Forever Betrayed: Forever Bluegrass #3 (24 page)

“We know,” a female voice said from behind him. Zain turned and saw Bridget standing with her arms crossed. “You should have found a better partner, Kareem. She spilled her guts with only a couple of threats. Annie’s real mad she didn’t get to shoot her.”

“Who is it?” Zain asked.

“It’s Kareem’s father,” Bridget told him.

“Your father?” Zain spun on Kareem and saw him tighten his jaw and look away. “Why would your father want Rahmi to collapse? He’s our ambassador.”

Kareem didn’t say anything. He closed his eyes and Zain fought the urge to pound his fists into his face until he opened them.

“There’s more,” Bridget said as she nodded to her husband.

“You have a phone call you need to take,” Ahmed said as he walked past his wife and handed Zain the phone. Zain saw his father look at Ahmed in confusion as Zain lifted the phone to his ear.

“Hey, Zain.”

“Nash! Where are you? What the hell is going on?” Zain asked as he stood to listen to his friend.

“I’m in Tahjad. I have the ambassador in custody.”

“Is that why you had to leave Keeneston?”

“No. I was just brought in on this, and my contacts discovered the ambassador’s attempt to overthrow Rahmi. He was boarding a military boat with three thousand Tahjad men dressed as Rahmians. They were even flying the flag of Rahmi. He was going to lead an uprising of so-called citizens.”

“But why? What does this have to do with the nanotech lab?” Zain asked.

“The lab was just the last straw. Between his position and Kareem’s, they caused the tension between Rahmi and Surman. The nanotech lab could put an end to those tensions so they wanted to stop it. What better way than framing Surman?”

“Why would they want instability?”

“Because they’re on Tahjad’s payroll. Their so-called king is paying them handsomely for it. He’s a warlord. He doesn’t know anything about economies or allies. Omar has bled Tahjad dry, and Rahmi is an oasis in his mind.  He wants the oil and the money it brings in. He also wants the nanotech lab and the money it will generate. So Omar sought to destroy the royal family, bring war, and then swoop in and eliminate any remaining resistance to declare himself king,” Nash explained.

“Exactly like he did with Tahjad.” Zain couldn’t believe it had almost worked. If Dirar had gone after Suri immediately, then Surman would have declared war on Rahmi and walked right into Tahjad’s trap.

“Thank you for saving our country, my friend. When are you coming home?” Zain asked. This was the first time in months he’d talked to Nash, and he didn’t know if he’d get another chance.

“My mission is not complete. I must go. Before I do, can I ask a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Tell Sophie I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“She’ll know. Goodbye, my friend. I don’t know when we’ll speak again.”

“You know your home is always here. We are waiting for you.” Zain didn’t hear anything for a second and then the line went dead.

Zain handed the phone back to Ahmed and then looked around the room. These were his family, his friends, his town. They had put themselves in the line of fire to help him. They had saved a country that few of them might ever see. And he’d be damned if he was going to take the diplomatic approach to punish Omar. He turned to Mila and kissed her hard. Without saying a word, he walked out of the room.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Mila looked around the room. Everyone stared at the empty doorway. “Miles, take Kareem to Nabi. He’ll be going back to Rahmi to face charges,” Mo said as calmly as he could before taking off after his son.

Miles reached down with one hand and hauled Kareem to his feet. Abby reached over and yanked out the knife. She wiped it on her pants legs and handed it back to Mila. “Here you go.”

Bridget walked over and hugged her daughter. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Abby pulled off the vest with Bridget’s help and lifted her shirt. Mila gasped. She could hear Ahmed grinding his teeth. How had she even moved? Her whole midsection was bruised and covered with red welts. “It hurts like a bitch, but I’ll be fine.”

Bridget spun and landed a punch to Kareem’s face. His head snapped back and Miles looked momentarily surprised. “No one hurts my baby and gets away with it. Her father and I will be seeing you real soon. We’re going to have a chat about everything you know.”

“Geez, Mom, that’s so embarrassing. If you hadn't noticed, Zain left and had a look on his face that I’ve never seen before. I’m going to find out what he’s doing.”

“Wait for me,” Mila called after her. They wrapped their arms around each other and hobbled from the house. What a beat-up pair they were!

Annie and Cassidy, who had interpreted for them, stood next to the ATV with Suri’s secretary handcuffed to the steel roll cage. They watched Mo hop a fence, grab a hunk of mane on a horse, and swing himself up. With the squeeze of his legs, he shot off toward the house.

“There’s no way my ribs can stand riding a horse,” Abby muttered. “And our ride has been commandeered as prisoner transport.”

Mila watched as Miles took a pair of cuffs from Annie and similarly cuffed Kareem to the ATV before driving off in the direction of the security building. Mila shielded her eyes against the morning sun. “Do I see something or am I just losing consciousness?”

It appeared to be a dust storm moving toward them at great speed. Abby smiled. “My ribs may not be able to take this either, but my brother driving us will be faster than any horse.”

The minivan slid to a stop in a cloud of dirt and gravel. Mila coughed and covered her face. The side door slid open and Kale’s face finally came into view. “Anyone need a ride?” In the distance, the sounds of ATVs raced across the farm. The sound was broken by Bridget’s curse at her son for spilling chips in her van.

“Come on, Mila,” Abby said as Jackson helped her into the van. It didn’t help Ahmed’s mood when Abby sat in Jackson’s lap. The group piled in and Kale took off with country music blaring from the speakers, a police dog with his head out the window, a backseat filled with a prince, a football coach, and a very pissed-off Ahmed.

Zain threw open the front door and marched down the long hallway to the conference room. There was no clear train of thought going through his head as he placed the palms of his hands on the doors and shoved them open. No thoughts of consequences as he strode around the table. No notice of Suri quickly coming to her feet with questions in her eyes. He didn’t hear Piper stopping mid-sentence during the lecture. He didn’t see the gleeful twitch of Dylan’s lips as he placed his hand on his gun. The only thing Zain saw was red—the red military sash worn by the king of Tahjad as a show of his power.

“What is the meaning of this?” King Omar demanded as Zain closed in on him.

Zain didn’t bother to answer. He fisted Omar’s jacket in his hand and bodily pulled him from his chair. In one swift action, Zain let loose his cocked arm and plowed it into Omar’s stomach. Omar coughed and bent at the waist as politicians scrambled away from the scene.

“You all saw that. Prince Zain attacked me! Get him,” he ordered his men. Zain trusted Dylan to stop them. He heard Cy joining the tussle behind him and then Queen Suri demanding Omar’s guards stand down or her guards would be forced to defend her cousin.

“You think that’s an attack? Wait until you see what I do next,” Zain said through his clenched jaw. He grabbed a handful of slicked-back hair and dragged Omar out of the conference room. Omar’s hands reached out trying to prevent Zain from ripping the handful of hair out as he fumbled to keep up with Zain’s bruising pace back outside.

Zain reached the top of the staircase and flung Omar down the steps. He heard the delegates rushing down the hall behind him. He looked out at the farm and saw a minivan sliding to a stop. His father leaped off a horse but stopped at the far side of the lawn along with the minivan and the line of ATVs filled with Rahmi guards coming to his aid. But it wasn’t Zain who needed to be rescued. It was Omar who was scrambling to his feet at the bottom of the steps.

“You think you can order to have me killed? You think you can shoot my grandmother, my girlfriend, and hurt my friend? You think you can try to turn my citizens against me? You think you can
invade
my country and get away with it?” Zain unbuttoned his black suit jacket and shrugged it off. The jacket fell to the ground as Suri hurried forward.

“Zain, what is going on?” she asked as the murmurs of the dignitaries who started to spread out behind him grew louder.

“Why don’t you tell her, Omar? Tell her how you used Ambassador Maher and his son, Kareem, to turn Suri’s secretary against her. How, on your orders, they created tension between Surman and Rahmi in hopes of causing a war. Why don’t you tell them all about the Tahjad soldiers you sent to Rahmi to act as Rahmi citizens rioting, leaving just enough evidence to cause us to blame Surman? Tell her how you blew up our dock and tried to have my grandmother assassinated along with the rest of the royal family.” Zain pulled at the knot of his black tie until it came undone and threw it near his jacket on the ground.

“Why don’t you tell them all of your desire to take over Rahmi for our oil? Tell them how you planned to make yourself king and then start the nanotech lab yourself.” Zain slowly started walking down the steps toward Omar, who started to back up but ran into Zain’s father and his friends.

“You did this?” Suri demanded and then faced Cassidy who had jumped out of the minivan with the others. “Tell them all Surman stands by her family. We will defend Rahmi against any and all attacks to their sovereignty.”

Zain heard Cassidy issue Suri’s edict as the other interpreters spoke at once in multiple languages as they made it out of the house. But he didn’t care about diplomats or his summit in this moment. He had a score to settle. “You dare go after women because they were easier targets?” Zain asked menacingly as the delegates formed a circle with Rahmi guards, his friends, and family on the lawn, closing Omar and Zain inside the ring.

“Well, Omar, I’m who you wanted to kill, so have at it. Or are you too much of a coward? You tried to kill me before and it didn’t work. You know, it’s so hard to find good people to carry out your dirty work anymore,” Zain taunted. “You took your country by force. You have suppressed your people and I feel ashamed. We all should be because we let you. Well, no more. I’m not going to kiss your ass in the name of diplomacy. I’m just not that kind of prince.”

Zain made a swing for Omar, but Omar ducked and darted away. Zain let him go. He watched as Omar shed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to reveal long white scars from previous battles. “You didn't think I've gotten to where I am by sitting in a palace, did you, little boy?”

Zain didn’t respond to the taunting. He waited, knowing Omar was going to fight and knowing he wasn’t going to fight fair. Omar charged him. Zain waited until the last minute to move. He stepped to the side and shoved. Omar went sprawling at Ahmed’s feet. When Omar looked up, Ahmed smiled predatorily down at him.

“I call next,” Ahmed said almost happily.

Zain waited in the middle of the manicured lawn for Omar. They faced off with their weight on the balls of their feet and their arms out in front of them, waiting for an opening to strike. They circled, each evaluating the other’s weakness. Zain found it first and landed a punch to Omar’s stomach but took a hit to the kidneys for it. They went at each other then. The waiting was over.

It was a dance as they punched, sidestepped, and punched again. Zain didn’t hear the gasps as his eyebrow split open. Blood dripping into his eye was of no consequence. His focus was on Omar. With a solid hook to Omar’s face, Zain sent him stumbling back. Omar grabbed on to Zain, and they both went down in a heap. There was no talking or taunting as they struggled for the upper hand. They rolled along the grass, taking hits to the abdomen and strikes to the face. The only noise Zain heard was the sound of bone colliding.

Zain fought to gain the upper position, but Omar was able to shake out of his grasp. They both sprang to their feet with blood dripping from their faces, breathing heavily as they circled each other once again. Omar moved first, but Zain was ready. He took the hit to the side of the ribs and grabbed Omar’s shirt right beneath the collar. He shoved Omar back and then pulled him forward as Zain bent his knees. The whiplash effect sent Omar’s head flinging forward. Zain pushed up through his legs and rammed the crown of his head into Omar’s nose.

The group all sucked air in a loud gasp at the sound of his nose being smashed. Zain let go of Omar’s shirt and watched him fall unconscious to the ground. Silence. Zain’s chest rose and fell as he breathed heavily. The adrenaline pounding in his ears was the only sound he could hear. He looked down at Omar and swiped at the blood on his face. When he looked up, he saw the men and women he had so desperately tried to impress for the sake of his country.

“I am sorry you had to be a part of this,” Zain said slowly as he saw Mila moving toward him. She ripped at the one good sleeve of her blouse. “I brought you here to show you Rahmi was a small but mighty country. We have visions of working together to improve our countries—to improve the world. I guess you can tell I’m not a politician by personality, but by birth. My nature is to fight for those who need protecting, those who need help, those whose voice may never be heard. Today, Omar tried to silence me. He tried to silence my countrymen. He tried to stop me through intimidation and force. I will never bend to bullies. No matter if they are politicians, kings, or corporations. I want you to do business with us, knowing that your voice and the voice of your people will always matter to me. Work with Rahmi and me to make the world a better place, not because you need us for an upcoming vote in the United Nations. Our votes aren’t for sale.”

Zain turned slowly around the circle, making sure each delegate understood that he would fight for them and for their people. Jamal stepped forward to clasp a hand on his shoulder. “I speak for the king of Rahmi and we would be proud for you to join us in a new kind of partnership. One based on honesty and advancement for our people. If you are interested, then join me in the conference room to finish hearing Dr. Piper’s vision of a future that can truly change the world.”

Zain held his breath. He worried his actions had blown the future for Rahmi. And if the delegates chose to leave, it would be entirely his fault. His father would lecture him on decorum and the need for control of his emotions. But he couldn’t be sorry for what he did. The group stood still and Zain’s hope for a better future crumbled. Suri smiled at him then, and Zain knew he had at least regained the trust and support of Surman.

“Surman proudly stands by our closest ally,” she said loudly, as Cassidy and the other interpreters who had joined the fray quickly interpreted. Zain bowed his head in thanks and respect to the queen. At least some good had come out of today.

Mila smiled gently as she walked the remaining few steps to Zain. She didn’t want him to appear weak by running to his side. Instead, she approached and quietly offered him the sleeve of her shirt for his face. She had thought being shot was bad. Well, she’d take being shot ten times if she had the choice, instead of seeing Zain fighting for his life.

“Mila,” Chancellor Hartmann called out to her. Mila just hoped it wasn’t to embarrass her or insult Zain.

“Yes, Chancellor?” Mila felt Zain’s fingers cover her hand, and she loved him even more for it. He wanted her to know he had her back.

“Please interpret for me.” Mila gave him a nod and then said in English, “Chancellor Hartmann wishes to address the group.”

The chancellor stepped forward and took his time to look around the group. “I must admit to not appreciating Prince Zain at first. I thought he was a royal more interested in my interpreter than in politics. But as a military man myself, I must say that Prince Zain has changed my impression of him and his country. Any man willing to personally fight for his people is someone I am proud to stand next to. Germany hereby announces our partnership with the Rahmi International Nanotechnology Laboratory.”

Mila interpreted along with the others as the chancellor broke the circle and walked over to shake Zain’s hand. The group clapped and Mila felt tears of joy pressing against her eyes as leader after leader announced their support. As a group, they headed inside with exuberant voices. Mila heard them talking about the fight, talking about a hope for the future with nanotechnology, and of new partnerships.

“You did it,” she said to Zain. She wanted to hug him, to kiss him, to hold him, but his family and friends were hurrying toward them. “Congratulations, Zain. I’m so proud of you.”

Mila was pulled away by Dr. Emma as a town car, a minivan, and a shimmering sedan came flying down the drive. Their doors opened and people poured out.