Harlow put her arm around Zahra’s shoulder. “You weren’t shaming anyone, least of all your family. You didn’t do anything wrong. You weren’t even dating anyone.”
“So, what happened? Why would this man still be a problem for you, Zahra?” Sam persisted.
Stella thought it was interesting that Sam’s quiet voice held such persuasion. He spoke in that calm way of his, but it definitely had what Zahra had jokingly described as an authoritative tone. His voice was so low and gentle, yet so perfectly in command, that it was hard to resist answering him.
“It was like being in prison after so much freedom. I tried to do as my father asked me, but it was very difficult. I have always thought for myself and I don’t censor very well. I knew if I didn’t accept the marriage it would be difficult for my family, so I was determined to go through with it, but I felt like I needed to at least talk with Ruslan. I didn’t know him and I thought if I just sat down with him and asked what he expected of our marriage, I might be able to come to terms with it.”
She looked up at Harlow almost helplessly.
“It was fortunate I had come to visit her. I had already scheduled the visit and it was considered an honor to have a senator’s daughter in their home, so her father wasn’t going to suddenly tell her I couldn’t come after all.”
Zahra nodded. “I went to Ruslan’s house late at night covered completely from head to toe, only my eyes showing. He opened the door and believed me to be someone else, someone he was expecting who had betrayed him. Before I could speak—” She swallowed hard, shook her head and tried again. “Things didn’t go well and I nearly was killed. I just managed to get out of his home and I ran, messaging Harlow. She told me where to meet her and she’d have a car waiting. She had use of a car and driver. It was the first time I was grateful I was completely covered from head to toe and no one would know who I was. Harlow, with her family’s help, managed to get me out of the country and into the United States. I was just so lucky, and I’ll be forever indebted.”
That wasn’t telling Sam or Stella what Ruslan had done to her, but there was stark fear on Zahra’s face and her voice trembled when she related what happened. To Stella’s astonishment, Harlow moved even closer and wrapped her arm even tighter around Zahra very protectively. As there had appeared to be some kind of a rift between the two of them, Stella was happy to see Zahra respond, cuddling close, even though that meant her friend was very upset just at the memory.
“I want to be certain I fully understand, Zahra,” Sam persisted. “Ruslan Islamov has ties to Russia and Turkey as well as your native village and Azerbaijan. It’s important.”
Again, Stella noticed his tone was low, but quite compelling and firm. Zahra reacted to the gentle dominance in his voice, her small teeth biting down on her lower lip as she nodded.
“Yes, and he rose to power in the military fast. He had specialized training because he went to military school almost from the time he was a little boy.”
“Did he ever train in Turkey? Is he older than you?”
“Yes, he’s about ten years older.” She whispered the affirmation. “I always noticed when he was back home with his father. It was difficult not to notice him. The men were careful around him. It was the way he carried himself. Some of the women were flirtatious and wanted to be with him. They asked their fathers to go to his father, but he always turned them down. I ran into him on the street, literally. I was out running and I had looked away from the trail and crashed right into him. He caught me before I went down. The way he looked me over, as if I was so beneath him, dressed the way I was, was humiliating. He didn’t say anything at all, but after that, when he was back, he would … watch me sometimes and it made me uneasy.”
Zahra always talked fast and far too much when she was nervous.
Sam stroked one hand down the back of Stella’s head. “Zahra, do you remember if anyone ever mentioned Ruslan going to Turkey to train with the military there?” He repeated the question in that same gentle, calm voice.
Zahra’s dark brows drew together. “He did go to Turkey several times. His mother’s family was there. He would stay for extended periods of time, but I didn’t pay attention.”
“Raine should be able to track him for you,” Stella couldn’t help interjecting.