He turned his attention to the man who was standing with his head bowed. “What was in the vial?” he asked.
The man didn’t respond. The guards’ hands tightened and the man winced. Junayd studied the white, crystalline powder.
Strychnine?he guessed.
Mixed in with his coffee, he might not recognize the bitter taste until it was too late. The man would have been gone and Junayd would be just a moment away from death. He rolled the vial between his fingers.
“Who are you working for?” he coolly inquired.
The man pursed his lips and glared defiantly. Junayd stepped forward, his eyes glittering with cold determination. He lifted the vial in front of the man’s face and was about to ask again when his phone vibrated. He pulled it out, frowning when he saw the number. He accepted the call.
“Is everything alright?” he asked.
“We’re under attack. I’ve… I’ve been hit,” Issa replied faintly.
“Let me have the phone,” Badr interjected, her voice coming through the phone distantly until she said, “Your Highness, Issa has been shot. He is barely conscious. There are three people—” In the background, Junayd heard Issa issue a correction. “There are three ‘assailants’. At least, that is all we can see on the cameras.”
“Where is Midnight? Is she with you? Where are you?” Junayd demanded.
“We are in the safe room with the security equipment. Midnight… couldn’t get across into the house. She is hiding outside.”
Junayd cursed under his breath, his eyes flashing to the obstinate man standing between the guards. Rage and helplessness surged through him. He felt as if he would choke on the emotions.
“I will be there as soon as I can. Help is on the way,” he promised.
“We will be safe. I worry about Midnight,” Badr said, tears thickening her voice.
“She is smart. She’ll know how to hide. Stay on the line. I will transfer you to Tarek’s office. He will coordinate a response team.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Junayd connected to Tarek’s office.
“Hi, Junayd. How is the kidnapping going?” Tarek greeted.
“I need your help. At least three mercenaries are currently attacking my desert residence. They shot Issa, and Midnight is in danger. I also have a man in my office who tried to poison me. He’s in custody.”
“I’ll send a response team immediately. Has the man in your office talked yet?”
“Not yet, but he will,” Junayd vowed.
The man had no idea how many pain points were in the human body. Junayd would use every skill he had to get the information he needed—and if anything happened to Midnight….
The man will wish he was dead long before I give him that luxury.
The man’s expression was carefully blank in the face of Junayd’s murderous rage.
“Bring him into my office. I want answers.”
“Sire?” Ashar said, his face paling.
“Ashar, you are not required to be here. Take the vial and the coffee over to the Security lab to be analyzed.”
“Ye-yes, Your Highness,” Ashar said, looking without any sympathy at the man who was now struggling against his captors.
Ashar hurried away with the vial and the coffee, while the guards shoved the assailant into a chair.
Junayd nodded to the guard closest to him. “Restrain his arms and feet, and then leave us.”