Giving him one last impatient look, Shaheen clasped her hand and led her to the western veranda, where she noticed for the first time a clearance that must be a launching/landing pad.
It was. In seconds, the helicopter landed there. As the rotors winded down, a very tall, broad man jumped down from the pilot’s side. He rushed to the passenger’s side to help a woman down, his movements as tender as Shaheen’s were with her. She worked out the woman’s identity when she recognized the man. Kamal Aal Masood, the king of Judar.
Sure enough, Aliyah came into view, proving Johara’s deduction. And deepening her agitation.
From the grim expression on Aliyah’s face as she approached the villa with her juggernaut of a husband, Johara knew that her reason for interrupting them the other night hadn’t been resolved. And Johara was certain that it concerned her. Probably Amjad’s same concern. And Aliyah was back to broach the subject with Shaheen, with a one-man army as reinforcement.
The regal couple walked into the villa. Shaheen received them with her at his side, hugging them both and introducing her to Kamal. Kamal gallantly kissed her hand. Aliyah gave her the accustomed three kisses, one on one cheek, two on the other. It all seemed genial enough, but Johara vibrated with the tension radiating from the couple, from the whole scene.
Amjad advanced on them, pulled Aliyah in for a quick kiss, thumped Kamal on the back, then got to the point without preamble, breaking the stilted cordiality. “So, Kamal, what warrants the presence of the king of Judar on our soil and on such a clandestine visit, too?”
Kamal gave Amjad a smile that echoed his own, that of a man who knew his own power to its last iota, was versed in wielding it to its most destructive limits, who tolerated nothing but his own way, always. “So which part of ‘clandestine’ don’t you get, Amjad?”
Aliyah arched an exquisite eyebrow at him. “Yes, Amjad, if we wanted you to be involved, we wouldn’t have come here.”
Amjad held a hand to his heart as if Aliyah had shot him there with a barb. “Whoa. My little cousin-turned-sister has grown some sharp fangs. Especially with your weapon-of-mass-destruction husband at hand.”
Kamal coughed a laugh. “If you think she’s baring her fangs because I’m here, then you should be reintroduced to your little cousin-turned-sister. I’m the one who holds her back when she wants to rip you to shreds. You remind her too much of me before she…unscrambled me.”
Amjad gave him a look of mock sweetness, belittlment blaring in it. “Yes, I can see you’re all ‘fixed.’”
Aliyah harrumphed. “You should be so lucky to find someone who’d ‘fix’ you, too, Amjad.”
“How about I pass, sis? For the next few rein carnations.”
Kamal stepped nearer, his smile becoming as confrontational as Amjad’s was disparaging. “How about I ‘fix’ you myself?”
Amjad’s smile grew more provoking. He was clearly spoiling for the fight Shaheen had denied him. “That’s how you get your kicks nowadays, Kamal? You can’t win against the lady who has you whipped, so you pick fights to win her lenience? Shaheen just finished attempting the same thing, by the way.”
“You know, Amjad, I’ve been wanting to deck you for a long time. Now is as good a time as any to finally act on the impulse.”
As the two men squared off, Johara found herself absently thinking they could have been brothers, too. And it wasn’t just their height and looks. Kamal had more in common with Amjad than Shaheen did. There was the same harshness about him, chiseled into his face and carved into his being. This man could be ruthless. Must regularly be so, to be able to govern Zohayd’s big sister kingdom so well, to be obeyed so completely in this volatile region.
Aliyah pushed the two men apart, one hand perpendicular to the other. “Okay, testosterone timeout. In your corners, boys.”
Johara blinked at the transformation that came over Kamal as he looked at Aliyah. It was a shock to see softness melting him, love and devotion possessing his every feature and move. Johara recognized the emotions that she and Shaheen shared. She had no doubt Aliyah was everything to Kamal, that he’d die for her. And vice versa.
Kamal gave Aliyah a loving squeeze. “Just because you wish it, ya rohi. But next time you want to shred him, let me know.”
Amjad snorted. “So apart from airing the fond fantasies you all have of beating me up, can I hope you’re here on an undercover mission to save Shaheen from his stupidity, too?”
Kamal’s lips twisted. “Maybe I’m here to show him some youngest-brother solidarity, sharing my expertise in swatting off nuisance older brothers.”
“You mean Farooq and Shehab?” Amjad huffed. “Those softies who left you the throne to be with their sweethearts? I almost feel it’s my duty to coach them in how to make your life harder. You have it way too easy.” At Aliyah’s jab in his gut, Amjad rolled his eyes, exhaled. “Fine. Keep your regal secrets. For now. I’ll leave you foursome to your sickeningly sweet double date.” He nodded at Johara as a parting shot. “I’ll be watching you.”
The other three bristled. Johara almost blurted out that he wouldn’t have to, not for long. But Shaheen hugged her closer to him, his protective gesture deepening her muteness.
As soon as Amjad was out of earshot, strolling nonchalantly to the door, Kamal gave a heavy exhalation. “We came here for an update on the progress of your plan and to give you our input, but…” He paused, looked apologetically at Aliyah then Shaheen. “I know I promised, and Amjad is a world-class and probably one-of-a-kind pain, but he’s an extensively powerful one, not to mention he’s got a major stake in this. Though I agree secrecy is paramount, I do believe he and Harres should be brought in now, not later. We need them.”
Shaheen’s eyes flared with alarm. “I need more time. My plan is working. I’m gathering more information every day.”
Kamal shook his head, emphatic, final. “It’s not working well enough or fast enough, Shaheen, and you know it.”
“What plan?” Johara clutched Shaheen’s arm, her heart thudding with dread. “What’s going on, Shaheen?”
Shaheen looked down at her, entreaty setting his eyes ablaze. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with, ya habibati.”
Aliyah placed her hand on his other arm. “No, Shaheen. I now believe Johara has nothing to do with this. And since she doesn’t, she needs to know. This involves her, too, as much as or even more than it does any of us.”