“Yes. It seems I should have come to you and Idella before I involved Jameel. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the person I am looking for is connected to you," he said, looking at Idella. "She was recently in Simdan with you.”
"Oh? We have an acquaintance in common?" Idella asked, her eyes shrewd.
“She wears a scarf over the lower half of her face, and she likes to break the arms of potential vice-presidential candidates who have perverted sexual tastes.”
“Ahhhh.” Idella’s low, drawn-out response answered one question for him. She did know Midnight.
Karly reappeared with their dinners, and he glanced up with an irritated expression, impatiently waiting for the server to finish placing their drinks and dinner before them.
“I didn’t think you had this much trouble finding new lovers,” Tarek remarked with a snap of his napkin.
Junayd scowled at his brother. “I don’t need help finding new lovers. I have questions that I'd like answered.”
“What questions?” Idella asked, sipping her wine and studying him over the rim of her glass.
“Is Midnight the same as you?" he quietly asked. "Does Midnight have the same skills as the woman who saved Tarek’s life in the Black Mountains?”
Idella recovered quickly from her surprise at his knowledge. He knew from the pulsing muscle in Tarek’s cheek that his brother didn’t want Idella to answer. She must have laid her hand on Tarek’s knee because he took a deep breath and sat back. Junayd took a bite of his meal, giving Idella time to absorb his revelation.
“No, she's not the same," she replied, "but that doesn’t mean she isn’t dangerous. Midnight works for me, but she also has her own… unique life. We were not raised in the conventional way. I’ve told my story to Tarek. I hope you will accept that for your safety and your family's safety, some things are best left alone. I will never harm Tarek or any of his family… as long as they are not a threat to Tarek. Midnight’s story is her own to tell.”
“Where is she?” he asked.
Idella released a rueful chuckle. “Unless she is at the club, I can honestly say I don’t know. I pay her under the table. Most of those working here have an unusual background. The club is a safe haven for them. Outside the club, their lives are their own.”
“Can you at least tell mewhenyou expect her to work here again?”
“I’ll find out,” she said, lifting her hand.
As if by magic, Karly appeared. “Yes?”
“Please ask Wallace when Midnight is expected to work again.”
Karly nodded and turned. As she passed the table that held two of Tarek's guards, she scowled at Butrus. Junayd lifted an eyebrow at the petite server's ire. Butrus’s lips curled with satisfaction, the big man sitting back as his gaze followed Karly.
“I assume your interest in Midnight has something to do with Mr. Quest’s unforeseen incident at Albert Benning’s event,” Idella said.
“I believe she is myAlmukhtar.”
Tarek’s fork dropped to his plate with a clatter. Idella's expression was shocked. Junayd continued eating, enjoying being the one to stun his all-knowing brother into silence. It didn’t happen often.
Seven
Midnight was not scheduled to return to Colours for another week. Junayd tapped his fingers on the table and sipped his drink, thinking about his next move. Surely someone in the club knew where Midnight lived!Someonemust have seen her somewhere. This was one of the largest cities in the world! And she was unforgettable, completely unique and distinctive.
He vaguely listened to Idella and Tarek as their conversation turned to the current performers on the stage. He looked up when a large bald man in his forties crossed to their table. His security badge reflected the table's light as he bent and spoke quietly to Idella. She nodded and murmured an inaudible response.
“What is it?” Tarek asked.
“There was gang violence about a block from here. Several members were injured. This area is safe from one gang, but a new one is trying to take over. I need to speak with my security team.”
“I’ll go with you,” Tarek suggested.
Idella caressed his cheek. “It won’t take long. Why don’t you show Junayd the atrium? I’ll meet you up there as soon as I’m finished.”
“How about both of you go take care of the issue and I take myself upstairs to the atrium?” Junayd countered.
Tarek rose from his seat, pulling Idella with him. “I like that option better,” he stated.