Captive- Veiled Desires by Clarissa Cartharn Page B

came to know her, the more he came into contact with her, he wanted to believe there was no other alternative for her. He had spent all these years roaming alone through the deserts and he had unsurprisingly, grown tired of his own company. If he could just have her for a little while longer…
    “I hold an esteemed standing amongst my men, Nora” he said, stalling by the door. “You should consider the dire circumstances you’re in at present when you’re making your decision. I have my men watching over your friend. Don’t force me into taking that path. It’s one that can’t be undone.”
    “And what if I refuse?” she uttered. “What if I say no? Who else will you kill?”
    He fiddled with the door knob. “It seems you know very little of how we conduct our business. I’m not going to kill Amy. Far from it in fact. Every refusal you make will equate with every finger, every limb of her body. I’m sorry, but that’s how it is going to be. Considering you don’t have many people close to you, you leave me in a very precarious position.”
    “You’re worse than Mateen,” she spat out. “At least with him I knew he was a bastard. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a charlatan, a fraud. You’re kind and gentle one minute and an asshole the next. I hate you! I will always hate you!”
    He closed the door behind him. Her harsh words remained with him, echoing in his mind. Why did he allow them to impale his heart? They should mean nothing to him. But no matter how much he tried to brush them away, he had let her hurt him. Clearly, he was growing weak each time he came to know her better. He couldn’t permit this to continue. He had to prove to himself that it was he and not her who ruled his heart.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    He had been shaving when one of the younger boys of Darul-Ilhaam came running to him bearing news of the mullah’s arrival.
    “The mullah said he will carry out the marriage vows this evening,” the boy said, barely able to resist the smile on his face.
    Adam pat dried his jaw with a clean towel. The mullah’s arrival made the impending marriage seem all too surreal. Now he had to wait on whether Nora would consent to the marriage. He didn’t think she would refuse though. Not after his last threat on ripping her dearest friend apart. He hadn’t wanted to go down that route but the woman left him no choice. She could be annoyingly stubborn if she wanted to.
    “Thanks,” he said. He pulled a handful of notes from his pocket and handed it to the boy. He had brought him good news after all, hadn’t he?
    The boy accepted it happily.
    Basel watched him curiously from a chair. He waited until the boy skipped out of the room excitedly and then strolled up to him.
    “She hasn’t screamed at all today. Looks as if she’s also crazy for you,” he said. “Or are you holding something against her?”
    “Aren’t you happy I’m getting married, Basel?”
    “Of course, I am. But it certainly strikes me strange how you’re going about it.”
    “What’s so strange about it? I like her. I want her.”
    “Yeah, I suppose.” Basel shrugged off. He rubbed his forehead with the pad of his thumb. “Congratulations.” He put out his hand to shake his.
    Adam took it, slightly eased. He needed Basel on his side. If his closest friend believed in this marriage, then so would the others in Darul-Ilhaam. “Thanks, Basel.”
    “I was hoping we could have had more fanfare than this on your first marriage.” Basel sighed.
    “What’s wrong with this? I like small and quiet weddings. Besides, with the reputation I hold in the country, I don’t think I’d be able to have one without worrying.  I’d have every American military spy cam scouting it.” He glanced around. “I like this. A marriage with only my special people in attendance.”
    “Perhaps, the next one, then.” Basel grinned.
    Adam laughed. “Perhaps.”
     
     
     

     
     
     
    Husna and Saba returned, bustling