Page 49 of Dangerous Protocol

“Agreed.” Their daughter gave a succinct nod, then looked at her. “Well, Mom? You’ve been doing everything all by yourself forever. Don’t you think it’s time for you to trust other people and let them help you? Especially since Jeffrey and his friends seem to be pretty good at that stuff.”

“Yeah, come on, Mom.” Jeffrey jiggled Maya’s hand and winked at Isla. “Let us help you. Please.”

“Please, Mom.” Their daughter made praying hands and looked at her with those big blue eyes of hers. “Pleeease.”

“Look at you two, ganging up on me already.” It was the sweetest thing she’d ever seen.

“Wouldn’t you like to stop running and hiding? I know I would like to live in one place for a while.” Isla gave Jeffrey a shy glance. “And I would really like to get to know … Dad.” A beautiful shade of pink flooded her cheeks.

Never in Maya’s wildest dreams had she imagined this outcome. She’d thought the precarious balancing act she’d lived all these years would end only after Al-Mansoori was successful in exacting his vengeance.

She sniffled, swallowed past the lump in her throat, and nodded.

“Yay!” Isla smiled.

“From now on, we are a family.” Jeffrey reached across and lifted Isla’s hand so they were all joined as one. “Nothing, and I meannothing, comes between us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

“How the hell didthey get into the embassy?” Nadim struggled to keep his anger and disgust in check. Being surrounded by incompetence made that colossally difficult.

“My men are conducting a floor-by-floor search, Your Majesty.” Rahim stood at attention in front of his desk, chest out, shoulders back. His hands were at his sides, his eyes fixed on the wall behind Nadim. “We will find how they entered the building and then determine who is responsible.”

The king did not share his confidence.

“Leave me.” He dismissed his commander with a flick of his wrist and settled into his chair.

Adnan waited until the door closed behind him, then turned to the king.

“Surely you are not going to continue with this … this vendetta.” His tone was a brazen mix of disbelief and judgment. “The child is gone, taken by someone who obviously possesses great skill. It’s time you let it go.”

“Her bitch of a mother is behind this.” Nadim sat forward, pulled his laptop closer, and opened it. “I am certain of it.” A photo of the royal seal appeared on the screen, and he quickly entered his password.

“What are you going to do?” Adnan asked.

“I am going to make sure she understands that I will never give up until she is dead.” Along with whoever helped her tonight.

He pounded on the keys, opened the Kids Chat website, and scrolled to the bottom of the message stream.

You think you have defeated me? You are wrong! I will never stop coming for you and your daughter! NEVER!

With each word, he became more agitated, his breaths grew heavier, and his heartbeat pulsed in his ears. He slammed his finger down on theENTERkey, and off it went.

Adnan hurried around behind the desk and leaned down to read the message. He shook his head and moved toward the door. He grabbed the knob, began to turn it, and stopped when Nadim shouted at him.

“Where do you think are you going?” How dare he walk away without being dismissed?

“I have known you my whole life. I have loved you like a brother and been a loyal servant to you.” Adnan finally looked back at him. “You and your father before you refuse to accept that Zahir tried to rape that woman. Even after multiple members of the staff confirmed this.” His handfell away from the doorknob. “You allowed your father’s blind hatred for this woman to blacken your heart to the point you would harm a child.” His tone held a mixture of disgust, disappointment, and loss. “You are not the man I grew up with, and I can no longer support you in this.”

“You can no longer…” Nadim’s brows lifted in surprise, and he clicked his tongue as he shook his head in disgust. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor, stupid Adnan actually thinksIneedhim.” He heaved an intentionally heavy sigh. “Need I remind you that you are nothing but a member of the household staff.” He slowly rose from his chair, flattened his hands on the desk, and leaned forward. “You and your family serve at my behest. You are done when I say you are done.” He pushed off the desk and sneered at him. “Now get out of my sight.”

“Yes,Your Majesty.” He emphasized Nadim’s title and bowed. Then, in true unshakable Adnan fashion, he calmly pulled the door open, walked out, and quietly clicked it shut behind him.

Unable to contain his anger and frustration any longer, Nadim snatched the empty crystal decanter off his desk, drew his arm back, and hurled the bottle across the room. It slammed against the heavy wood door and shattered, leaving a large dent in the surface. Chunks of heavy glass rained down and scattered across the marble floor.

For the second time that night, a guard burst into his office. He scanned the space for threats, and his gaze landed on the glass.

“Get someone in here to clean up that mess,” the king ordered. “And I do not want to be disturbed.”

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