Page 16 of Hiding in the Sheik's Arms

“Exactly. Plus, we don’t even know for sure if a bomb caused the explosion. From what I understand, although I’m not a bomb expert, the damage didn’t match what a bomb would do. It was…well, it was almost as if someone were trying to hotwire the power station like they would a car.”

“Excuse me?”

She shrugged and flipped to another page. “Here, this shows how someone could hotwire a vehicle. Basically, one takes a screw driver and pulls the cover away from the steering column. Once the person finds the two wires that connect the ignition, they touch them together to create a spark that turns over the engine.” She stepped back again. “In other words, the placement and timing of the explosion doesn’t fit. No one died, although people were hurt. And the reports I’m getting,” she paused and flipped to another page on her tablet, showing him the extent of the injuries, “don’t promote the idea of a reigniting of anger between Lativa and Uftar.”

Khal stared down at the tablet, his features turning grim. Well, his face always looked grim. This expression was…moregrim. He was like a grumpy bear.

A handsome, grumpy bear, she corrected.

“So, what’s going on?”

Tasha felt that old spark of energy. It had been missing for so long, she hadn’t even realized that it had been gone from her life.

She suppressed a smile. This wasn’t a time for happiness. This was a time to figure out what political machinations were in play. “I’ll still work on connecting you to Sheik Hasim so that the two of you can figure out what’s going on. But until the paramedics have cleared out and the investigators can get into the power station, I suggest that you assume something else is going on and this isn’t political.”

Tasha bit her lip and glanced towards the doorway. When she turned her attention back to him, he grumbled. “What else could it be?”

Tasha hesitated to voice her next thought. It wasn’t her place.

Except, she was on a mission to heal herself, body and soul. Tasha knew that she’d come so far. A year ago, she’d wanted only to be an efficient ghost; someone no one else noticed. But today, she felt…stronger and more whole. Because she’d spoken up. Correction, it was because she’d spoken up and someone had listened to her.

Nathan had stopped listening to her, plus, he’d also stopped asking her opinion during meetings. He’d wait to bring her into his office and ask her opinions on whatever topic was under discussion. After he’d listened to her advice, he’d then go out and use her words, take her advice but pretend he’d come up with the solution.

Tasha knew that, as an advisor to the senator, it had been her job to explain the various pros and cons to every situation. But Senator King had presented his points as if he’d thought of them all on his own. The man never gave her credit for her thoughts.

Hearing Khal publicly ask for her opinion, then act on her suggestions was…a heady experience.

“I think, when you go out to the accident site, that you should tell everyone that this wasn’t caused by Uftar’s interference,” she blurted out.

He sighed, running a hand over the back of his neck. “You’re right. The sooner we quash the rumors about a foreign country interfering in our lives, the better.”

Tasha turned and headed back to her desk. But as soon as she reached the privacy of her office, she twirled with delight. “Yes!” she hissed and spun around to her chair.

Chapter 14

“What’s up?” Joran asked as he pulled out one of the leather chairs.

Raj came into the room next. “What’s going on?”

Khal came in right after and took his normal seat at the head of the table while Raj and Joran sat to his right and left. He noticed Tasha come in and slip into one of the leather chairs towards the center of the table, leaving several empty chairs between herself and Joran. He wanted to order her closer, to tell her that she was part of the family.

But she wasn’t. She was his assistant. Even if she knew more about him than any other person in the world, Tasha still wasn’t technically family. And for some reason, that revelation really pissed him off. With sudden clarity, Khal knew that he wanted to claim her, to ease the tension around her eyes as she wrote something on her notebook. He wanted to pull her into a private place and demand that she explain the ghosts that lurked behind her beautiful eyes.

Someone cleared his throat and Khal reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Tasha. When he glanced at Raj, Khal sensed that his youngest brother was amused. Joran wore the same expression. Khal narrowed his eyes, trying to read their minds. But Joran simply lifted his dark eyebrows, an expression Khal had seen on their father so many times over the years.

It was a silent warning that, whatever had caused his brothers’ amusement, it would remain a secret for now.

Grumbling, Khal leaned forward. Immediately, his brothers and Tasha turned serious.

“Thanks for coming. I…,” he paused, looking to Tasha. Gently, she nodded her head, offering him a smile. Was she trying to encourage him? Khal never laughed, but at this moment, he was decidedly amused. Shaking his head slightly, he continued. “I need your advice,” he started off, startling both brothers.

Both Raj and Joran stared back at him with identical stunned expressions.

Khal emitted a grumbly sound, then glowered at his brothers. “Why the hell are you surprised?”

“You’ve never asked us for advice before,” Joran replied.

“Exactly,” Raj continued. “You’ve always just…gone about your plans without input from anyone.”

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