Page 27 of Chasing the Past

He stilled and skimmed her pretty face. “How are you holding up?”

She drew in a quick breath. “I don’t even know anymore. I had a sister I didn’t know about. I wonder what else Omar didn’t tell me.”

Eli set the tray down and reached for her hand, happy that she didn’t pull away. “We’re just beginning to find out the answers.” He told her about talking to Fatima.

Her wide eyes searched his face and he asked if she recognized the name.

“Maybe, but I don’t see how.”

Eli tried to make it add up in his head. “You and Sashi must have been close before she died. Maybe she mentioned Fatima.”

She seemed to be struggling to remember. “I guess that’s possible. Can I come with you to meet Fatima? I’d really like to know Sashi’s friend.”

Eli could come up with all sorts of reasons why she shouldn’t, but he understood the need for answers better than anyone.

“I’ll make it happen. JT is coming soon. I have some of Sashi’s things at my place. He’s bringing them over.”

She appeared so sad and lost that he wished he could make it better for her, but Eli had a feeling it was going to get a whole lot worse before they had the answers they needed.

Outside, the dark clouds that had been gathering all morning gave way and snow began to fall.

“It’s snowing,” Asal said and went over to the window.

Eli stood behind her. Soon, the snow was joined by pellets of sleet. The wind kicked up, howling around the side of the house.

Asal stepped back quickly and slammed into Eli. He reached up and steadied her.

She quickly turned to face him. They were inches apart. As he looked into her hazel eyes, that same little fleck of gold that her sister had tore at his heart. She looked so much like Sashi and yet she wasn’t. And that was the hardest thing to accept.

Chapter Twelve

Everything about him was familiar. And none of it made sense. She was more lost than ever as she reluctantly stepped back. Eli dropped his hands to his side. The silence between them hurt physically.

He cleared his throat. “Shall we join the others?”

She managed a nod and followed him back to the dining room where Will and Gavin were quietly talking.

Eli dispensed the coffee.

Asal added cream and sugar to hers and sipped it. The liquid warmed her on the inside. A chill that had little to do with what was happening outside settled over her despite the cozy sweater she wore.

“Gavin updated me on Sashi’s friend. How do you plan to meet up with her?”

Eli glanced at Asal who couldn’t take her eyes off him. She never thought of Omar as handsome really though he was only a few years older than her. He was always so formal and rarely showed any affection at all. And while Omar seemed smothering, Eli was a natural protector. She supposed it was part of his military upbringing. His dark hair was cut short and swept back from his forehead. His blue eyes held strength and sadness in them. He still mourned the loss of her sister.

“Asal and I will go there together,” Eli was saying. “I think it will do her good to meet her sister’s friend. It might bring back some memories and help fill in the blanks.”

“You think that’s wise?” Gavin said. “She is a target, and we don’t know where this Haddad is right now.”

“We’ll be careful. I figure we’ll wait until the storm passes. I’ll reach out to Fatima and set up a time.”

“Still, I think I should come with you,” Gavin insisted.

Before Eli responded, over the noise of the storm, another vehicle was moving their way.

“Stay here,” Eli told her and he and Will moved to the door.

Gavin looked her way. “I’m really sorry about all of this.”

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