The man was insane.
But Abram wasn’t.
Khalid knew Abram, she understood that, just as she understood Khalid’s fears in regards to her broken heart. God knew, she didn’t want to face that pain unless she simply had no other choice. But the risk was one she was willing to take. She simply didn’t believe Abram was going to lock her into a harem and beat her each time she tried to escape.
Shaking her head at the thought, she got to her feet. She moved back to the bedroom to pack a few things to take back to Khalid’s with her.
She had only a few things of her own there. The way she had been snatched from work and taken to her brother’s home hadn’t given her time to pack.
She liked her own clothes, thank you very much. And the few things Marty and Khalid had collected for her hadn’t been enough, nor had they been her favorites.
It looked as though she would be there for a while, so she pulled out the full set of leather luggage her parents had bought her and packed the things she needed.
Her overnight bag held her shampoos, conditioner, makeup, and fenine items. Several bars of the soap her father kept her supplied with, the scent created especially for her.
Clothes were harder to choose. She had only two large bags and one lingerie bag. She packed those, zipped them closed, then hauled them to the door before walking through the small apartment one more time.
She sighed wearily as she stood at the window, staring out into the darkened park across the street. During the day, it was alive with the sound of children’s laughter. At night, occasionally, she had glimpsed lovers walking hand in hand.
Damn, she hoped she got to come home soon.
Moving back to the kitchen she was reaching for her purse to call Daniel when a knock at the door had a grin twitching her lips. He was obviously becoming impatient.
A friend of Khalid’s impatient? Go figure.
She moved to the door, unlocked it, and swung the door open.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips parted to scream.
A second later, the world went black around her.
TWO HOURS LATER
Khalid stood inside the living area of Paige’s apartment and stared around, his chest feeling as though an open wound had been dug into it.
It was neat, like his sister was, sparsely decorated. She claimed she hadn’t developed her style quite yet. The electric fireplace was still on, and everything appeared perfectly organized.
“The majority of her clothes and toiletries are missing. ” Daniel Conover moved from the bedroom, his expression foreboding, his blue eyes burning with rage. “Her bags aren’t in the closet. ”
Khalid shoved his hands into the wool coat he wore, his gaze turning to where his lover sat in a comfortable easy chair, her hands covering her face.
She wasn’t crying, though he knew she was upset. Marty didn’t cry often, thank God. But at the moment, he wished she would, because he couldn’t.
“Would his men have packed her bags?” Daniel asked.
Khalid shook his head. Azir’s men would not have taken the time.
“She would have. ” Marty lifted her head. “She was complaining she had none of her favorite clothes or her makeup. She could have packed herself before they arrived. ”
“If the bags had been sitting there, and if they were sympathetic to Abram or to myself, then they would have picked up the luggage,” Khalid answered.
“That doesn’t sound like terrorists,” Daniel commented.
“Many of the new recruits are men and young boys who have been raised within the Mustafa province. ” Khalid sighed. “They know me, they know Abram. They would have grabbed her luggage along with her if there was more than one. They’re aware this is something Abram would be furious over and they may want to garner leniency by providing her clothes. ”
He felt like howling in rage, in pain. He couldn’t believe he had allowed his sister to be taken by that monster, and there was no doubt it was Azir who had taken her.