The Sheik's Reluctant Hostage (The Quabeca Sheiks 2)

Mona started looking through the medical supplies. She found a plastic tube. She handed it to Saja. Saja closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. She had only done this procedure twice. She did not want to get it wrong and kill him. She opened her eyes and made a small incision. She put the tube in to drain the fluid from his brain. Abia burst into tears. She did not want to see her son like this, laying in the sun unconscious with a tube in his head. Her son's life was in Saja's hands right now and it did not sit well with her.

“The fluid is clear,” Saja said with relief.

“What does that mean?” Mona asked.

“It's a good thing.”

Anwar opened his eyes. “Mother, why are you crying?” he asked her. Her jaw dropped open. She rushed to his side and held his hand.

“You're okay,” she said and kissed his hand. Saja fell back and sat on the ground.

“Thank God,” she said quietly. It was so scary to do that there. She did not have enough medical supplies. If something went wrong, he could have died right there in her hands. Saja took a bandage and started dressing his head. “He needs to get to a hospital,” she said to them.

“Isn't he fine now?” Guadalupe asked.

“I only bought him time. He needs to get the wound sterilised and stitched. He also needs to get the intracranial pressure under control. It may rise again,” she replied.

“Would it?” Akeem asked.

“Yes, there was something that caused it to rise in the first place. The underlying problem needs to be fixed.” Saja finished dressing his head and got to her feet. Akeem stared at her. This person that they had kidnapped and mistreated had just saved his brother's life.

“Now that he is fine, we need to move,” Guadalupe said.

“Where to?” Akeem asked.

“Our original destination. He can seek medical attention there. It is not safe in Basrat.”

El-Tamar and Abia agreed with Guadalupe. They helped Anwar to his feet. “We will take Anwar into our car and you take Saja with you,” El-Tamar said to Guadalupe.

“What about her?” Guadalupe asked pointing at Mona. He still wondered why she was even there in the first place. They should have either left her or killed her. She served no purpose what so ever. She was extra baggage.

“Leave her here,” Abia said. She too saw no use for Mona. There was no reason to keep dragging her around with them. Might as well leave her in the desert to fend for herself or die. Saja's jaw dropped open. That woman was truly evil. After all this, she was still heartless. She was not willing to grant Saja her freedom nor was she willing to spare Mona. She was evil and greedy. There was no hope for her. In all this, El-Tamar did nothing. It seemed like it was his wife who called the shots.

“Leave us both here,” Saja said. It was either both of them or none of them.

“Not a chance,” Abia replied. She hadn't risked her life to kidnap Saja for nothing. If she let Saja go now, all of their efforts would be in vain.

“Mother, she just saved Anwar's life. We should let them both go,” Akeem said. This whole situation had revealed a different side to his mother. It was not pretty.

“No one asked her to,” Abia replied. It was good that Saja saved his life but it was the least she could do since she had been the cause of all of this. However, twenty million riyal was too much to let go. That money would give them a new life. They could start over; a life without the problems Saja had created. Abia questioned herself if she had asked for enough money. After all Saja was the princess. The price on her head should have been higher. The Prince could afford it.

Chapter 13

Akeem stood there helplessly watching everything unfold. From the beginning, he was against kidnapping Saja and despite everything that they had done to her, she still saved Anwar. She was the only one to notice that there was something wrong with him, but no one listened. What was originally a very bad idea had devolved into madness.

“Mother,” he said. Abia put her hand up to shut him up. She did not want to hear it again. They had come too far and there was no way she was letting the money get away from her. She helped Anwar into the car as Aman ran around to the driver’s side and jumped in.

Saja grabbed Mona’s hand and they started running. They had no idea where they were going but they were not going down without a fight and Saja was not leaving Mona in the middle of nowhere by herself. Guadalupe ordered two of his men to chase them. The ground was rocky and Mona tripped and fell causing them to stop.

“Do not worry about me,” Mona said to Saja. “Run!” she shouted. She would stall them whilst Saja ran, but she was too stubborn and refused to leave her friend behind.

“No, I will not leave you,” Saja said. She started throwing stones at the two men chasing them. They quickly circled around them as they dodged the rocks and picked Saja up. She grabbed Mona's hands and held them tightly.

“Hurry up and break them apart. Time is pressing,” El-Tamar shouted. “Perhaps we should just leave them,” he added. He was starting to doubt their decision.

“Do not get soft on me now. If we leave her and are caught, we will be punished. If we take her, we still have a chance to get the money,” Abia said to her husband.

The two soldiers had to hit Mona and Saja because they would not let go. They both started kicking and screaming. Tears welled up in Saja's eyes as their fingers slipped away from each other. “No!” Saja shouted. One of the soldiers threw her over his shoulder and carried her back to the car.