Guadalupe sat down at the table and El-Tamar filled him in on the recent events and what he needed him to do. Guadalupe was very loyal to El-Tamar and the promise of additional money cemented that loyalty. Guadalupe agreed to help him straight away. El-Tamar was very pleased to hear that. At least something was going well. He had checked their offshore account a few times and there had yet to be a deposit made. He told himself it had only been an hour since they told Badir. They had to be patient. However, this was the Prince. He could pay that instantly, what was taking so long? It did not sit right with him. Something wasn’t right.
Chapter 11
Guadalupe sent a couple of his men into town as lookouts. They were to report anything suspicious. If the Prince’s security team were on the way, they would know before they found the house. He already had jeeps fuelled and ready to leave when needed. They did not have any horses, which would have been better, but all of El-Tamar's horses had been confiscated by the Prince.
Saja and Mona were sitting there swapping stories, as there was nothing else to do. Saja was learning a lot more about Mona who was currently telling Saja about her first ever kiss.
“And then I head-butted him as I leaned forward,” Mona said. Saja covered her face with her hands and burst out laughing. “It was a mess,” Mona said.
“It seems you were clumsier than me,” Saja said. She never had the best of luck with guys. She had never had a proper relationship, nothing that lasted longer than four months. It was either the guy was put off from the start or he wanted something that she was not willing to give him.
“At my high school ball, I spilt punch all over myself.”
Saja's eyes flew open. “No, you didn’t!” Saja couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes,” Mona closed her eyes as she recalled the embarrassing moment. She had many of those in her teenage years. Saja kept laughing. The Mona she knew was well spoken and polished. She did not show signs of being clumsy.
“I hate to break up the party,” Abia said as she walked in with food.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Saja said. Abia laughed sadistically.
“I see you have healed,” Abia was intentionally provoking her by reminding her of the beating she received. If need be, Abia was willing to issue another.
“You look extra smug today,” Saja noticed that Abia had an extra pep in her step.
“One of two things will happen today,” Abia said as she set the tray down on the floor. “Either your husband will pay and you will return to him. Or, if he doesn't pay in time, well let's just say that you'll be fed through a tube for the rest of your life,” Abia said. She started walking towards the door.
“Neither one of those things will happen,” Saja called out behind her. Abia paused when she heard her words.
“Why is that?” Abia asked. She crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for Saja's reply.
“You do not know Basil very well if you think that he will play by your rules.” Saja smiled at Abia. Basil never played by anyone's rules. He made his own. If Abia thought that she could simply snap her fingers and he would do what she wanted, then she was in for a surprise.
“And that pleases you?” Abia was confused. Why was Saja smiling about it? She was expecting Saja to be unsettled. She wanted to see her speculate on when he was going to pay. She wanted to see Saja fear for her life and beg for mercy but she was not doing any of those things.
“Because I am going to enjoy watching all of you feel his wrath, and you will.” Saja picked up her pita and bit into it. Abia frowned and walked out. Surely, Saja was playing with her. The Prince was going to pay the ransom. Abia felt like upping the ransom amount. Saja's mouth needed to be charged.
Abia walked into the living room and flipped open her laptop. She logged into their offshore account to check the balance. The Prince still had not paid a dime. Abia sat there nervously wondering if Saja was right. Would the Prince not pay? Abia looked up when her husband walked into the room.
“Do you think he will pay?” Abia asked him.
“There is a chance he won't,” El-Tamar replied.
“How can he not?”
“He is an unpredictable man.” El-Tamar knew that all too well. Thankfully, he was not King. If he had been, there would be no stopping him!
* * * *
Later that afternoon, Guadalupe's men returned from town. They quickly informed their commander what they had found out. Guadalupe rose to his feet instantly and went to El-Tamar. He found him in his bedroom. He knocked before he entered. He bowed to El-Tamar before he spoke. He still respected him and treated him like a sheik.
“A suspicious group of men have been spotted in town,” Guadalupe said to El-Tamar.
“Suspicious, how so?” El-Tamar asked.
“They are dressed for battle. It must be the Prince’s men. We have to leave now!” In Noor City, there weren't any armies or rebels. It was a quiet, old city. There was never a reason for armed soldiers to be there. Hence why Guadalupe knew it was Prince Al-Qadir's men.
Abia walked into the room. Her husband and the commander looked panicked. She could already tell that something was wrong. “What is going on?” she asked them.