaps a fun fling with a stranger.
But he was no longer a stranger. And this was not a fling.
Whatever this was between them, it felt real.
He kissed her. His hands skimmed her waist, tugging at her robe.
“Shall we take this to the bedroom?” Hena whispered.
“Those are some really nice sheets.”
“Told you.”
His hand slid up her leg. “Just not sure I can wait that long.”
She reached for his waistband just as the doorbell rang.
Housekeeping? Hena groaned. What even was the point of a Do Not Disturb sign if they still disturbed you?
“Come back later!” she called out.
“It’s me,” said the voice on the other side.
Lulu. Shit.
She jumped up quickly.
“Go to the room,” she whispered.
His eyes widened. He slipped away as Lulu knocked again, more insistent this time.
“Hurry up, Hena!” she shouted.
She tightened her robe and barely got the door open before Lulu brushed past her and stepped into the sitting room.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“I was out. I texted you.”
“This isn’t a text conversation. We need to talk. Face-to-face.”
Just like that, the magical spell of the last twelve hours broke—reality crashing full force.
“I’m so sorry, Lulu.” Her composure slipped. “What happened yesterday. The things I was accused of…”
Lulu’s expression darkened. “It was something.”
A quiver of fear sliced through Hena. Was this the moment when Lulu cut her off once and for all?
“I know how it looked.” Her lungs constricted. “But all I’ve ever wanted to do my whole life was to protect you and keep you safe. I would never hurt you, Lulu.”
Lulu regarded Hena. Searched her face. Then—
“You wouldn’t,” she said. “I don’t know how to explain what the hell is going on, but there’s no way any of it was true.”
A wave of relief washed over Hena, and she hugged Lulu. Her sister’s body reacted with surprise at first, before she hugged Hena back just as tightly.
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Lulu said when she pulled back. “There will be hell to pay.”
“Did the security team get any footage for who set up the second projector?” Hena asked hopefully.
Lulu’s expression fell. “It was running on a separate system the previous owner had integrated into the space. The team says it was operating remotely. We’ll dig into it. There must be some way to trace it.”
Even with this chilling information, that someone had gone through the trouble of hacking into the resort’s tech equipment with the singular intent to destroy her, Hena felt lighter. Because Lulu didn’t buy it. Right now, this was everything.
“We’ll deep dive into this as soon as we can, but I’m freaking out right now because I can’t find Gita,” Lulu told her. “You haven’t heard from her by any chance, have you?”
When she said she hadn’t, Lulu’s forehead creased. “She left the property to replenish Ammi’s water and refill some prescriptions, but the rideshare app shows her returning over an hour ago. I’ve called her a million times, but it goes straight to voicemail.”
“That’s weird,” said Hena. Gita was like their mother’s shadow. Why was she suddenly unreachable?
“I’m sure it’s fine. She probably got sidetracked, but after the video hack I’m on edge. Lucinda’s arranging more security on the premises ASAP. We should be set up by this afternoon.”
“Let me change and help you look for her,” Hena offered.
“Great.” Lulu looked relieved. “Haris was looking for you too, by the way. I think the detective wants to follow up.”
Of course he did. Whoever shared the slideshow at the mehndi likely would have sent it to the detective as well. It would explain why Detective Milcheck had been so confident about knowing she’d spoken to Nasir the day he was reported missing.
“I’ll call Haris after we find Gita,” she said.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby.” Lulu headed to the front door. “We can…” Her eyes had dropped to the floor, landing on the pair of men’s shoes tucked neatly on the side.
She stiffened. Her gaze flicked to Hena, then to the closed bedroom door.
Hena opened her mouth to say something, but Lulu was already moving.
“Hey!” she called after her. “Don’t—”
Too late. She pushed the door open.
Reza was sitting at the edge of the bed. He saw her and jumped up.
Lulu exhaled, low and sharp. “What the fuck?”
“I can explain…” Hena faltered. Lulu wasn’t looking at her. Her eyes were locked on his.
“What are you doing here?” She glared at him.
Reza didn’t answer. His face had gone pale, his lips parted, as if the question had sucked the air out of his lungs.
A prickling unease crept up Hena’s spine. Her eyes darted between them. What was going on? Why was Lulu looking at him like that? Why did he look so scared?
“Last I checked, I’m the big sister here,” Hena said. “Can we be grown-ups about this?”
Reza shifted. “I should go.”
“Yes,” Lulu replied. “You should.”
“What? No.” What was Lulu doing? “You can stay, Reza.”
But he was already walking to the foyer. He slipped on his shoes. In seconds, he was gone.
She stared at Lulu. They’d been getting along so well. But the way she spoke to him—
“What the hell was that?” Hena asked.
Lulu opened her mouth. Closed it. Then said, “Let’s find Gita first. We’ll talk about this later.”
Hena released a sharp breath. Lulu was stressed. They were all barely getting any sleep. But they would definitely need to address this.
She quickly changed, and they headed downstairs. Lulu asked Lucinda to make an announcement, and seconds later, her words rang through the hallways, asking Gita to join them in the lobby. Asking for anyone who saw her to alert them.
Lulu rushed off to talk to a security guard by the front door, and Hena heard a sharp voice.
“You have some nerve showing your face here.”
Hena turned. Auntie Hanifa. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowed.
She wasn’t the only one. Other aunties, including Nipa, were there alongside a few uncles.
They all watched Hena, unsmiling. Hena’s face grew hot.
These people would grasp at anything to hate her, but now they had received a perfectly tailored slideshow complete with accusations and “visual proof.”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Auntie Hanifa snapped.
Every muscle in her body told her to look away. To let it go.
Except.