of the night.”
“I had to get back to my apartment.”
He raised an eyebrow when she said that and stopped, as if that meant something more than just running an errand. “And it was okay to not only put yourself in danger, but those of your security detail?”
She blinked, not sure what he meant by that statement. “I don’t have a security detail!”
“You do as of two days ago. And this little incident tonight proves that I was right in getting that in place.”
She gasped and leaned back, her hands fisting at her sides. “You had me followed?”
He bent down lower, his finger poking her in the shoulder to emphasize his point. “I had you protected! There’s a significant difference.”
“Not in my mind.”
“What would you call tonight?”
She threw her hands up in the air, waving them as if he was being obtuse about the events of the past hour. “It was an innocent accident. That cab driver didn’t mean to run into me. He was just tired.”
Hassan glanced behind him, saw the shake of the guards head and stared at her. “It wasn’t an accident, Dana.” He spoke the words carefully, wanting her to understand exactly what was happening.
“Of course it was.”
He lowered his voice and she saw a great deal of the anger leave his body. It was still there, just tempered by her innocence of how this violent world works. He gently shook his head, letting her down easy. “It wasn’t just an accident. It was a carefully orchestrated plan to get you out of the car so you were vulnerable.”
She stopped talking at that point. Was that true? Had someone deliberately set a trap for her? “Why would someone…” she shook her head, denying what he’d said. “No way. The people….I mean, why would anyone….” She stopped again, shutting her mouth for fear that she might reveal something she shouldn’t.
“Why would someone want to kill you?” he finished for her. “Maybe to get you out of the way. It could be because you already have too much influence over me. Or maybe it was the same people who tried to grab you in the marketplace two days ago. Whatever the reason, you will be staying inside the palace until this is figured out. And after this is over, you will still be protected. Do you understand?” he explained firmly, not allowing her any room to argue about his precautions.
“You’re being ridiculous!” she snapped right back, scared that she’d been so naïve and embarrassed that she probably had put other men in danger. She didn’t like thinking she was self-centered, but that was exactly what she’d done tonight and she was having trouble coping.
He smiled at her argument, but there wasn’t any amusement in the look. “That’s my right, my love. I can be as arbitrary as I want and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He said the words and knew he was digging himself in deeper, but he couldn’t help it. The idea of her being in danger made him sick with fury. He couldn’t let anything harm her now. She was his and he protected what was his, even if they fought that protection.
Her mind whirled about his words, frantically trying to make sense of everything that was happening. But there were too many questions and definitely not enough answers. Besides the fact that she was exhausted since she’d basically been up most of the night. “I need to go home and get some sleep,” she said wearily.
He moved closer, his eyes angrily glaring at her. “You were asleep. Why did you leave?”
She held her breath, realizing that he wasn’t just furious about her being in danger. She’d left him and she’d known he’d be upset about that. Just as she would be if she were in his position. “Look Hassan, about that…” she started to say but he interrupted her.
“We will not discuss this now. You’re tired and need some sleep. Go back to my suite and get some rest. When you wake up, we’ll talk.”
She was already shaking her head by the time he finished, looking around to see if anyone had heard him, horrified at the idea of the other palace employees knowing that she’d slept with the sheik. “I can’t sleep there!” she whispered, her head bent and her eyes glancing to the right and left.
He had to control his anger at her reply. He counted to three before he responded but even then it came out as almost a shout.