Page 31 of No Way Forward

“Sweetheart.”

He reached for her, but she jumped off the bed and backed away. He came after her and took her into his arms. She lost the will to resist. He stroked her back with a gentle touch.

“I’m in a hard place that I can’t explain,” he said. “I’m only asking for a little time to work it out. I promise I will. Trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

She looked up at him, and he kissed her lips. The world and all its problems slipped away. They stood in each other’s arms a long time. She wanted to ask him what he wrestled with and why he should prioritize her dad when it meant he couldn’t be with her.

Rather than question him, she stayed close, absorbing his warmth and his love. “I never thought you would tell me you love me, Zaid. I dreamed of us being together. I even considered asking for one night when I decided to leave.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I was twenty-one. There’s no way you would have said yes.”

“You’re right, but I would have been tempted.” He wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger and stared into her eyes. “I didn’t allow myself to dream about being with you, but I loved you. It was enough to be near you, to train you, and to talk to you. Are you sure about us getting married?”

“I’m sure. Don’t get hung up on our ages. It’s just a number.”

“You don’t know me well, not on a personal level. I want to change that.”

“It will have to be after my date tomorrow.”

“What?” He didn’t look too happy with her at that moment.

She chuckled. “Hey, buddy, you’re the one who wants to wait. My dad just told me we have a brunch with his two best choices for my husband.”

Zaid’s expression darkened. A muscle twitched in his jaw. She thought he might change his mind, but he just nodded. “We’ll deal with it.”

“We can still get the heck out of here.”

“Novette, did you forget what happened when I came to get you?”

“You’re not saying my dad was behind that, are you? I mean I don’t think much about his practices, but I can’t believe he would put me in danger. Not entirely.”

“Rest assured he wouldn’t.” He hesitated to continue.

“If you know something, you better spit it out, Zaid. I’m not playing.”

“I’m waiting to hear back from a friend, but I believe I know who was behind the kidnapping.”

She gasped. Fear stirred in her chest that it could be someone on the household staff. “I was hidden for five years, and then when you found me, here come these kidnappers. Do you think it’s someone who works here?”

“Easy, sweetheart.”

He kissed her briefly and then guided her over to the bed. They sat down together with him holding one of her hands. Their f

ingers tangled together. Zaid brushed his thumb over her skin, raising tingles along her spine.

“Your dad hired one of the best private investigators in the business, but he couldn’t find any trace of you—at first.”

“He told me he started hiring anybody after that.”

“He did, but he went through several before hitting the bottom of the barrel. Then the first investigator brought results. Over two years, he continued to bring us hints to where you were.”

“I moved around a lot in the beginning.”

“Yes, and he seemed to be one step behind you. The fact that he had proof like photos and fake IDs, kept him on the payroll. He seemed to just miss you in every location.”

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