The Sheik's Safety Read Online Free

you’re better, I’ll take you to Tihrin.”
    â€œI’m really pretty good.” She stood, and prayed he didn’t notice the slight wobble. She had to get to a phone. She had to tell the Colonel what had happened to the team.
    â€œIn a few days.” He whistled for the horse again, lower this time as the animal was nearby. “Right now, we’ll be safer at the camp.”
    Right. Because he looked safe. Not. “Why don’t you ride the horse and I’ll drive the car and follow you?”
    â€œWe leave the car.”
    She needed some time to come up with a plan. “Mind if we rest a little before we go? I’m not sure I’m up for horseback riding yet.”
    He glanced at the bodies behind him then back at her. “A few minutes,” he said. “There might be more of them coming.”
    He was just full of good news. She wondered if the four dead men were in any way connected to whomever had shot down the plane. Where was an M4 when she needed one? “Can I have my knives back?”
    â€œNo.”
    Not very accommodating, was he? “In case there’s another attack?”
    He shook his head. “I will protect you.”
    For a moment she considered reminding him who had saved whose life, but decided against it. No sense in appearing too contrary, no point in raising any suspicions.
    He took a few steps toward the bodies on the sand, stopped and turned back. “What is your name?”
    â€œI don’t remember.”
    â€œI’m Saeed,” he said, and left her.
    She watched him as he went from one body to the next, checking them over, coming up empty-handed as far as she could tell. It took all her strength to make her way to the horse a few short feet away.
    â€œCome on, boy.” She let the animal smell her, patted his head. “What a fine horse you are.”
    Purebred Arabian. She remembered her grandfather’s horses on the reservation, a couple of pintos and a half dozen wild mustangs he’d bought through the government program. They were all beautiful in their right. But this one—this one was a prince.
    â€œHere we go.” She moved to his side and checked to make sure the cinch was good and tight. When she tried to put her foot in the stirrups the animal danced away.
    â€œYou’re not scared of me, are you?” She kept on talking, utter nonsense in a calming voice, as she tried again. Same result. Horses were supposed to be in her blood. Apparently, someone forgot to tell this one. The stallion had been trained, and trained well. Figured.
    â€œTayib, hoah.”
    The deep voice coming from behind startled her, but seemed to calm the horse. Saeed stepped forward and grabbed the bridle.
    â€œYou can get on now,” he said, four AK-47s slung over his shoulder.
    For a split second, she considered fighting him for the guns.
    His gaze was sharp on her face, steady. She could barely stand. If she didn’t succeed, what would he do? Kill her, leave her to die in the desert or tie herup and take her to his camp anyway? She had to face the truth—she could not overtake him. To try would accomplish nothing but tip her hand and make escape more difficult later.
    She mounted, and as soon as she was in the saddle, he vaulted up behind her. His arms, one on each side of her now, held onto the rein and set the horse going with a gentle flick.
    As if the moving animal had unbalanced her, she slid to the side, testing Saeed. His arm barely moved, although she’d leaned her full weight against it.
    He was strong and in control of his strength. In control of her, too, for the moment. As temporary as it was, she didn’t like the feeling. Dara straightened herself in the saddle. He was taking her, whether she wanted to go with him or not.
    Fine. She would ride to his camp, eat, get her hands on a few flasks of water, then sneak away at the first opportunity. Shouldn’t set her back more than a