Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Saskia rubbed at the bridge of her nose, squinting as the translation blurred on the screen. She’d been looking at it too long, but going through the translation was better than thinking about what her brain was dwelling on.
How was she supposed to have a relationship with Radik when he refused to share a room with her? She knew not all people in relationships shared rooms, but it was something she wanted in hers.
She felt so awkward talking to him she hadn’t even waited long enough to find out why he didn’t want to share a bed with her. It was obvious, she told herself, he was afraid he’d hurt her during a PTSD episode. And to be honest, a part of her worried about it to.
When he’d had his nightmare and locked her in the safe room, he’d grabbed her and dragged her down two flights of stairs without properly seeing or hearing her when she tried to get his attention. What if he mistook her for an enemy? He could kill her in his sleep.
A shudder went through her, along with a good dose of sadness. Their fledgling relationship was already suffering, and trying to find a way through felt overwhelming.
Shoving her laptop aside, Saskia decided she’d had enough of the translation.
She was doing it out of boredom and the desire to escape into her work, not because she had a job anymore.
Her colleague was dead and the Prime Minister’s office hadn’t heard from Saskia in weeks. They probably assumed she was dead too.
She frowned as something tickled at her mind. What was Prime Minister Makovsky doing about Aurelia’s death and Saskia’s disappearance? Was he actively searching for Saskia? She needed to ask Radik if he knew what was going on with the investigation.
She stood, turned off her desk lamp and wandered to the window to look out at the moonlit town.
The stars glittering above Marifiya were incredible, so much better than in Prague where light pollution diluted them.
Unable to resist, she unlatched her door and stepped onto the balcony, breathing in the flower-scented air as it washed over her.
A movement caught her eye and Saskia scanned the dirt road below, trying to make out a shadow that seemed to shift in the moonlight. She stared hard but nothing moved again. As she lifted her gaze back to the spectacular Milky Way above, a shadow detached from her balcony and leapt at her.
Saskia’s strangled cry was abruptly cut off as a hand clamped over her mouth and she was shoved backwards into her room. She scrambled in the grip of her captor, throwing an elbow into them. They grunted, releasing her and Saskia spun around, punching her attacker in the nose.
“Ouch, fuck!”
Saskia frowned. “Leeza? Is that you?”
“It’s us!” Shaun hissed, huffing as she slipped into the room from the balcony.
“What… why… how?” Saskia stared shocked for a few seconds before throwing herself at Leeza who was clutching her nose, knocking her backwards onto the bed. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“Us too,” Leeza said, wrapping her arms around Saskia and holding her tight. “We were afraid we’d be too late.”
Saskia sat up and slid off the bed, turning on the bedroom light.
She hugged Shaun who looked a little more than worse for wear.
Her shirt was so torn there would be no salvaging it.
Her hair was an unholy mess sticking out all over her head.
She had scrapes on her cheek, chin and forehead.
She was in much worse condition than Leeza, who looked super cool in her combat gear.
“Radik would never hurt me,” Saskia reassured them. “You didn’t need to worry about my safety.”
“We know,” Leeza said, leaving the bed with a long, reluctant look at the plush pillows. “I didn’t mean in time to save your life, I meant for the wedding.”
“Wedding?” Saskia tried to sound like she had no idea what her sister meant but she knew her rosy cheeks were giving her away.
“You love him.” Leeza gave her a soft look and, digging through her backpack, came up with a book. Welcome to the Congo. “It took me a while to figure it out, but once I did, I knew you’d be safe.”
“You didn’t come here to rescue me?” Saskia wasn’t sure if she should be miffed or impressed with her sister’s deductive skills. She took the book, hugging it to her chest.
“Well, sort of,” Shaun said, slumping into a chair, her exhausted body folding in on itself.
“We wanted to beat Jozef and Havel here. We knew it wouldn’t take them long to find you, but unlike us, they aren’t often reasonable when confronting a situation.
We thought we’d better get here to help diffuse tensions. ”
Saskia stared at them, absorbing what they’d just done. They’d gotten away from their security details, flown to the heart of Africa, and made their way deep into the Congolese rainforest, all for Saskia. It was humbling.
“How did you get here? This place is so remote.”
“Don’t ask,” Shaun grumbled, fingering her torn sleeve.
Saskia sat next to Leeza, taking her hand and squeezing it. She swallowed the tears threatening to well up. “Thank you both for coming for me. I can’t tell you how much it means. I missed you so much.”
Leeza covered her hand. “We missed you too. We were afraid Radik wouldn’t let you see us again.”
“He said he wouldn’t, but he’s changed his mind. The more he comes to care for me, the more concessions I seem to be able to get from him. I already have unlimited spending access.”
Leeza let out a short laugh. “Where are you going to spend it all? I think you got the raw end of that credit card deal.”
Saskia giggled but felt compelled to defend Marifiya.
“Radik has built an entire town here. It’s mostly soldiers for hire, but there are some refugees and families here as well.
Several have set up shops.” She went to her bookshelf, pulling a couple of packages down.
She handed one to Shaun and one to Leeza. “I got these for you.”
“It’s so pretty!” Shaun exclaimed, opening a hand-painted silk scarf.
“Thank you,” Leeza sounded both pleased and surprised as she opened her package, a leather-sheathed hunting knife with a finely carved bone handle.
Noticing the other package Saskia was holding, Shaun said, “Who’s that for?”
“Ayaan. I’ll put it away and give it to her when I see her. Maybe I can send it back with you.”
Leeza and Shaun shared a look, then grinned at her. “You won’t have to wait,” Leeza said. “She’s downstairs talking to Radik right now.”
“Oh my god,” Saskia exclaimed. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go find her!”
Radik had been alerted an hour earlier of three female travelers heading toward Marifiya. He had Nuani track them until they were inside the compound, reassuring his second-in-command that they weren’t a threat.
“They’ve separated,” Nunai said into Radik’s earpiece. “Two are climbing the house to the second floor and one is coming through a kitchen window. Are you positive you don’t want me to send people to intervene and arrest the intruders?”
Nunai sounded incredulous that Radik would allow unknown entities to approach his home. Only these weren’t unknown. “They’re friends,” he told Nuani, hoping he was right and that he wouldn’t end up with Leeza Tsotsorov’s knife in his gut.
He stood silently in the shadows of the kitchen, watching as his sister climbed through a window, grunting as she hit the floor. He wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the intruder. Another set of eyes watched, a hunter in the shadows, as Ayaan crept through the kitchen.
“Identify yourself,” the female voice demanded. Ayaan stiffened, her hand going to her sidearm. “Don’t touch it or I will kill you.”
“You must be Shola,” Ayaan said, raising her hands. “My brother has told me about you.”
Shola stepped toward Ayaan, her gun still trained on her. “And you must be Ayaan, the General’s sister.”
“I am. You can put your weapon away.”
“Not until I have confirmation that you are not an enemy.”
“Perhaps not an enemy…” Radik stepped out from the shadows and both women turned to gape at him in surprise.
“But certainly not welcome.” He waved his hand at Shola who holstered her weapon and melted into the shadows, leaving brother and sister alone.
To Ayaan, he said, “Come, let’s go to my office where I can reprimand you more thoroughly. ”
Ayaan pouted but followed him. “You refuse to welcome me into your home?”
“Had I known you were coming and had I the opportunity to prepare for guests, I would’ve welcomed you properly.”
Ayaan snorted. “No, you would’ve demanded I keep my ass in Europe.”
Radik’s iron facade cracked and he grinned at her. “More than likely, you are correct,” he admitted, holding his arms out to her.
She rushed into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head into his chest. “My brother, I have missed you.”
“And I you.” He held her away from him, looking her up and down, his expression reflecting pride. “You have become a soldier.”
“Not a very good one apparently,” she grumbled. “Both you and Shola were able to sneak up on me.”
“Many more years of practice,” he said, pulling her in for another hug. “You came for Saskia?”
She nodded.
“And you brought Shaun Koba and Leeza Tsostorov with you,” he said. “I should’ve guessed you’d be clever enough to find me.”
She grinned in pride. “I’m so happy to see you, big brother. It’s been too many years since we were last together.”
“It’s not easy to see a sister who goes to work for my enemy.”
“Koba is not your enemy,” she said sternly.
“He hired my sister to fight for him rather than taking her to safety, which is what I paid him to do. It was a breach of contract.”
“I’m happy, Muhammed,” she insisted. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Can’t you let your vendetta go? Let Saskia go?”
“Saskia is not a vendetta,” he said sharply, pacing away from her. “She’s… she was… unexpected. I would never use her as a pawn. She’s too…”
Ayaan smiled softly. “So, it’s true, you do love her.”
Before he could answer, the sound of many feet thundered down the staircase and through the hall toward Radik’s office. Saskia burst through the door, her hand wrapped around Shaun’s wrist, Leeza trailing them, a cautious expression on her face, her hand on her the butt of her gun.
She took one look at Radik, giving him a long up and down perusal, then unclipped her holster.
“There will be no need for that,” Radik said in what he hoped was a reassuring tone.
“We’re all friends here, or I hope we will be.
I have no desire to harm the women of Saskia’s family.
” His gaze strayed to the doctor, taking in her ruffled appearance.
“I will send for our town doctor to take a look at you.”
“It’s just a few scratches.” She gave him a tight, wary smile.
“Nevertheless,” he said.
“What about the men?” Leeza demanded crossing her arms over her chest. “You said you wouldn’t hurt us women, but what about Jozef, Havel and the others? Will you harm them?”
Radik had no desire within him to attack Koba.
Any thoughts of revenge had long since passed.
“It depends on how they approach me. If I’m forced to defend what is mine, then I make no promises.
” Taking in the worried look on Leeza’s face, a face that hinted at the elegant beauty Saskia would achieve in another ten years, he softened. “I will do my best to harm no one.”
“Thank you.” She looked sincere as she met his gaze. “Our husbands can be… impetuous.”
Murderous, he thought, but didn’t say out loud. “How long do we have until they get here? I assume they will be following you closely.”
“It’s a good assumption,” Ayaan answered. “I estimate they’re probably only hours behind us, definitely less than a day.”
Radik nodded. “I will prepare for their arrival. In the meantime, you’ll want to freshen up and get some rest. Allow me to show you to your rooms.”