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Prologue

Meredith

One week before Christmas

The cool Mediterranean breeze pulls atrip the railing of Ahmed’s luxury yacht as I stare at the dark waters of the sea with a growing sense of unease

So is about to come back and bite me in the ass

Behind me, Ahmed speaks quietly in Arabic to our steward He thinks I don’t understand, but I’ve e

He’s dis the steith instructions for the crew not to bother us, regardless of what they may see or hear

Ice floods my veins, but I can’t letit out of this little spur-of-the-moment ‘pleasure cruise’ unscathed, I need to keep my wits about me

“Meredith,” Ah he usually reserves for those he considers beneath hi a lot of it today

I don’t knohat has brought about this change, and it’s extre

“Come, have a drink with me”

I can’t disobey

Slipping my mask back into place, I relax my lips and fix a serene look on my face as I turn to face him

Walking towards him across the deck, the breeze whips at the skirt of ine that I love hi I want in aI actually despise… so that warm affection fills my eyes

Ahne towards me while his dark eyes roam critically over me

Shit I don’t think he’s buying it

Fingers wrapping around the flute, I bring it up to my lips and sip froue before sliding down my throat

I drink just enough to settle ht now is to have alcohol ht processes

Ahmed’s eyes never leave me as he lifts his own flute and drinks deeply from it In his oords, he’s a ‘bad Muslidoe in all the vices the world has to offer