His Stubborn Lover (Slade Security Team 1)

At the terrace outside the palace, Keira hunched low in something that smelled good. Leaves tickled her skin and branches pricked her fingers. She picked her target. She needed everyone elsewhere right now.

Aiming at one of the potted plants on the far side of the palace, Keira pulled in a breath, held it, and squeezed off three shots. Two pots exploded, showering dirt and flowers onto the ground. She could hear the boots of guards as they ran for that spot.

Keira tucked her gun away and used the noise to cover her run and leap. She caught a rain gutter and climbed up to the second floor. Swinging over, she caught the rim of a balcony and hefted herself up. She smashed a window, opened the latch, and slipped inside.

Heart hammering, she stood still in the room. All good so far. She’d picked this room intentionally. Now, she hid herself behind one of the drapes and waited. She didn’t have long to wait.

She heard the creak of a door and a draft of air stirred the curtains, brushing them against her face. The door clicked shut. Footsteps padded across the carpet. Keira peeked out from her hiding spot. She saw a dark figure, a flash of color. A pale hand reached up to a carved pillar, and then a door opened and light spilled into the room in a streak that revealed Maela, dressed in black pants and shirt and carrying a tray.

Keira stepped out from behind the drapery. “Maela, it’s over. Erin needs to go back to her husband.”

Chapter 13

Maela spun around. She shut the door, but not before Keira caught a glimpse of Erin, sleeping it looked like. She hoped so. Maela clattered the tray onto a side table. She stood in front of the hidden door, arms crossed. The ruby flashed on her finger—and Keira realized that was the key to opening the door. It wasn’t a ring, so much as a key.

“Your family has protected the sheikh’s family forever, has it not? I should have seen it before. Bint-Jamal—daughter of Jamal. He protected Sheikh Kamal’s father.”

Maela straightened. “You are not as foolish as you seemed.”

“No, that was an act. And I’m thinking now we should have clued you in on it. You sent us the warning, didn’t you? And you are also the person working on the inside. But it’s not to hurt Erin—it’s to protect her child.”

Gesturing to the tray, Maela asked, “How do you know I do not poison her?”

Keira stepped forward. The aromas—something spicy and warm—from the tray left her realizing it had to be almost morning, and she was hungry. She glanced at the tray, picked up a cup, and took a sip of what tasted like spiced tea. She drank it down. “No poison. You must think we’re all idiots.”

Maela’s black eyes glittered and her mouth settled into a smug curve. “You…perhaps not.”

“But the others—they let Erin be taken once. You started to worry. And then we show up, acting like clowns. A spoilt model…a guy who can’t take his eyes off of her. Talib in love with PJ and thinking more of her, or so it seems. You looked around and saw that the future ruler of Jawhara might be in danger. You sent the note—and still you did not see anything changing. I don’t blame you for taking action, but as you see…I’m not what you thought.”

“None of us are,” Brock said, stepping into the room.

Maela glanced at him, worry in her eyes now. She lifted her chin. “I don’t regret my action. Even if I lose my head. The baby must stay safe.”

“No one’s losing any heads.” Keira came forward. “Thank you for testing us. But I think we’d all sleep better if we start working together. Now can Erin get back to her rooms before the sheikh decides he needs to rip this place apart to find her?”

Maela gave a small nod. “She is asleep. I told her I would keep her safe, so she came with me. She is smart—she trusts me.”

“Well, I think we’d better have you in on all security meetings from now on. Brock, can you take Erin back to Sheikh Kamal?”

Brock gave a nod. Keira noticed he tucked his gun away—he’d had it out, just in case. The man never trusts anyone, Keira thought. But that wasn’t quite true. He’d trusted her tonight.

When Brock gathered Erin up from the bed in a luxurious safe room, she stirred. Brock muttered something to her; she smiled and fell asleep in his arms. He carried her back to her room, slipped her onto her bed, and left her sleeping with the sheikh standing watch over her.

Outside the room, Brock let out a breath. “Slade’s going to want a debriefing tomorrow, the sheikh’s going to want lots of explanations, and I’m going to want breakfast.”

Keira shrugged. “Well, don’t put Maela under arrest—you do and none of us will be eating.”

“Oh, I think we can spin her story for the sheikh so she comes out looking good. Her intentions were in the right place.”

“Yeah, but what’s that saying about good intentions paving the road to hell? This could have gone seriously bad.”

Brock nodded. “It didn’t. You did okay.”

She smiled and punched his arm. “I did great, and you know it. I expect Slade will want us reassigned now. Our covers are totally blown, so no need to keep acting.” She gave another shrug and forced a smile. She didn’t want to show him that her heart was breaking—no need to keep acting. It hadn’t been an act. Not with him. But how could she tell him that?

He gave a nod. “Better get some sleep if you can. It’ll be a long morning.” Turning, he headed for his room. She watched him go and she kept her lips pressed tight. She was not going to call out to him, or beg him for just one more night with him in her bed. She was not. But oh, how she wanted to.

Chapter 14