Page 7 of The Sheik's Vow

“Thank you, but I don’t think–”

“I know how to defeat bullies. Ever since I became ruler of Bidar, I’ve become extremely adept at identifying and defeating those who would dare to hurt the people in my kingdom. I take the protection of my people very seriously.” His eyes were hard, his features harder. “No one hurts someone under my protection.”

They stared at each other for a long moment and Kaia wondered what he was trying to silently tell her.

“I don’t think–”

“Who are your monsters, Kaia?”

“What makes you think I have monsters?”

“Everyone has monsters. But yours seem more…powerful, I’m guessing. The terror in your eyes when someone gets too close tells me that someone hurt you in ways that are unspeakable.”

Kaia flashed back to those long, terrifying nights, waiting for Ethan’s “discipline”.

“Will you let me help you, Kaia?” he asked, his voice softer and more gentle than she’d ever heard it.

Kaia glanced up at him, unaware of the tear that slipped down her cheek. “Help me?” she hissed. “No one ever helped me or my sister! We’ve survived, but only because we were smarter and faster.” She clenched her teeth, then added, “And more determined.”

He reached out and, he didn’t touch her hand, but he laid his hand on the snowy linen tablecloth right next to hers, their fingers not touching, but so close, that if she moved at all, their fingertips would brush.

“Will you tell me what happened to you and your sister?”

Kaia had told several people what had happened to her. Hell, the adults in the township had heard her pleas for help, then completely ignored her! The adults in the township knew exactly what was going on, the men and some of the women even participating!

“Thank you, but we’re…” she suddenly remembered that Tara wouldn’t need her help anymore. Tara was married now, surrounded by bodyguards. Plus, Tara’s monster had been arrested. She doubted that Zayed would allow Elijah to be released until he’d served his full sentence, and maybe not even then.

Riaz’s soft words, spoken with that rich voice, broke through her thoughts. “You think you’re fine, but maybe the people that you left behind aren’t fine.”

Oh, those words pierced her soul! Not because he was wrong, but because he was so painfully right. She hadn’t been able to save any of the others who were suffering back in that small town. Kaia had tried, but she’d only been able to save her sister.

“You can’t help,” she replied back, her throat so tight the words almost choked her.

His hand turned over, offering her…solace? Help? She didn’t understand. “No one can help.”

His rough features became almost handsome when he smiled softly. “You’d be surprised at what I can do, love.”

Tara took a deep breath. She glanced down at the tiny space that separated the tip of her middle finger and his, yearning to trust him, to once again ask for help. But experience taught her not to trust anyone but herself.

She pulled her hand away and straightened her shoulders. “Thank you for the offer, Your Highness, but we are…I’mfine.”

Kaia pulled the napkin from her lap and delicately wiped her mouth. With what felt like monumental effort, she pushed herself out of the dining chair and turned, startled to see the waiters standing stiffly with their backs to the wall. She’d forgotten that they were there, listening to the conversation.

She bowed to them. “Thank you for your assistance this morning. Please let the chef know that the breakfast frittata was delicious and the muffins were the best I’ve ever tasted.”

The waiters appeared startled. They shared a quick glance with each other, as if not sure what to do when a guest conveyed their appreciation. But they recovered quickly and bowed to her. “It was our pleasure, Ms. Treon,” the one on the right replied.

A deep chuckle behind her warned her that Riaz was close by.

She looked at him over her shoulder and tried to maintain her polite smile. She didn’t want him to know that his story and the unexpected gentleness in his normally flinty, dark eyes, got to her. This man had almost wormed under her skin, which she couldn’tallow. She’d trusted others in the past. Best case scenario, the person would let her down. Worst case…they would try to send her back to Ethan.

“Would you mind if we continued this discussion in the next room? In private?” he asked.

Kaia didn’t want to speak with him any longer. She bent down and hefted her backpack onto her shoulder. “I need to get going.”

He bowed to her and she suspected that this man never bowed to anyone.

Then he startled her even more when he added, “Please.”

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