Captive- Veiled Desires (14 page)

“What are you doing here all by yourself then? Where are the rest of your men?” the man demanded.

“I’ve just married my wife. And I was showing her the vast beauty of the Registan Desert when you interrupted.”

“I think all you say are lies.”

Adam wanted to roll his eyes. He didn’t know how he could convince the idiot anymore. What he was certain about though, was that if he continued to point his gun at him, between the two of them, one wouldn’t be alive by evening twilight.

But there was Nora to think about. What he could have done on his own was something he couldn’t do now if that meant risking her life.

“Listen.” He sighed. “If you’ll only come with me…

“I’m not going anywhere.  Tell me the truth! Who are you?!”

Gun shots fired in the distance, immediately catching their attention. Another group of riders shadowed in the sun. A single bullet fired into the sand between Adam and the man, warning the latter to step back.

Adam smiled. “Now, do you believe me?”

Adam watched the men scramble onto their animals and gallop away as fast they could, leaving a trail of dust in the air.

“Are you sure they won’t come back?” Nora looked over at the disappearing figures in the horizon.

“I doubt they will. Not when they know we’ve got them to back us up.” He pointed at the emerging group of six camel riders.

“Are they your men?” she asked, afraid it was just going to be another group of outlaws seeking to terrorize them.

Adam smiled and clasped her hand as they neared them.

“Didn’t I arrive on time?” Basel grinned. “Who were they?”

“Just extremists,” Adam brushed off. “What are you doing here?”

“No ‘thank you’ or ‘so glad to see you’? That’s a little inappreciative of you,” Basel teased. “You said you’d be back by sunset. And when you didn’t show up, we assumed you might have met with some trouble.”

“Thanks.  We faced a bit of storm last night and then those men today delayed us more.”

Basel glanced over at Nora who was clutching tightly onto Adam’s arm.

“Does she know any Pashto at all?” he asked.

Adam didn’t answer, leading Nora to her camel instead.

“Well, you should teach her or she would find it hard to assimilate. It wouldn’t make her seem so much a foreigner,” Basel continued.

A muscle tensed in Adam’s jaw. Basel was right. Why had he not thought of that before?

Someone knocked on her door and Amy jerked. She shook her head, trying to calm herself down.
I’m being silly. Nothing’s going to happen to me.

But no matter how many times she told herself that, it didn’t seem to ease her at all. She walked apprehensively towards her door, fearing the worst.

“Amy,” he called out, his knocking growing slightly anxious.

“Jake,” she let out with relief. She hurriedly opened the door and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

“Are you okay? What’s going on? It took you forever to answer,” he said.

“I think you’re right, Jake,” she muttered as she walked over to her liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. “

“What about?”

“Nora’s got herself involved in something.” She poured herself a glass and then offered him one.

He shook his head. “Give me a beer.”

She turned to the fridge and pulled a can out of it. “I found a will, Jake.” Her hands trembled as she clutched onto the cold can of beer. She ran the pad of her thumb along its smooth aluminum, trying to stabilize her nerves. “She… she left everything to me.”

He covered his hand over hers and gently unclenched the poor beer can from her fingers.

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “What do I do, Jake? What has happened to Nora? She isn’t just my friend. She’s like a sister. Please… please, help me get her back.”

She fell into his arms and sobbed against his chest. He stroked her hair, kissing her lightly on her temples.

“We’ll do all we can. I promise you,” he whispered.

All we can?
Did that mean that she might never see Nora again?

Nora hadn’t protested this time when Adam hopped onto the saddle with her. And as they made their way towards the house, she had begun to drift into a sleep. Her head bobbed limply, jerking her awake occasionally.  Finally, when she did succumb to her urge to sleep, he tugged her back gently so she could lean into his chest.

He loved how she wiggled herself against him, trying to find a more comfortable spot to nap. Was she at last beginning to trust him now? In the security of his home, he wondered if she would become restless again. For the moment, he needed her beside him. It was the only place he knew where she would be safe.

“We’re here,” he said, awakening her from her deep slumber.

She fluttered her eyes open and discovered she was back in the yard which she had escaped from yesterday. But unlike then, she was beginning to appreciate the security it evoked inside her. For now, she wanted nothing more than to fall into Adam’s bed and sleep. Suddenly she felt that everything she had experienced since yesterday had taken a toll on her body. There was a heaviness inside her which could only be released by some much needed rest and comfort.

Adam lowered the camel down and then hopped off first before helping her up to her feet.

“I’ll call someone to take you up to our room,” he said.

“That’s okay.” She shook her head. “I know the way. I need a bath though. It would be great if you could arrange for one.”

“I’ll let Husna know.”

“Thanks,” she whispered. She stood there briefly, staring at him. They had spoken with so much ease, it felt weird. Hadn’t she wanted to escape from him only yesterday? Now, she was reluctant to step away from him. She wanted him to go to the room with her where she was sure she would be secure and protected. But how could she ask him that? He couldn’t linger about her forever.

“Do you want me to help you to the room?” he offered.

She blushed at the thought that he might have read her mind. “No… no. I will be fine.” She turned to walk away and then stopped. “Adam?”

He glanced up at her.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said slowly.

He watched her make her way towards his bedroom.

He had never expected her to warm up to him so quickly. Certainly not after all the pain she had put him through the last few days. But here she was thanking him for going after her and getting her back.

An irresistible smile tugged the corners of his mouth as he continued to watch her until she disappeared into their room.

“I guess things worked out for you after all,” Basel teased. “And to think you didn’t want to go after her.”

“You know I would have,” he said, stripping the camel off his saddle and blankets.

“I know now,” Basel said with amusement. “I’ve just never seen you so besotted by a woman.”

“I’m not
besotted
.”

“You can deny it all you want. But you’re definitely taken.”

Adam smiled. “Well, she’s back now and so it’s back to business and the usual.”

“Yes… about that.” Basel hesitated.

Adam straightened up, aware of the creeping cautiousness in Basel’s voice. “What’s up, Basel?”

“It’s Mateen. He’s been pushing Jahandar about the Americans. Jahandar has warned us if Mateen visits him again, he will terminate any further negotiations between Darul-Ilhaam and the American military. Apparently, Mateen roughened him up slightly and the man is not at all amused with his tactics.”

Adam swore under his breath. He was so close to the end of this damned task. He couldn’t risk Mateen ruining this for him.

“Where is Mateen?” he asked sternly.

“Fortunately, Hassan was with him and dragged him away from Jahandar. He’s taken him back to Paktika.”