| The Sheiks Of Kumar - Part II The Warrior By CJ |
| Chapter 10 The Kumar Business Center was a large, modern skyscraper and it, like the palace, had much security. Especially on the top floors which housed their company offices. If Shawna hadn’t known better, she would have thought this was a typical corporate office in America. People were busy with phones, faxes and computers and few people gave them a second look as they walked through to the security department. Rafee’s office was in the corner of the floor. People in his department, however, noticed his entrance and several greeted him with a wave, a smile or a word. There were faxes and mail piled in his in-box and Shawna realized that a week or two away from his duty at this office meant playing lots of catch up. They entered his office and Rafee gestured toward one of the black leather chairs that sat in front of his desk. Shawna sat down and Rafee was just about to close the door when a tall, leggy brunette pushed the door open and hugged Rafee playfully around the neck. She was wearing a finely tailored gray suit with a decidedly short skirt. Her dark hair was bobbed at her chin and shone brilliantly in the light. She spoke to him in Arabic and Shawna watched as he returned the embrace. Pulling away, the young woman noticed Shawna and quickly put out her hand. “Hello, I’m Anika,” she said in that same perfect English Rafee and Nik spoke with. “Shawna Patrick,” Shawna replied, shaking the woman’s hand. Shawna wondered who this woman was and actually felt a pang of jealousy over the way she had so intimately greeted Rafee. Looping her arm through Rafee’s and leaning against him as though they were lifelong friends, Anika asked, “Rafee, please tell me this is good news. Have you brought someone home to meet the family?” Brushing her off, he frowned and quickly moved away. “Of course not,” he said sharply. Then he looked at Shawna and explained, “You’ll have to excuse my cousin. She is nothing but a love-sick girl wishing everyone would wind up like herself.” Slowly, Shawna exhaled a breath of relief. This was Anika, Laxman’s daughter--the woman who was in love with Devesh. No wonder she had clung to Rafee in greeting, they were family and she was not competition. Competition? Shawna rolled that thought around in her mind. Could she even have a relationship with Rafee? Was there hope for them? He lived in Kumar, she lived in California. It didn’t appear as if it could ever work. “And speaking of love, how is Devesh? He did return, didn’t he?” Anika asked. “Yes, he is at the palace assisting Nikash with wedding plans,” Rafee said. “Tell him I said hello,” she requested. “Why don’t you call him yourself?” “Because, father has our house surrounded with security. He knows of every outgoing and incoming call and guests are not allowed until all is settled,” Anika explained. “And I cannot call him while I am here at work for he is too busy during the day at the palace.” “Then perhaps you should just go to the palace yourself and visit Devesh?” Rafee suggested. “But what would father think?” Anika asked. “He says I am too young for marriage and wants me to continue school and get my Masters Degree in business in America.” She turned to look at Shawna. “At Yale. Do you know how far away from California that is?” “Not as far away as Kumar is,” Shawna reasoned. Anika nodded and again looked at Rafee for advice. He held up his hands in a defense manner and said, “Anika, I have told you my opinion. Laxman is not an ogre.” “No, but he is not as understanding as Aarif. Nikash is marrying an American and Aarif did not even blink. But Laxman, well, he is not Uncle Aarif.” “Devesh is a very respectable man. His uncle has been with our family for decades and he is most definitely not American,” Rafee said. “Tell Laxman, he will come to accept your decision.” Anika waved his words off and declared, “I do not even know why I ask for your help. You do not know what it is to be in love, Rafee. You do not understand what it is to fear that your love will be taken away from you. You who have declared that love is only for fools should not give me advice.” Shawna learned more about Rafee in that exchange than she had in all the days she’d worked alongside him. He’d never been in love and he professed that he never would fall in love. That said a lot to Shawna and told her that perhaps she should forget her attraction. But how could she forget it when her heart and soul ached just from the sight of his handsome face? Oh, how she could relate to Anika! Suddenly, she realized she felt very deeply for Rafee. Though he had shunned her and hurt her feelings with his departure last Saturday night, she still could not deny that his rough ways had woven into the fabric of her heart. “Then do not seek my advice, Anika,” Rafee suggested. Anika shook her head at her cousin and left the office. “That is precisely why I have remained single,” Rafee quipped. “Love, relationships, they are too much trouble.” Then his eyes locked on Shawna and he inquired, “Why are you single, Shawna?” Shawna shrugged. A wicked grin filled Rafee’s face and he asked, “Have you dated too many losers?” “You’ve been talking to my brothers, haven’t you?” His smiled widened. “Every man I date is a loser according to them. They’re my brothers. They only like the men I’m not dating, like you.” His smile disappeared. “And you would never consider dating me! You made that perfectly clear last Saturday night.” Obviously the scene at her apartment was bothering both of them. Otherwise, Rafee would not have mentioned it again. “I told you there was an explanation for what happened, but you wouldn’t listen,” Shawna said. “I am listening now,” Rafee said. How to begin? Shawna opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Then, before she could even attempt another try, the office door opened and an excited British man exclaimed, “Rafee, I got a hit on Jamaal!” Rafee was out of his chair and walking toward the door so fast that Shawna nearly snapped her neck trying to watch him leave. He gestured for her as an afterthought and she chased after him. The man took them to his office and pointed to the display on his computer. Rafee read the screen and then told Shawna, “The background check on Jamaal shows that he has ties with a small Saudi fundamentalist group. He’s changed his name in the past few years to cover his tracks, so it’s taken some time to trace him.” “How long has he worked on Nik’s staff?” Shawna asked. “Only a year. Before I took over both the palace security we had another man that was in charge. I’m afraid he wasn’t quite as diligent in his background checks. He only did periphery checks and Jamaal must have slipped through the cracks. Needless to say, I fired the man six months ago and assumed the responsibilities of the palace myself once I discovered his laziness.” Rafee was a difficult man to please and this again was proof that if she had slept with him, he only would have pointed out her inadequacies. “This is great news, Carson,” he said to the man. “Print this out and get me a copy. Then, have people start looking into this fundamentalist group. Dig up everything you can.” It was a wonderful break in the case and Shawna wanted to get started on it right away as well. While Rafee cleared out his in-box, Shawna worked on his computer, searching the Internet for information on the group. The Internet was an interesting place. Rebel groups, revolutionary coalitions and even radical organizations all had their own website. A person with enough patience could search for hours and discover almost all there was to discover on the web about a specific cause. But from the hours she spent that day, she found absolutely no mention of that particular group. “I can’t find a thing,” Shawna said. “I hope your people are having better luck.” She looked at the printout again that Carson had prepared and said, “I think I’ll scan this and email it to my brother if that’s all right. Perhaps he can catch some leads in California for us.” “Go ahead,” Rafee said. “And do not give up your search. There is bound to be something out there on that group Jamaal once belonged to. Just the fact that we know he had some ties is enough to prompt suspicion.” And worry, Rafee wanted to add. Finding a link to a Saudi fundamentalist group was sending his radar into overdrive for such groups could reek havoc with little warning. They left the office after the sun had set and during the drive back to the palace, Rafee kept his eyes pealed for anything out of the ordinary. Traffic was flowing as usual and as they reached the two-lane road that led toward the palace, an unusual event happened that justified his taught nerves. A car raced up to the rear of their Suburban and honked its horn then carelessly whipped around to the other lane causing oncoming traffic to honk and swerve wildly. His driver was well trained, however, and did not panic. He began to ease the car to the side to avoid collision, but he did not stop. Just as the reckless car pulled in front of them, a loud bang exploded in the night air and Rafee immediately pulled Shawna down to the floor of the back seat and covered her while pulling his gun. The driver shouted something unidentifiable and ducked too, nearly swerving off the road. He almost stopped, but Rafee saw the reckless car had pulled off the road up ahead and he shouted for his driver to continue. “Go, quickly!” Rafee urged in his own language. “Back to the palace and stop for no one.” The car lurched forward and Rafee was so tempted to look back through the window and see if the reckless car was following. But it was not safe. If that had been a gunshot they had heard, he needed to remain out of view and protect Shawna. They arrived at the palace a few minutes later and as soon as it was safe, he jumped out of the car and inspected every inch of the Suburban with the driver. Had the incident been nothing more than a careless driver with a backfiring car? Or had it been an attempt to run their car off the road? He found his answer when they reached the right front fender. Lodged in the fender was a small caliber round from a handgun. He cursed the night! Events were growing more dangerous and if he didn’t find the answers to their dilemma soon, things could turn deadly. “Rafee?” Shawna asked as she exited the car. “What happened?” She rounded the car and saw the hole. She gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh, my goodness! We were shot at.” For a woman who had just been shot at, Rafee thought she was handling it with much calm. But there was a fearful look in her eyes and her hand shook slightly as she reached out and touched his arm. To his driver, he instructed, “Call the authorities and tell them what has happened. Give them a description of the car and have them send someone out to collect the bullet for evidence.” The man nodded and started for the door. Rafee called after him, “Do not tell anyone in the family what has happened.” He nodded again and disappeared inside the house. Turning to Shawna, Rafee asked, “Are you hurt?” “No, I’m fine,” she said. “Just shocked. It all happened so fast.” He realized his hand was on her face. He needed to touch her to ensure that she was fine. When the gunshot had erupted, his first instinct had been to protect Shawna. Now that he had discovered the reality of the danger, his instinct was to check to ensure she was fine. It was strange how he was feeling, but he was too shaken and too overwhelmed with thoughts of what had happened to analyze his actions now. “I know,” he said soothingly and he felt his own hands shake slightly upon her cheeks. He bent his forehead to touch hers as her hands moved to his forearms. “Look at me,” he added, “I’m shaking almost as badly as you.” “That’s all right. I don’t blame you. We were just shot at,” she said softly. “And you’re sure you are all right?” he asked again. “Fine. Thanks for asking.” He could no longer hold back. He had to hold her. He had to feel her reassuring strength in his arms. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders he clasped her tightly and brought her against his chest. She responded by encircling her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. They just stood there under the starlit sky, holding each other for comfort and security. It was the first embrace that had not turned into a passionate exchange and Shawna admitted that Rafee had a more gentle side than he would ever admit to owning. “If anything had happened to you…” he began to say and then halted. He realized that if anything had happened to Shawna, he would not have been able to forgive himself. What did that mean? Did it mean he cared more for her than he realized? Or did it mean he simply felt responsible for her life since she was his guest? “Yes?” she asked, pulling her head from his chest to search his face for his answer. He allowed a crooked grin to find his lips and continued, “Your brothers would have killed me.” “I suppose you’re right,” Shawna said with a sigh. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t snuggle against his chest again either. She had been hoping he would say something more profound, but he had not and that disappointed her. “Rafee,” came a man’s voice. Sheik Aarif appeared on the covered walkway and his eyes searched his son curiously. Slowly, Shawna and Rafee released one another and turned to face the approaching man. “Did I interrupt anything?” he inquired. “No, father,” Rafee answered. “Why would you ask that?” Sheik Aarif threw his son a quizzical gaze and then shrugged. “I have no idea why I would assume such a thing. Are you and Ms. Patrick coming to supper?” “No, there is much work to be done,” Rafee answered. “We had a break on the case.” “That is good news,” the Sheik said. “But your mother will be most disappointed. She has had very little time with you since your return. She would also like to have the opportunity to learn more about Ms. Patrick. Little Kareem cannot stop singing her praises.” “That’s because we got engaged over breakfast,” Shawna said, hoping she sounded light though her nerves were still taught over the incident on the road. “Ah, I see,” Aarif said with jest. “Then would it be safe to assume we’ll have two marriages in our future?” Shawna tried to laugh and sound light, but there was a serious glint in the sheik’s eyes as he stared at Rafee. Rafee ignored his father’s stare and gestured toward the walkway. “Come, let us go inside,” Rafee suggested. “Please give my apologies to mother and the rest of the family.” “I will,” Aarif agreed, “but you must promise to allow us the pleasure of Ms. Patrick’s company at supper sometime this week. It is not fair to keep her all to yourself.” “Agreed,” Rafee acknowledged before pulling Shawna up the main stairs and out of his father’s view. There had been a strange glint in his father’s stare and Rafee wondered why it had settled there. He’d no doubt seen the embrace, but there could be a million reasons for such an embrace. Rafee shook his head. No, under the stars and alone at night, there was only one reason a man and woman embraced. And since his father knew nothing of the shooting, he would assume that Rafee and Shawna and been enveloped in a romantic episode. ** They’d worked half the night, barely eating the food Samar had brought them and taken a break only long enough to shower away the day’s heat and change into cool, comfortable clothing. Shawna was sitting in a cushy leather chair, her feet tucked beneath her, and wearing a plain white spaghetti strap tank-top and light blue cotton pajama bottoms. Her eyes stung and though she was comfortable in the chair as she sat in front of the open window, she was tired of looking at her computer screen. She searched and searched the Internet some more for information on Saudi Arabia and Kumar’s history looking for any clue that would tie in Jamaal and the recent events that had transpired. Rafee was seated at his desk, searching his government’s databases that he had access to. Every once in a while, one of them would jot something down on a pad of paper, but nothing seemed important enough to share yet. “I can’t look at another website,” Shawna groaned. “I now know more about Saudi Arabia and Kumar’s history than I do America’s.” Rafee checked the clock on his desk and exited from his government database. “You’re right, it’s too late to keep looking,” he agreed. “I’ll bet the entire palace is asleep by now.” Shawna turned off her computer and stood, stretching her arms and legs as she did. The food on the tray was now cold and looking very unappetizing, but her stomach was growling. Rafee moved behind her and looked over her shoulder at the tray. His soft cotton beige T-shirt brushed her arm and she felt the jolt all the way down to her toes. She stepped away, not wanting to keep feeling those sensations but unable to keep her eyes from taking in the form of his shoulders and chest through his T-shirt and the casual look of him barefoot in white drawstring pants. “Cold supper is not very appetizing this time of night,” he remarked picking up the tray. “Let’s go raid the kitchen.” “You’ve got yourself a date,” Shawna agreed. They padded through the empty marble halls of the palace. A few security men were about, roaming the halls with hand-held radios turned low for communication, and they barely gave Rafee and Shawna a second look. In what felt like an incredibly long walk, they finally reached the kitchen. The palace kitchen was a very large and very modern room with industrial size chrome appliances. Shawna was positive that during a royal dinner party, the kitchen would be abuzz with activity and chefs. Tonight, however, it was empty and they set the left over dinner on the counter and compiled snacks of their choosing. Armed with food and drink, Rafee led the way out the back and to the pool. A brick patio lined one edge of the pool and grass and palm fronds lined the other side. They opted for the grass where the heat of the desert sun had been cooled by the blades of the greenery. Sitting on redwood chairs around a matching table, they ate their midnight snack and discussed what they had uncovered or failed to uncover. “What exactly did your authorities do when they looked at the car?” Shawna inquired, having been in the shower when the Kumar authorities had sent an inspector out to speak with Rafee. “They collected the bullet for evidence, took a few pictures of the vehicle and said they found several vehicles matching the description of the car, but that no gun was uncovered,” he explained. “They won’t find them,” he added. “The car was a basic two-door that a thousand people here drive. We didn’t have a chance to see the licensing decals either.” “And your government databases? Any information on Jamaal or this fundamentalist group of his?” Shawna inquired. “None. How about you?” “Just lots and lots of facts,” she said. “But nothing that seems to fit. There are so many radical groups and movements in the Middle East I can’t seem to tell which events are important and which aren’t. But I’ll start to make sense of everything. The more I learn of it, the more I’ll be able to decide what’s important and what’s not.” “I know you will too,” Rafee complimented. “You have caught on quickly to my case.” “A compliment? I’m stunned,” Shawna drawled. Toying with his empty glass and avoiding at all costs looking into those piercing green eyes of hers, Rafee admitted, “I know I have not been as polite as I should lately and I am sorry.” “You’re under stress, I understand,” she replied. “Yes, but stress had nothing to do with what I said to you Saturday night,” he insisted. So, once again, they had traveled down the path of Saturday night. They’d brought it up several times on the verge of discussion, but never to finish the conversation. “It didn’t?” she inquired. He shook his head and finally looked her in the eye. “I said words to make it sound like I wanted to leave.” “So you don’t think I play games with men?” Shawna asked. “No, you play no games. It is not in you to be conniving.” “Then why didn’t you stay and let me explain myself?” “Because, there was too much going through my mind and because you were right to stop us. I had no right seducing you.” Instead of answering her questions, his words only confused her more. “You didn’t seduce me,” Shawna said. “We were both participating.” “Yes, but you stopped it,” he pointed out. “And for a reason,” she said then bravely added, “I haven’t been with many men. I felt a little awkward.” Rafee hoped his face didn’t show his surprise because when he thought about how quickly and expertly Shawna had turned him on, he couldn’t believe that she was barely experienced. She had a way of taking control of his desires and making him want her desperately. How could it be that she saw herself as an awkward in the bedroom? “Awkward? Why?” he decided to question. “Because its been nearly eight years since…well, since…” She blushed and mumbled, “Well, you get the idea.” “Indeed, I do,” he chuckled. “But I do not believe you!” “Why not?” she asked, glad he was making light of her words and not gaping at her like some sort of misfit. “Because you are too beautiful a woman to have been ignore by men for that long,” he professed. Shawna smiled, enjoying the conversation in the night, despite its sensitive topic. “You remember what my brother said, I dated losers,” she joked. “That’s because you were dating American men,” Rafee returned with the same humor. “Perhaps. But do you really think the men of Kumar would be able to put up with an independent minded private investigator like myself who runs three miles a day and has three incredibly overbearing brothers?” “The men of Kumar appreciate a woman’s strengths,” he declared. “I appreciate a woman’s strengths.” Remembering again why she had felt awkward in the bedroom, Shawna returned, “I have a feeling you appreciate much about a woman and that’s what had me feeling so awkward.” “I do not understand,” he replied with a furrowed brow. Taking a deep breath because it was easiest just to get everything out now while they were talking amicably, Shawna explained, “You’ve no doubt been with more women than I have men. Probably a lot more. You seem so…practiced. I was afraid I couldn’t keep up.” “How many men have you been with?” he asked with curiosity. “One,” she stated. The fear he had seen in her eyes Saturday night now made perfect sense. She had not been afraid of him as a person, but rather of his experience, of his prowess. Even Nikash had insisted Rafee was too experienced in his ways for Shawna. Had he really lived his life so recklessly? He thought for a moment and realized that though he had not dated anyone seriously, he had been very selective. And it had been a while since he’d been in the company of a woman. Now that he thought about it, he’d been too busy working to think about women. Meeting Shawna had knocked him off his feet and he was just now realizing it. Standing and rounding the table, he held out his hand to her and said simply, “Come here.” She hesitated, then placed her soft hand in his. He pulled her from her chair and indicated for her to sit down in the grass. He sat facing her. “Do not worry, I’m not trying anything inappropriate,” he assured her. “I’m too tired right now to try.” Shawna giggled nervously and noticed that Rafee was still holding her hand gently in his. He caressed her hand with his thumb and sat casually, looking at her face. “I think maybe I have taken your passion for granted,” he stated, “and assumed you were more experienced than you are. If you were feeling awkward, it was my fault, not yours.” “Don’t think I’m complaining, Rafee,” she said. “I mean, I liked it. But what if I…what if I wasn’t good enough? We’d fought so much and I professed at every turn that I was a match for you in every way. If I had gone to bed with you…” She felt tears building in her eyes. Confessing her inner most fears to this man was difficult. Would he laugh at her, chastise her, or would he actually understand? “If you had gone to bed with me,” he assured her as he stroked her cheek and whispered softly, “you would have been perfect.” The moon was a silver-blue overhead and the desert was soundless in the velvet night. As he touched her face and stared at her with understanding eyes, Shawna felt her heart grow more attached. She could fall in love with this man if circumstances were different, if they lived on the same continent. But they each had their lives and their duties and their careers. It would never be. Rafee leaned forward and placed a small kiss upon her lips. It was a gentle, tender touch and he felt more in that small peck than he had in any wanton touch with another woman. He wanted to kiss her again, but this night was made for talking, not making love. “You can kiss me again,” Shawna insisted when Rafee halted. Pulling back and then laying casually on his side he said, “I know how it feels to doubt yourself, Shawna. So I won’t kiss you again tonight. I will not push you, but I also do not want to have to stop anything as abruptly as we did Saturday night. I will keep my distance.” “Forever?” she asked. “I have not yet decided,” he said then rolled to his back and gazed up at the stars. “If only life weren’t so complicated right now.” “The trouble here with the threats is vexing,” Shawna agreed. “It is more than vexing, it is tearing me apart inside.” Rafee’s confession erased all thoughts of romance Shawna had been considering staring at his body as he laid in front of her for it was very unlike him. He never confessed his fears. And until this moment, she never even imaged he harbored fears. “How so?” she asked. Feeling a connection and a trust with Shawna, Rafee admitted all that had been boiling to the surface. Tonight’s drive home had brought everything to the breaking point inside him and for once he felt like leaning on another person. “It all lies entirely upon my shoulders,” he said quietly. “Being back home and after what happened tonight has me wondering if I can solve this and protect my family at the same time. I couldn’t even keep myself out of danger. If I can’t protect myself, how can I protect my entire family?” “You don’t have to do it all yourself,” Shawna told him. “You have a staff of qualified security personnel, we have good contacts helping in America and you have me here.” He moved and laid his head upon her lap. Her hand landed in his hair and she gently stroked through its soft locks. “And your help is much appreciated. It’s good to know I have someone to trust with this situation. But until this crisis, I could always do it alone.” He had never reached out to another person asking for comfort. With Shawna, however, it felt natural as if he had relied upon her his entire life. “And I have a feeling you could accomplish anything you set your mind to. The point is, you don’t have to bear all the responsibility, Rafee. You can share the responsibility.” “I do appreciate your words, darling, but the fact remains that it is my duty to protect this family, just as it is Nikash’s duty to inherit the crown. There is no ducking my responsibilities and I have no choice but to be strong.” His voice was a whisper now and his hand landed on her thigh. It was not a sexual touch, it was merely a touch possessing more curiosity than fire. For Shawna, however, any touch from Rafee ignited a fire. “It is not a choice for you to be strong,” Shawna said. “You just are strong.” He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He was safe with Shawna and again it struck him as odd that he would even need to feel safe with a woman. But since college, he had avoided commitment because he was afraid to allow himself to feel safe in a relationship. Was this the beginning of something new for him? He wasn’t sure. But tonight was not the night to ask those questions. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Warrior - Chapter 11 |