Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Raine nodded toward a table in the front. It was located directly across from the two men from Paris, the ones who had claimed to be Interpol agents. “Those four men sitting at that table work for Rainier’s company. All of them have had distinguished careers, and when I say they’re lethal, I mean it. Rainier’s got a full security team here.”
Shabina’s breath hissed out between her teeth. “That man is going to hear from me about this. I should have known when he agreed to take all the dogs running with us. I thought he was being sweet. He wanted to leave three at home to protect the property. All along, that snake had a security team watching my home and the…” Her voice trailed off.
“And the?” Vienna prompted.
Shabina sighed. “Bale threatened to burn down the café. I believe he’s serious about it, and I told Rainier I was afraid he might really do it. Rainier can’t be in both places at once, and he’s training the dogs to work together as a team, so we have them inside the house with us and outside on the property. I should have realized he’d bring in someone to watch the café and make sure Bale couldn’t get to it. That was why, when we had visitors at the house and nosing around the café, he didn’t seem very concerned.”
“You can’t fault him for ensuring the café was protected,” Raine pointed out, always the reasonable one.
“I can fault his lack of communication skills,” Shabina said. “We’re supposed to be a partnership. He doesn’t get to arbitrarily make decisions.”
Raine laughed, the sound unexpected and very musical. “Seriously, Shabina? Rainier will always be the one making decisions when it comes to your safety. He’s been doing it since you were sixteen years old. No one has ever been able to stop him, and believe me, your father tried. He went out of his way to try to ruin Rainier’s career in the CIA.”
“My father is going to lose his mind when he finds out I married Rainier. I haven’t told him yet.”
Vienna raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t told your parents you got married?”
Shabina shook her head. “I have this terrible feeling my father is involved in some of the crap that’s been going on.”
“Such as?” Vienna prompted, casting a worried frown toward Raine.
Shabina noted Raine didn’t look surprised. In fact, she wore an expressionless mask, conveying to Shabina she knew more than she was telling.
“I hate to even say this and feel guilty for thinking it, but if my mother’s upset because I’m not living with them, I believe my father’s capable of going to any lengths to bring me back home. That would include doing his best to trigger a PTSD episode. If he did that, he might put me in a hospital and try to get the doctors to state I need constant care. He isn’t above paying doctors to get his way.”
Vienna looked horrified. “Your own father? Do you really think he’d do that?”
It was Raine who answered. “Yes. He’s paying two university students a great deal of money to do just that.”
Shabina closed her eyes at the confirmation. She allowed her mind to absorb the blow. For a moment she considered walking back into the kitchen and putting her arms around Rainier, just having him hold her. She felt safe with him. Loved by him.
She took a deep breath. “I was so afraid that would be the case, but at the same time, at least I know I’m not being framed for murder.”
“But he’s taking the chance of driving you insane.” Vienna was angry now. “And who are these students helping him? What are they doing?”
“Emar Salhi and Jamal Talbi both come from Algeria and are students attending the university,” Raine said. “Jack Foster, Shabina’s father, has been placing money in their accounts for weeks. I traced the sale of two laughing doves, the toxic desert rose, a Qaisumah diamond, oud perfume, and miswak sticks to Shabina’s father. He had the items sent directly to Salhi and Talbi at a rented Airbnb here. It’s a small farmhouse they’re sharing with two other students.”
“Do the other students know what they’re doing?” Shabina asked.
“I doubt it,” Raine said. “There’s no money going into their accounts.”
Vienna looked furious. “We should talk to Harlow and see if her father can get their visas revoked. I’d like to see them deported. What jerks. I can’t believe they would be a part of such a vile conspiracy.”
“Rainier has already started the process of sending them back to their country,” Raine said. “Your man doesn’t tolerate attacks on you. That’s the bottom line. Jack’s only protection is that he’s your father.”
“I’m worried about what he might do to Bale,” Shabina admitted. “Rainier is always calm and purposeful, but I know him well enough to realize Bale could be a target for him. No one should put themselves in his crosshairs, and Bale did that. Unfortunately, Rafferty and those FBI agents were right there. If Bale has an accident and someone gets suspicious, they’ll look straight at Rainier.”