The Sheikh's Amulet (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 3) (5 page)

A
lthough Jaymin had extended
an invitation to Tamrin and her father to join him for breakfast, he dined alone the next morning. It was just as well. He had several folders of information spread out in front of him. Pushing his plate away, he pulled out his phone. “Kaz, can you join me and explain to me what the hell I’m looking at?”

A few minutes later, the head of security joined him at the breakfast table. Jaymin spread out the photos from the camera on the day of the shooting. “You have a car with plates. Why haven’t you found the shooter?”

“It’s a stolen car,” Kaz said easily. “It was reported stolen three days before the actual shooting, and it was dumped right after. We called the investigators, and they’ve combed over it, but it’s been wiped clean. As of right now, it’s a dead end.”

“Damn it,” Jaymin muttered as he gathered the photos up. “Fine. You were out following a lead yesterday. Did you turn up anything about the girl?”

Kaz pursed his lips and stared at him.

“What?” Jaymin asked. “What is it? Just tell me.”

“I was going over the guest list, looking to see if someone showed up without an invitation, and I did find someone. Two someones.”

Jaymin waited for him to continue, but Kaz fell silent. “I would say what, but I’d feel like I’m repeating myself,” he growled.

“Neither Tamrin nor Sean Lewis were on the guest list, and none of the staff knows how they got in.”

“I’m sure there’s an explanation for it,” Jaymin said quietly. “People crash parties all the time.”

Kaz reached into his briefcase and pulled out a file. “That’s true. I wanted to clear them, Jaymin. I really did, but the more I looked into them, the less I found. This is all I have on Tamrin Lewis and her father.”

Jaymin stared at the folder but didn’t move to open it. “I’m looking for the person who stole Tamrin’s necklace and shot at them. I am not here to investigate the Lewis family.”

“Jaymin, if you don’t look at the file, I’m going to have to take it to the crowned sheikh. I don’t want to go over your head, but you invited the Lewis family into this house without investigating them. It’s my job to vet everyone who comes near you and your family, and I’m telling you that something isn’t right,” Kaz said tightly.

Sighing, Jaymin reached over and grabbed the folder. Kaz wasn’t wrong. If he’d found something strange about the Lewis family, it was his responsibility to look into it.

The contents were skimpy. A residential address that went back two years and an employment listing for a temp agency for Tamrin. No birth certificates. No medical records. No driver’s licenses, and no education history.

“Just because there isn’t a lot of information about them doesn’t make them criminals,” Jaymin said as he closed the folder. “The open policy of this country allows refugees from everywhere to settle here, and there are quite a few families who don’t have records of their birth because they couldn’t make it to the hospitals. Sean Lewis is a freelancer, and he obviously moves around a lot. They use the public transportation and don’t require a license to drive. And we can make an assumption that Tamrin was homeschooled. This is not an implication of anything.”

“You’re not wrong,” Kaz said with a nod, “but something about it doesn’t add up. I have a bad feeling about it.”

Jaymin glowered at him. “Until you have evidence to back up your bad feeling, I don’t want to hear any more about it. And since I’m keeping my father at the embassy in Abu Dhabi until we have more information, you answer to me, Kaz. I’m telling you to put this away and focus on the crimes that were committed on my property. Do you understand?”

“Crystal clear,” Kaz ground out as he reached across the table and grabbed the file. “But while I answer to you, your father hired me to protect this family. Until I feel more at ease with the situation, you aren’t to be alone with her. Ever.”

Jaymin opened his mouth to object, but Kaz was already waving his hand. A guard came into the dining room and assumed a stand just inside the doorway. “Kaz,” Jaymin said warningly.

“Allow me to assign you a man, and I’ll keep this from your father, for now.”

Maybe it was a good thing that he wasn’t alone with Tamrin. It appeared that he only tended to mess things up anyway. “Fine. Is there anything else that you need to report?”

“I had the investigators go through the trash from the party, and they found a black wig, but there are no clothes accompanying it.”

“Great. So now we can narrow it down to everyone who doesn’t have black hair,” Jaymin muttered. Actually, that wasn’t bad. Although there was an eclectic group of people at the party, the majority of the guests were Middle Eastern. So that actually did rule out quite a few people. “Check into all the women at the party who don’t have black hair, but be discreet, Kaz. I don’t want you outright accusing anyone of stealing from us. There were too many prominent guests, and no one will ever come to one of our events again.”

Kaz nodded and collected the information. Left alone with his new guard, Jaymin stared at his uneaten food. Tamrin seemed to be so open and honest. She’d given Jaymin no reason to distrust her.

Pushing it from his mind, he got up and headed toward his office.

His new shadow wasn’t that far behind.

“Sheikh Khalidizack?”

Jaymin hesitated in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. A member of his staff held a phone up in the air. “Your father is on line one for you.”

“Thank you. I’ll take it in the office,” he said as he closed the door behind him. There were no windows in his office, and his new guard stayed just outside the door. Once he saw the light blinking on his phone, he took a deep breath and picked it up. “Father?” he asked.

“Jaymin, I don’t really enjoy spending time at the embassy. When the hell can I come home?” Quadir asked in a grumpy voice.

“You can come home whenever you like, but I think the safest place for you is at the embassy. And since everything on your schedule for the next week can be accomplished from there, I see no reason for you to be here,” Jaymin said patiently. “I’m working as quickly as I can to remedy the situation.”

“A stolen necklace doesn’t usually lead to a shooting. Get it together, Jaymin.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you don’t, I’ll order your brothers back to assist you,” his father threatened.

Jaymin stiffened. His father never questioned how he ran his portion of the responsibilities, and he wasn’t about to have him start now. “I’m handling it,” he said, harsher than he expected. Taking a deep breath, he tried to regain control. “My apologies, sir. I will keep you apprised of the situation, and if I think I need a fresh set of eyes on the issue, I’ll be sure to contact Masoud and Adil.”

“These people who you are protecting. Do you trust them?”

Jaymin thought back to the folder that Kaz had just shown him. He didn’t want to distrust the Lewis family, but he didn’t want his father to doubt his frame of mind. “I’m protecting them because they were victimized in our home, but I’m still taking all necessary precautions,” he said finally.

“I trust you, Jaymin. Don’t let me down,” Quadir said. “Keep them away from your mother.”

His father hung up, and Jaymin sat back in the chair and breathed a sigh of relief. His mother, Nabila, never left the palace. She suffered from early-onset dementia and believed that she was a young girl. Visits from any family member who reminded her otherwise upset her, and it had been a few days since Jaymin had seen her.

She resided in another part of the palace that was well-hidden and well-protected. Jaymin had no concerns that her safety was in jeopardy. Most people didn’t even know that she was there.

Before he could relax too much and dive into his work for the day, there was a knock on the door.

“Enter,” he said, annoyed.

“Sir. There is a Sean Lewis here to see you,” the guard said as he poked his head in the door.

“Let him in. He’s a guest here,” Jaymin muttered frantically. He didn’t want the Lewis family to know why he’d upped his security.

The guard stepped back and let Sean in. To his horror, the guard moved inside the office and closed the door behind him. Sean turned and frowned at the guard. “Do you have one of these follow you around everywhere?”

“Until the shooting is resolved, the security is on high alert. Please try not to pay too much attention to it. How can I help you, Mr. Lewis?”

Sean pursed his lips and slid into the chair across from the desk. “I wanted to look at the study you were talking about yesterday, but the door was locked.”

“Right. Sorry about that. The study isn’t usually open. I’ll have a staff member unlock it for you so you can have access. Is there anything else?”’

“Are you in a hurry?”

Jaymin chuckled and leaned forward as he clasped his hands on the desk. “I don’t mean to sound short with you. I have quite a bit on my plate with all the new changes my father has made in recent policies not to mention my own education agenda. But I am more than happy to listen to any concerns that you have while you reside under my roof.”

Sean seemed pleased with his apology. “I get it. You’re a busy man. And I know that the shooting is high priority on your list, but I don’t think it’s anything more than something random. My daughter and I certainly don’t have the kind of enemies that usually result in shooting. I am, however, quite concerned about getting that necklace returned. I’m afraid I had an altercation with the insurance company last month regarding a change in the policy, and I refused to make the payment on principle. That is proving to be a poor decision on my part, as they are now refusing to pay for the theft.”

Jaymin’s eyes widened. “Oh, that is a problem. Well, my lawyers are at your disposal if you’d like one of them to review the contract for you. I’m sure we can find a reason to take them to court if we have to.”

“Sheikh Khalidizack, I don’t really want to spend that much time and effort to take an insurance company to court. I want that necklace back, and I was assured when it was stolen that you were going to put every effort into finding it, but since I’ve gotten here, you’ve had nothing new to report.”

Jaymin felt a streak of annoyance as he stared at Sean. It was on the tip of his tongue to point out that the safety of his daughter’s life should be more important than the man’s need to have a necklace returned, but people tended to react differently in horrifying situations. Sean was, no doubt, transferring his fear into anger, and it was Jaymin’s responsibility to make the man feel better.

“Mr. Lewis, I promise that we are putting every effort into discovering who stole the necklace and who shot at you. I’m not quite ready to separate the two as mutually exclusive. I spoke with the head of my security this morning and discussed some leads that he’s following. When I have something to report, you’ll be the first to know.”

Sean stared at him for a moment as if he didn’t believe him. Finally, he slapped the palms of his hands on the arms of his chair and stood. “Very well. I’m sure you’re doing everything you can. I’d like to take you up on that offer to view the study. Would it also be okay if I tour the grounds?”

“Please. Make yourself at home,” Jaymin said as he placed a call to his assistant. “If you’ll wait outside, someone will escort you shortly.”

He stood and gestured to the guard to open the door. Holding out his hand, he shook Sean’s firmly. “How is your daughter this morning?”

Sean cocked his head and twisted his lips. “I don’t know. She hasn’t left her room this morning. Apparently, she’s feeling ill. Perhaps your dinner last night didn’t sit well with her.”

As Jaymin shut the door, he couldn’t help but feel the guilt twist in his gut. He should have taken the time to try to apologize to her again this morning, but this wasn’t a situation that he’d ever been in before. Women didn’t expect him to apologize the night after because they knew what he was able to give them.

Which, in most cases, wasn’t much. Jaymin didn’t date, so he never indulged in more than a one-night stand.

Angrily, he clenched his teeth and sat at his desk. He’d handled last night fine, and he had too much on his plate to worry about coddling her feelings. Still, as he turned on his computer and started scrolling through his emails, he couldn’t shake her from his mind.

“
S
ir
? There is a Tamrin Lewis here to see you.”

Jaymin rubbed his eyes and sat back in his chair. He’d reviewed the video footage from the shooting over and over for the last two hours, but he still hadn’t seen anything new. “Send her in.”

Standing, he pulled his jacket back on and buttoned it. He’d spent all morning trying to decide whether he needed to apologize to her or lecture her.

Or rather, he just wanted to bend her over his desk and satisfy every fantasy that had been rolling through his head since he’d laid eyes on her.

“Tamrin. I’m glad to see you. How was your morning?” he asked formally and immediately winced. She’d probably be upset that he was acting so reserved toward her.

“I slept late, but your kitchen staff kept breakfast warm for me. That’s really nice of them,” she said with a smile. Instead of her brightly colored attire, she was dressed in jeans and a tank top.

Relieved to see that she wasn’t unhappy, he walked around the desk and hooked an arm around her waist. Her body immediately stiffened, and when he went to kiss her, she provided him with her cheek instead.

“You’re still upset,” he said as he pulled away. “How can I make this right, Tamrin?”

“I’m not upset,” she responded with a frown. Tentatively, she put a hand on his chest. “I understand your actions last night, and I’m sorry if my reaction upset you. I was actually here to see if I could get into your study. My dad said that it was kept locked unless someone was in there.”

“You came here for book access?” Jaymin asked slowly as he stared at her. “Are you sure you’re not mad at me?”

Biting her lower lip, she stepped away from him. “You’re a busy man, Sheikh. I’m trying to stay out of your way while you do your work.”

“I have a mandatory conference this weekend on the coast, but it’ll only take a couple hours of my time. Come with me. We’ll stay the weekend. Maybe getting away and relaxing will help loosen your memory a little,” he said as he reached for her again.

Tamrin stiffened but didn’t pull away. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said with a forced smile. “Really, I’m not here to distract you.”

“Fine.” Jaymin released her and walked back around his desk. “I’ll get someone to meet you outside the study. Borrow whatever you like.”

“Now you’re upset,” she said softly.

“I’m not upset, Tamrin. You’re right. I’m busy, and I should focus on finding your necklace.” Jaymin relaxed his shoulders and smiled at her. “I don’t want you to worry about anything.”

She nodded and moved toward the door. “Maybe we can have dinner tonight.”

Wearily, he eyed her. “Sure,” he said slowly. “I’ll make sure to invite your father as well. No distractions, remember?”

A streak of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly hid it. “That’s a great idea. Thank you for letting me into your study.” She slipped out the door, and Jaymin made the phone call to have someone meet her. That family really did like to read.

Running a hand through his hair, he sat back at his desk and exited the video. This time, he pulled up pictures from the party and stared. There had to be something he’d missed. No thief should have been good enough to steal right out from under him. If he didn’t catch the person and return the necklace, he would feel obligated to pay Sean back. It wasn’t that his family didn’t have the money to pay him, but his pride was wounded.

He wanted that thief.

A few hours later, his stomach grumbled. Glancing at the clock, he realized that he’d missed lunch. The staff usually knew better than to interrupt him while he was working, so it wasn’t rare that he missed a meal.

It was too late to eat a full lunch, but he could still grab a quick snack before dinner. Shrugging off his jacket, he rolled up his sleeves and headed to the dining room.

His shadow wasn’t far behind, but this time it was a new guard. At least Kaz was smart enough to switch them out so they’d be refreshed. Snagging an apple from the fruit basket, Jaymin leaned against the counter and bit into it.

“Skip lunch?”

Jaymin looked over his shoulder and the guard tensed, but it was only Tamrin who walked through the door. She’d changed her clothes and wore a pair of tight black pants and a loose yellow blouse.

“I did,” he said cautiously as he stared at her.

“I know you’re mad that I turned you down when you asked me to go to the coast, but I was surprised at the offer.” She smiled shyly at him and tapped her fingers nervously on the counter. “I’ve given it some thought, and I’d like to join you if the offer still stands.”

Confused, he stared at her. “I know that women are supposed to be confusing, but I’m starting to think that you take the cake.”

Chuckling, she ducked her head sheepishly. “I know. I’m so sorry. Jaymin, you have to understand that I’m not sure about this. About any of this. You’re this incredibly sexy and powerful man, and I’m just me. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed by everything.”

“Are you sure you want to go to the weekend retreat?”

“Very sure,” she murmured as she reached for his hand. “I think you’re right. Getting away will be nice.”

Before he could react, she reached out and snagged the apple from him. He stared as she sauntered out. Pausing at the door, she turned and bit into the apple. Giving him a small wink, she headed back down the hall.

“Not one word,” he growled at the guard.

“Yes, sir,” the man replied. He didn’t even twitch.

It was nice to know that Kaz trained them well.

* * *

T
amrin packed
her bags nervously and looked back at her father. “Stop staring at me.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Your hands are shaking,” he growled. “Tell him you’re not feeling well.”

“I’ve got this,” she snapped. “Besides, it’s a little late in the game for you to change the rules now. Lie low this weekend and enjoy your books.”

Zipping up her bag, she slung it over her shoulder. Her father didn’t say a word as she headed for the door. Putting her hand on the doorknob, she stopped and took a deep breath. “You have to stop doubting, Dad. I need to be confident.”

“I’m not the one doubting you.”

Rolling her eyes, she yanked open the door and let it slam behind her. The palace had upped its security recently, and a man pretty much followed her around wherever she went. It would be nice to get away for a little bit.

Jaymin was waiting for her at the car. He didn’t say a word as he opened the door and took her bag. His eyes said it all. If she wanted to change her mind, he wasn’t going to stop her.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile as she slid inside. “I packed a couple swim suits. Can I go swimming while you’re at your conference?”

“Yes,” he said cautiously as he slid in next to her. “What kind of swimsuits did you pack?”

She waggled her eyebrows and smirked. “Since you’re in your boring suit, I’m going to imagine that you’re lecturing other men in their boring suits. I guess you’ll miss it.”

He laughed and slung an arm around her shoulders. She nestled into him and rested her head. Thoughts of the weekend had kept her up all night, and his warmth made her want to close her eyes and nap.

“Unfortunately, I’ll have to drop you off at the hotel and go straight to the conference or I’d ask for a quick show-and-tell. If you describe it to me, I’ll have something to look forward to while I give my boring lecture.”

“Well, I have two. One of them is bright orange. The bottom piece ties on both sides and slings quite low on my hips. The top is mermaid style and manages to lift me quite nicely.”

Jaymin moaned a little and looked down at her. “That one has my vote.”

“The second one is a halter-style red top, and it ties in the front. The bottom piece…well, let’s just say that I can’t be too active in it.”

“Jesus, are you trying to kill me?”

Laughing, she wiggled until she could slide down the seat so that she was lying down. Resting her head in his lap, she looked up at him. “I’m sleepy,” she said softly.

“It’s a two-hour trip. You can take a nap,” he said as he stroked her hair.

“I can’t usually sleep in the car.” It felt good to have him touching her. It wasn’t sexual, but it was strangely intimate. She couldn’t remember the last time someone played with her hair.

“I’ll practice my lecture. That should help you sleep.”

She chuckled and turned so that she was more comfortable. Facing the front of the car, she closed her eyes and listened to his voice. Surprisingly, she once again felt safe with him.

Safe enough to fall asleep within a few minutes.