Page 26 (1/2)

"Stay put, Marty," Khalid warned her, as they turned into the Sinclair property and drove along the well-lit tree-lined lane that led to the estate house that held the exclusive men’s club

"Of course" She smiled back at him innocently "I’m on vacation, remember?"

Both men eyed her dubiously As well they should, because once she was actually on the estate grounds, getting in was going to be child’s play What she would find after actually breaching those hallowed halls, she had no idea But she was going to have fun finding out

She sat silently as Abdul parked in the area Khalid directed hi lot If Ian Sinclair knew Khalid had her in the liuards were in place

"Be good, precious," Khalid warned her again, as Shayne pushed the door open and stepped out

Khalid surprised her as he leaned forward, his fingers curling around her neck to hold her in place for a brief, hard kiss His fingertips stroked the back of her neck as he lingered only moments, then slid away as he moved from the vehicle

She sat silently and watched as Khalid and Shayne disappeared through the entrance to the club that had eneral public for more than two centuries The very fact that its true purpose had never co The club wasitsthe president And that was saying a lot

Once the doors had closed and silence filled the night once again, she turned to where thehad been lowered between the driver and passenger areas

Propping her arms on the back of the front seat, she smiled back at Abdul as he turned and watched her warily He knew her, and he had known thetheuess you’re honor-bound to contact hiuard who had befriended her when she first began following Khalid

Abdul was older, perhaps nearing fifty Gray sprinkled his closely cropped black hair, and wrinkles were , benevolent grandfather, though she knew he had no wife, no children He had pledged hito come between hie

Abdul stared back at her quietly for long moments, his expression reflective as he watched her Abdul hat she liked to call a "thinker" More than likely he had already considered this problem at some point in the past He was a

"He is like a son todeeply

"And he’s like a thorn in ust, h his eyes than to sih there were times it was definitely the truth But she did so love to shake Abdul’s little world up

Abdul was a friend, but one who could be rather prudish at tihed, after nearly choking on his shock "In ue would be cut fro

"In your country I’d have already been stoned for my smart mouth," she informed hihter laugh passed his lips

"You keep hi soe he oftentie?" She batted her lashes back at hiht ere supposed to be subh at hi his country and his religion When it cah, he took his responsibility to watch over him very seriously

"A woman is to know her place, no"Khalid never fit into the life his father would have given him Had he done so, he would have been a leader that our people would have died for"

There was no doubt in her mind She would have followed that conversational line if she didn’t know froiven

"So, as to ave hi to tell onto leave the car when you arned to stay in place?" he asked in turn, giving her a mock frown of disapproval

Was she?

"Pretty much," she answered as she pursed her lips and nodded firood an opportunity to pass up You know that"

Abdul sighed heavily, though she could see the grin he fought to hold back in the twitch of his lips

"If you made the promise to me that you will not leave the car, then I would take enuinely tired, before his white teeth flashed in his aged, sun-bronzed face "Are you iving hirin She really did love Abdul The best thing about hiainst his employer

"Go to sleep, Abdul I’m sure Khalid will be back soon"

She doubted it very seriously

Re quiet, she watched as his head disappeared and listened to the sounds of hi to sleep, but neither was he willing to face the full force of Khalid’s wrath At least he would have an excuse if Marty got caught That was a comfort she would have to do without

Hell, it wasn’t like he was going to kill her, she thought, as the sound of the first false snore came from Abdul She , and that was a very real possibility, but he wouldn’t actually hurt her Well, at least not a pain that she wouldn’t enjoy

She opened the door quietly, the h

Okay, she could be quieter but she didn’t bother, simply because she knew she didn’t have to