Even More Sheikhs by Connelly Clare

Author:Connelly, Clare
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-16T16:00:00+00:00

12

Amy

I READ THE WORDS with a frown.

“What is this?”

His eyes are scrutinising me, his body so close that every indrawn breath fills my nostrils and senses with his masculine aroma, so thinking is – momentarily – difficult.

“You tell me. It was discovered in your possession.”

My brain jangles into place. This is serious. I frown, reading the words again, trying to capture a memory I know simply isn’t there. I lift my eyes to his and feel a wave of cold coming from my husband. I shiver. “I don’t know anything about it.” I hold the piece of paper out to him.

He takes it, but his expression doesn’t relent. “It was discovered in the pocket of a dress you were wearing in Thakirt. Does that jog your memory?”

Despite the tenor of his question, I laugh. “I’m sorry,” I lift a hand to his chest then quickly dropped it when sparks ignite my fingertips. “You’re making it sound like we’re in some kind of police drama. Is this an interrogation, Zahir? Do I need a lawyer?”

“I can’t answer that. Do you?”

He’s not joking. My breath flies from my body as though I’ve been winded. “Zahir, you can’t be serious?”

“At some point, in Thakirt, you met with someone. They gave you this note. I don’t know the extent of that meeting or conversation, but I need to understand. So tell me everything, at once.”

My lips part and the pain in my chest widens to a chasm. “You’re wrong.” Hurt explodes through me. “I didn’t do anything of the sort.”

“Then how did this note come to be in your possession?”

“I’ve never seen that before!” I point at the piece of paper he’s holding.

“It’s been badly damaged by the laundering process. When you last held it, it would have been a fresh piece of note paper.”

I roll my eyes. “I realise that, but the words on it I read for the first time just now. I’ve never seen it before.”

He’s very still, watching me, trying to fathom if I’m telling the truth or not. That he believes me is vitally important, and not just because my father’s fate hangs in the balance.

“Why would I do that, Zahir? Why would I scheme against you? If I wanted to see a Hassan on the throne? I’m already here. But apart from that, I don’t care about power or ruling. I just want my dad to come home, and plotting your downfall would destroy my chances of that. Why would I risk it?”

“You hate me,” he says simply, his eyes probing mine.

I reach behind me for the stability of a piece of furniture to grab onto, curving my palm around the top of a chair.

I don’t hate him. I hate what he did to my father, but I don’t hate him. Those words won’t come out, though. Instead, I try to focus on facts. “I was with Aliya all day. There’s no way I could have had a secret assignation with one of your enemies, even if I’d wished to – which I didn’t.

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