* * *
The royal palace of Jeirut was imposing and warlike. Only the banners snapping in the wind alleviated its grimness. Perched on a high plateau, it commanded views of the city spread around it and the desert below.
Alexei followed a courtier through an oversized portal into a series of antechambers, each more magnificent than the last. But Alexei wasn’t in the mood to be impressed. His mind was on the upcoming interview.
His one chance.The knowledge tightened his gut.
Finally he was led into an audience chamber with a forest of pillars around the perimeter. His gaze went to the golden throne and on it a tall, powerfully built man in white robes. His face was rugged, his nose uneven and eyes piercing. This man—Alexei knew, his pulse quickening in anticipation—made even the best negotiators nervous.
Introductions were made, complete with a scraping bow from Alexei’s companion. Sheikh Huseyn, colloquially known as the Iron Hand, remained stony-faced. It was only when the doors closed behind the courtier and Alexei was alone with Mina’s brother-in-law that the Sheikh raised one eyebrow in interrogation.
‘You have a request?’
Alexei met that assessing stare with one of his own. ‘I want to speak with your sister-in-law.’ As if Sheikh Huseyn didn’t already know that. As if Alexei hadn’t been through this multiple times with officials.
‘If you have something important to say, I can pass on a message. At present she’s busy.’
Alexei wasn’t deterred. He’d missed her in Paris but hewouldsee her here. Mina might be furious and hurt but she wouldn’t hide from him. She was too proud.
At least he hoped so. Unless he’d given her such a disgust of him that even her pride wasn’t enough. He shoved the idea aside, refusing to countenance the idea of defeat.
‘Thank you. But I prefer to speak with Mina.’
Sheikh Huseyn’s eyes narrowed as if questioning his use of Mina’s name.
‘Why should I let you see her?’ His even tone held an undercurrent of menace.
Instead of being abashed, Alexei stepped closer. Royalty or not, he refused to let the Sheikh stand in his way. ‘Surely that’s Mina’s decision.’
The Sheikh didn’t reply and as the silence lengthened, ice-cold sweat trickled down Alexei’s spine.
‘Are you saying Mina refuses to see me?’ Nausea rolled through him. He tasted acid and recognised it as fear. Would Mina send him away without a chance?
‘Why should she? What’s your relationship?’
‘That’s between me and Mina.’ Alexei’s gaze followed the perimeter of the room. Did one of those doors lead to her? Frustration rose. The palace was enormous. If he made a break for it he had no hope of finding her before the royal guard stopped him.
‘And if I make it my business?’ The Sheikh rose and stepped onto the floor. He moved with the ease of an athlete and, sizing him up, Alexei guessed they’d be well matched in a tussle.
‘I can only repeat that my business is solely with Mina.’
‘I am her King and head of her family.’ Huseyn moved to stand toe to toe with Alexei. The air was redolent with latent danger. ‘It’s my role to protect her.’
Alexei met his eyes. ‘I respect your desire to protect her, but Mina can manage her own concerns. I doubt she’d be impressed by anyone, even family, speaking on her behalf.’
A ripple of expression crossed the Sheikh’s features, then, to Alexei’s surprise, his face creased in a smile.
‘You know Mina well.’ He paused. ‘What brings you to Jeirut? Surely not simply seeing my sister-in-law. Are you opening an office here? Or perhaps one of your youth centres. Such a laudable programme.’
Huseyn had done his homework. Alexei respected that. It was what he would have done. Due diligence was second nature.
Except that one vital time when he hadn’t checked out Carissa Carter because he’d been determined to snaffle her quickly as bait. Technically that had been a grave error, but Alexei couldn’t think of it in those terms since it had brought him Mina.
Elusive Mina. He stifled impatience with difficulty.
‘I congratulate you, Highness. Not many know of my link to that initiative.’ Alexei made sure of it. His community training and support scheme for disadvantaged teenagers wasn’t done for kudos but to make a difference. Those kids didn’t need their problems aired for public sympathy when Alexei could quietly provide the start-up money for programmes that eventually became self-funding.
‘I make it my business to know about men who take an interest in my sister-in-law.’