Sheikh's Command Read Online Free

was cut daringly low. Olivia had bought it with some hope of using it in audition videos, but the neckline had proved too revealing for that purpose. It was, however, perfect for tonight.
    When she put on the dress, she hesitated over her makeup. Her hands were trembling as she applied the stuff. It felt foreign on her face, and when she looked into the mirror, her eyes looked too large and dark, her mouth looked too red.
    Olivia glanced at the clock. She had to leave now. There was no time, and the way she looked would have to do, no matter how unskilled it was.
    When she made her way through the apartment, her mother looked at her from the table, an expression of pure contempt on her face.
    “Well, look at you. Heading out for a hot date while your brother's in trouble?”
    The woman she was the day before would have shrank away. However, this version of herself, the one with a goal and a cause, only gave her mother a withering look. She didn't have time to correct the woman's misunderstanding. All she could think about was her meeting.
    It was astonishing how things could change. Just a few hours ago, all she could think about was progressing on to the orchestra and escaping her life in Zahar. Now, all that mattered was that she'd be able to save her brother.
    Are you ready? Olivia asked herself. Are you sure?
    The answer to both questions was no, but she had to move forward anyway.
    The café where she had decided to meet Makeen was one with an antique charm. It was one of her favorite places in Zahar, and not only because it was open all night with free coffee refills. It took over two floors in an old house, and there were plenty of nooks and corners where two people could have a private conversation. It had served as her refuge from her family.
    She entered the café, surprised to see that Makeen had beaten her there. He received two cups of tea from the woman at the counter, who shot Olivia a curious look. Olivia ignored her. She only had eyes for the man in front of her.
    “You came,” she said in relief, and he inclined his head.
    “I gave you my number for a reason, but I never guessed that you would use it so quickly,” he said. “You look shaky, come and sit down.”
    He was right, and when they were tucked into a private corner of the tea house, she felt herself start to shake.
    “Here, hold on to this.”
    She felt better wrapping her hands around the hot tea mug. He waited patiently for her to calm down a little, sipping his own tea and watching her over the edge of the mug.
    “Thank you for coming,” she said softly. “I … I didn't know what I was going to do.”
    “Are you in trouble?” he asked. “Is that why you asked what I was?”
    She bit her lip. “I'm not in trouble, no, but someone very important to me is.”
    His expression flickered. “Someone important to you?”
    “My brother David,” she said softly. “He's … he's the most important person in the world to me. He's always been my protector, my rock, even when things were going poorly. He's in trouble.”
    Suddenly, it was as if she were seated across from a stranger. His face was cold, and he looked at her as if she were a specimen underneath a microscope.
    “And he was taken today—by the police.”
    “Yes,” she whispered. “How could you know?”
    “Because my people have been targeting a crime ring of car thieves that have been operating in my country. A sting operation took down the organization today, and we netted many foreigners, Americans among them.”
    “Yes,” she said, her eyes wide. “You have my brother.”
    “And he will pay for his crimes,” Makeen said, his voice ice cold, and Olivia fought to keep herself from crying.
    “No, please,” she said, aware that she was begging. “He is not a criminal. He … he was swept up in bad company, he doesn't …”
    “He doesn't know any better?” Makeen mocked. “Olivia, you are young but surely you are not naïve. If he was caught today, that means