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)
“Shabina.”
Larado just said her name. Nothing else, but she knew he was giving her an order. She didn’t care what any of them said. This confrontation was important to her. Darian Lefebre had terrorized her for too long. She wasn’t going to let fear rule her, not one minute longer. She lifted her chin at the approaching small party of men surrounded by bodyguards, the senator and several reporters with cameras.
“Shabina. It’s wonderful to see you,” Senator Frye greeted jovially. “I’ve brought these gentlemen to your wonderful café.” He gestured toward the men dressed in impeccable suits.
“I’m sorry, Senator, but those men are not allowed in my café.”
The smile faded from Frye’s face. “You don’t understand, Shabina. These are important guests of our country.”
Lefebre looked her up and down, his dark eyes filled with malice. She didn’t so much as flinch. She shot him back a look of utter contempt. The cameraman with them began to take video while the reporters held microphones out.
“The man you are attempting to bring into my café is not welcome. He isn’t an important diplomat, or at least he wouldn’t be if his country knew his real identity.”
Lefebre stepped closer to her, moving out of the circle of his bodyguards. “Be very careful what you accuse me of.”
“He goes by the name of Scorpion. He kidnapped me and held me for months. He raped and tortured me. I have scars to prove it. In fact, there are many photographs the government has of what I looked like at sixteen before I was rescued. That’s the man you’re so eager to do business with, Senator.”
The cameraman had centered his attention on Lefebre. Lefebre shook his head. “She is mistaken. It is true that the men I traveled with were proven to be Scorpion and his accomplices. I feel terrible that these men were allowed into countries because they worked for me. If what she says is true, she would have been traumatized to such an extent that it is no wonder she is confused.” He sounded forgiving, sorrowful and benevolent at the same time.
“It would be impossible to be raped repeatedly by the same man and mistake him for someone else,” Shabina said. “I personally witnessed you murder men, women and children. Even infants. I have the right to refuse service to anyone, and I’m refusing service to you.”
Lefebre stepped even closer, and she caught the flash of a gleaming blade as the sun struck the curved knife he pulled from his sleeve and tried to conceal along his wrist as he glided straight at her.
Shabina turned slightly and stayed on the balls of her feet. As Lefebre suddenly burst toward her in a show of speed, she slammed her fist against his arm, blocking the upward stab at her abdomen. She swept his legs out from under him, catching his wrist and snapping his arm behind his body, forcing him to drop the knife.
“She attacked me,” Lefebre said. “I want her arrested.”
His bodyguards surged forward, but Larado and his team became a solid wall in front of her, preventing them from getting to her. She kicked the knife away and bent down to whisper in Lefebre’s ear.
“Deadly Storms knows you’re here. You made a big mistake, and now he’s locked on to you. You won’t escape death this time.” Stepping back quickly, she avoided Senator Frye and the reporters, backing up until she was once again in the doorway of her café.
Furious, Lefebre shouted to his men to come to his aid. Her protection team stepped aside, moving to block the entrance and any access to Shabina. Frye and his people hastily got Lefebre back into a vehicle, but not without Frye stating he would have her investigated. That she was a disgrace for treating an important man from another country the way she had.
Shabina turned and fully entered the café. At first there was total silence, and then applause broke out.
She sent her customers a wry smile. “I’m really going to start charging extra for the show. It seems this is the place to come if you want to see drama.” She did her best to make light of the situation.
Her customers applauded again. She had the best customers, locals and tourists alike. Well—as long as Bale or Sean didn’t show up.
Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it out to look at the screen.
Proud of you, Qadri. That takedown was classic.
He ended the sentence with three heart emojis.
Will see you after I finish the job.
She knew he wasn’t talking about inventory. She sent him several hearts.
* * *
—
Lefebre woke sweating. He was surrounded by bodyguards. Two were on alert in the bedroom. One was over by the window, the other lying across the doorway, making it impossible for an intruder to enter. Three others were outside his room. He was three stories up, and he’d made certain the room he was in was difficult to access.