Page 73 of Bossy Bodyguard

I shot him a glare, his piercing blue eyes matching it as he crossed his arms. “Where were you, anyway? You are her bodyguard, aren’t you?” he asked, tilting his head. “Why was she alone with a Sheikh of Azmia out of all people?”

“It’s none of your business,” I gritted out of my teeth and kept pacing, raking a hand through my hair.

The call from Zayed had been devastating, and I was already driving when Elena ended the call. Seeing Emma unconscious and hurt had made my heart stop until Zayed promised that she was breathing and well, just fainted. I had stayed in the back seat, holding her while Elena drove us to the nearest hospital.

My hands were red even though I had scrubbed off all the blood. Her blood. That was still clinging to my clothes.

What have I done?

“Security from Azmia will arrive soon,” Elena said, her green eyes weary as she looked at Emma’s friends and pulled me aside. “Her brother?”

“On his way.” I had to ask her. “Will they find him?”

She shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Zayed cut his stomach and Emma stabbed his thigh with a piece of glass. But he still escaped.”

“Fuck.” I ran a hand across my face and sighed, “She shouldn’t have to stab someone… it’s my fault.”

“We will talk about the blame later. For now, stay calm.”

“I can’t stay calm, Elena. This is the first time someone got hurt—”

Her eyes sharpened, “My husband is lying on a hospital bed. Don’t you think I want to maul and skin that piece of shit alive? Because trust me, I want to hurt him. More than you do. But right now, the only thing we have in our control is our patience.” Everyone was staring at her, nurses, doctors, Mia, Summer—and a narrowed but calculating gaze from James. She lowered her voice and said, “Focus on Emma. Tell her friends the truth and no one else.”

“I will.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, my jaw clenching. “I have to.”

“The crash will be reported everywhere.”

“Why?” I gaped at her.

“Zayed. He is a Sheikh, and I don’t think Zain or Khalid would listen to me on this. The stalker, whoever he is, has made a huge mistake trying to make Azmia his enemy.” She rubbed her forehead, and we both leaned on the wall. “Cops will track him and maybe even CBI will try to find out if he went to any of the nearest hospitals.”

“But this would mean Emma will have more eyes on her than ever before.”

“Yes. Unfortunately.” She looked at me, her face stern. “That’s why I hired you. To look after her. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

44

A FAVOR

EMMA

I woke up to a brooding brother, worried friends, and a cold Cillian standing in the corner of the hospital room.

“Why didn’t you text me that you met Zayed Al Fasih? Do you know he has met the Queen?” Summer asked, her brows furrowed as she looked over at me.

“Summer,” Mia elbowed her and turned to me. “She means to say that we were worried when we heard the news about this… and found that you were in a car with the Sheikh of Azmia.”

“He was dropping me off,” I mumbled, a dull ache forming in my head.

“What was that?” Summer asked, leaning closer.

“Girls,” Damon said, shooting my friends a look. “Do you mind if I talk to my sister? Alone?”

Mia squeezed my left hand and whispered, “We are outside.”

“Cillian, don’t let Damon scold our friend again,” Summer said to Cillian, shooting daggers at my brother before leaving the room. It would have been comical if I wasn’t strapped with an IV on a hospital bed.

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