‘He has been arrested, along with Nadia, who apparently masterminded tonight’s episode. They are both being taken to Tazkhan for questioning.’
Layla stared at him, still stunned by the discovery that Nadia had been involved. ‘I assumed Hassan had forced her in some way. Why would she do that?’
‘Jealousy.’ Raz’s mouth was grim. ‘She was jealous of her sister. Apparently she had some deluded idea that I’d marry her. It is something I only discovered in the past few hours. It explains so much about her behaviour and I am angry with myself for not seeing it sooner.’
‘Why would you?’ Layla shivered and rubbed Zahra’s back gently. ‘We need to get her home.’
His gaze lingered on hers. ‘How can I ever thank you?’
‘You don’t need to thank me.’
Raz inhaled deeply. ‘There is much I need to say to you.’
Layla was too exhausted to contemplate a conversation. ‘It can all wait.’
* * *
‘The vet says Isis will make a good recovery and Zahra is finally asleep.’ His handsome face drawn and tired, Raz walked across the bedroom. ‘I have put a mattress next to the dog and both Abdul and Horus are sleeping with her for now, along with four of my security team. It’s like a menagerie down there. All I need is for Raja to join them and the circus that is our life will be complete.’
The fact that he’d said ‘our’ warmed her, as did the wry humour in his voice, but Layla wasn’t fooled. She knew how raw he was feeling because she felt the same way. She was still so shocked by everything that had happened she felt disconnected.
The warm sunshine and the soothing sound of the fountain in the courtyard beyond the doors to their bedroom were a contrast to the long, terrifying hours of the night before.
Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to rest, she’d taken a hot shower, scrubbed away the physical evidence of their flight through the desert and changed into a practical outfit of trousers and a loose shirt, intending to go and sit with Isis and Zahra.
‘I’m so relieved Raja is all right. Zahra was beside herself when I turned him loose, but at that point I was still hoping they wouldn’t find us. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.’
‘You did the right thing. I still can’t believe you rode my stallion.’ Raz shook his head and looked at her in naked disbelief. ‘How did you do that?’
‘I didn’t. I just sat on him. It was Zahra who rode him. It’s a good thing she takes after you.’
There was a glint of anger in his eyes. ‘They arranged for me to be away last night. They arranged for you to be alone. If you hadn’t woken—’ He raked his hand through his hair, visibly tense. ‘Why did you? Did you hear something? Did they disturb you?’
‘No. I wasn’t asleep.’ She didn’t tell him she’d been lying there thinking about him. ‘I turned the light on to read and nothing happened. At first I thought it was the bulb and then I realised the whole place was dark and there were no guards. Just like that night—’ Realisation dawned and she felt the colour drain from her face. ‘Just like that night in the desert a few weeks ago.’
‘Yes. That was to have been their first attempt to take my daughter and use her as leverage against me, but you foiled that one, too, by climbing into bed with her. They didn’t anticipate that. They weren’t prepared for the two of you. But this time they were.’
‘How did you find out?’
‘I arrived in Tazkhan and had an illuminating conversation with the senior council members, all of whom were surprised by my arrival. As soon as I realised what had happened I returned as quickly as I could, but I was terrified I was going to be too late.’ He pulled her into his arms. ‘You were so brave. You took my daughter into the desert and you took the dogs with you, and I know how much you fear them.’
‘Not any more. I took them because I thought they might protect Zahra and they did. They were unbelievably brave.’ She shivered as she relived those awful moments. ‘I didn’t know how two could possibly win a fight against four, but now I do. Isis and Horus love her so much they would have died for her, and that love gave them ten times the strength of Hassan’s dogs. I’ve never seen anything like it.’ Remembering moved her so much that tears sprang into her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. ‘Sorry—I think I’m just very tired.’ Embarrassed by her loss of control, she lifted her hand to brush them away, but he was there before her, his fingers gentle as he stroked away her tears.