Page 32 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

Tabari laughed then, the sound hollow and a little deranged. “I’ve fucked her once, I don’t need to do her again.” His eyes flashed. “Though a willing flight attendant might be a nice diversion for the flight home.”

Kain resisted curling his lip. He was certain there were more than a few air hostesses who’d be committed enough to make the sacrifice. Heaven only knew he’d enjoyed their charms more than a few times in the past before Zania had captured his attention.

“Done,” he said hoarsely. He’d squash this man under his thumb and take great pleasure in doing it.

Tabari all but preened at such easy capitulation. Then he glanced at Zania and his expression sobered, his knuckles whitening on the handle of the knife. He turned back to Kain. “It’s a pity it’s come to this. I was actually falling in love with this woman. If my bank balance hadn’t hit rock-bottom, I would never have set my sights on Aisha.”

Zania inhaled sharply. “Is that all Aisha was to you?” she asked in a shrill, outraged voice. “A cash cow?”

Tabari stiffened, as though Zania’s opinion of him still really did matter, despite the fact he had a knife at her throat. “You were always the woman I wanted most,” he gritted. “And yet you always imagined you were second best to Aisha.”

Kain’s stomach tightened, every muscle stiff with tension. “Zania is more than worthy of any man’s affections.”

Her lashes fluttered, but whether it was in reaction to his words or the trickle of blood leaking down her throat, Kain wasn’t so sure. All he knew was it took everything he had just to stay motionless and outwardly calm.

Tabari sighed heavily. “I fucked things up financially and romantically, but at least I can now fix one by ditching the other.” His eyes narrowed as he spotted movement in the shadows. Tabari’s grip on the knife tightened and the blade nicked a little deeper into Zania’s throat, her blood trickling more freely. “Tell your men to back offnow.”

Kain wanted to howl with impotence as he put his hand up, forcing the two men who’d been watching Tabari from afar to stay back. Masood was also forced to stop. Kain had no doubt any of the three had been close enough to put a bullet in Tabari’s brain, but Kain couldn’t risk Zania getting hurt…or worse. He nodded at Masood, who stepped into the light. “That is your driver. He will be waiting out front with a car to take you to the airport.”

The madman’s eyes gleamed with vicious humor. “Does your driver always try to be a hero?”

Kain shrugged, though tension poured through his body. “My men are loyal. But Masood knows better now.” He glanced at the driver. “Take Zania and Tabari to my private airport, then return immediately.”

Masood nodded and headed to the front entrance of the coffee shop, where he stepped outside and waited beside the car. The two other men disappeared just as quickly before Tabari jerked Zania closer to him.

She closed her eyes with a barely concealed whimper, and Tabari grinned and said, “It’s good to know you’ll do anything for the woman you love.”

Kain held Zania’s stare, wanting her to know it was the truth. But whatever she saw in his stare seemed to make her more agitated and less willing to cooperate. She squirmed and Tabari glowered.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” When she tightened her lips and looked down, he laughed and began dragging her toward the exit. “Do you know what’s really funny? That you two reallydohave feelings for one another.” His laugh turned scornful and envious when he asked Zania, “Did you tell your prince you were a virgin before I broke you?”

Zania’s head jerked up, as though she sensed Kain’s willpower had broken, too, and he was about to put everything on the line to get to Tabari. She looked up at him, her eyes wide as she burst out, “Kain, stop! I-I’m pregnant.”

Chapter Twenty

Zania couldn’t have shocked Kain more if she’d taken the knife from Tabari and plunged it into her own throat. Kain’s face had whitened to chalk, his eyes now black, stricken pools in his face.

Tabari threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, this couldn’t have worked out better if I tried. The price has doubled. Twenty million for your fiancée and your unborn brat. I imagine the next in line for your title must be worth at least that.”

Zania shook her head at Kain’s tight lips. She actuallycouldshock him more, but no matter the risk she couldn’t lie to him, not anymore. She licked her dry lips and added, “The baby isn’t yours, Kain.” She nodded at Tabari. “It’s his.”

Tabari stiffened. “Are you stupid?” he gritted, raw fury vibrating in his voice. “Any value you had is now null and void. You’re worthless to him now.” He clenched his knife hard. “And to me,” he snarled.

He thrust her away from him and into Kain, then ran out through the kitchen and to where there was presumably a back door.

Kain’s expression was hard, unreadable as he caught her, then kept her balanced with his hands curled tightly around her forearms. He stared down at her. “Are you hurt?”

She resisted touching her bloodied throat. The wound there was nothing more serious than a nick. “I-I’m fine.”

He nodded, his entire body bristling. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

When he released her and charged after the man who’d pressed a knife to her throat, he was nothing more than a blur of dark gray in his suit. A man on a mission. A man who’d likely kill to avenge her.

She pressed an outspread hand to her stomach. It didn’t matter now how hard it would be to leave Kain behind and start her life again, she’d find a way. She’d always wanted to revisit Australia. At least there she’d be accepted as a single mother with a child.

She glanced down at her ring. Her piece of jewelry would give her more than enough money to live on for a handful of years, until she and her baby found their feet. Her decision made, she lifted her chin and headed to where Masood stood waiting outside next to the car, his stare glinting.

It must be killing him to stay behind to watch her back while Kain went after Tabari. “I want you to take me back to the palace.”

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