The Sheikh's Amulet (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 3) (8 page)

* * *

“
T
hat better have been
break-up sex.”

Tamrin whirled around to see her twin lounging in the corner of her bedroom. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. “We can’t be caught together.”

Tamara shook her head. “That’s the least of our worries. We need to move up the timetable and you’re going to use your lust to do it. Dad just called me. Negatin found him and is having him followed. We need that two million to pay him or Dad is dead.”

“Shit.” Tamrin wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. “I could kill him for getting us into this.”

“We won’t have that luxury if Negatin gets to him first. Get Jaymin to pay up that two million, or I’ll do it for you. And you probably won’t like how I do it.”

Tamrin clenched her jaw when she pictured her sister rolling around in the sheets with Jaymin. “You wouldn’t.”

“I love you, sister. I’m trying to save you from yourself. Get it done, and I won’t have to keep pretending to be you.” Tamara stalked out of the room, and Tamrin sank to the bed. A month ago, this seemed like the easiest job in the world. It was the first con she’d planned on her own, and she hadn’t had a single doubt about it.

But that was before she fell in love. And it was before Negatin found them. Now everything was falling apart, and if she failed, her father would pay the price.

T
amrin had practiced all day
. It was hammered in her head, and she was ready. Her hands were steady when she knocked on Jaymin’s bedroom door. This was what she trained to do. No matter the circumstances, she could do the job.

The door opened, and he stood shirtless in the entryway. “Miss me?” he asked huskily as a slow smile curved over his handsome face. Her heart began to beat faster.

“No trying to seduce me this time,” she said softly. “You might be used to seducing women, but I’m not. Not that I’m seducing women. I just meant casual sex. I’m not used to casual sex, and I don’t think I can do this. Jaymin, I don’t think I’m going to get out of this in one piece. I know you want to keep me safe, but my father has been out for a few days and hasn’t had any problems. I think I’m going to go.”

His eyes widened, and he leaned against the doorframe. “I see. Well, I won’t stop you.”

Tamrin took a deep breath. That was the easy part. Now was the con. “Jaymin, I want this to be over with. I don’t want the idea of seeing you again hanging over my head. I just…” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I just can’t.”

“You want me to pay,” he muttered.

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t for issues with the insurance. When we get it ironed out, I’ll pay you back. But the necklace was stolen on your property, and my family is going to take a big hit without it.”

Taking a step back, Jaymin motioned her inside. When she stepped in the room, he slammed the bedroom door shut, and Tamrin gasped. Tied to a chair with duct tape over her mouth was her twin. “Tamara!” Running over, she slowly removed the tape from her mouth.

“I won’t be paying your insurance,” Jaymin said cheerfully. “As you can see, I found the woman who stole it. Oddly enough, she looks quite a bit like you. I also found your damn amulet.” He pulled open a drawer and tossed the necklace on the desk. “Have something you want to tell me?”

“Are you okay?” Tamrin asked her sister.

Tamara glared at him. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

Straightening slowly. Tamrin turned toward Jaymin. “When did you know?”

“At first, I thought you were just playing hard to get. Hot one minute and cold the next. Then I realized it was more than just a game. It was like you had a damn split personality. So either you were mental, or there was something else going on. I didn’t want to believe it, Tamrin. I trusted you.”

“I played my role just fine,” Tamara grumbled. “We’ve never had a problem getting in each other’s head and thinking and behaving the way the other one does. Flirting with him wasn’t the plan.”

“After my security tied you with Negatin, I did some snooping. There are some records that don’t add up. While your parents wanted you two to live as one, you were still two different people. As a teenager, you had a cyst removed from your back, but I’ve seen you naked, and you have no scars. After that, it was only a matter of connecting the dots. You father made the mistake of talking about the David Scrolls. I guess he forgot that they used to be in our possession. It must have been desperation that had you hitting the same family twice. After that, all I had to do was have you followed.”

Tamrin clenched her jaw. “I didn’t know about that, but it was desperation that had us marking you at all. If we don’t pay that two million back to Anton, he’ll kill my father.”

Jaymin’s expression darkened as he stepped closer to her. Tamrin gasped when he reached out and grabbed her arms. “You used me,” he said in a low voice. “Nobody uses me.”

“That was the original plan, but things change, Jaymin. You have to believe me,” she whispered.

“And how am I supposed to believe you with your sister masquerading as you half the time?”

“Not when it was important, never then, Jaymin.”

Tamara bumped the chair against the wall. “Hey. You two can snipe later. Right now, we have a problem. We need two million or Dad’s dead. And I know Jaymin isn’t going to the police. Your family has a personal vendetta against Anton Negatin. You want him just as bad as we do. So you can have us arrested, or you can use us to get the revenge you want.”

“And why do you think that I need you to get my revenge?” he asked darkly.

“I can help with that,” Tamara said from her chair. “We tried to pull a con on him a few years ago, but we had to pull out when I realized that he wasn’t just a thief.”

“You didn’t know that he was also a killer?” Jaymin snorted.

“I didn’t. He was just supposed to be a thief,” Tamara said fervently. “I know how he works. And we can draw him out with the two million.”

Jaymin leaned back and shook his head. “And when this is over? I suppose you have a plan that includes slipping off with my money?”

“When this is over, you can have your money back,” Tamrin muttered.

“Fine. When this is over, I don’t ever want to see you again. If I do, it’s going to involve handcuffs, and not the fun kind. Coordinate with my security about your plan, and then run it by me. If I even think that you’re trying to con me again, you’ll be in my jail faster than you can blink, and I’ll leave your father to the mercy of Negatin. Are we clear?”

Tamrin swallowed hard and looked over at her sister. There was real fear in her eyes. “Crystal,” she whispered.

He walked out of the room without another word, and she raced across the room to untie her sister. Tamara was shaking. “We’re so screwed.”

“I’m going to fix this,” Tamrin promised her. “I don’t know how yet, but it’s going to be okay.”

“Okay? He’s never going to trust you again, Tamrin.”

“Maybe not okay, but we’re all going to get out of this alive and without going to jail.” But she knew that she wasn’t getting out without a broken heart.

J
aymin picked
at his breakfast the next morning, but he didn’t have any appetite. Tamrin and her twin had locked themselves in the bedroom all day yesterday while they came up with a plan, and Jaymin had paced. He couldn’t get his mind straight. Tamrin had played him like a fiddle, and he’d actually cared for her. Never in his entire life had he felt like such a fool.

Someone cleared her throat, and he looked up to see the twins standing there. “She’s Tamrin. I’m Tamara. Believe me, I do not want you to confuse us,” Tamara said quickly.

He made eye contact with Tamrin, and she didn’t look away. There was no remorse in her expression. “You have a plan?” he growled.

“We’re fairly certain that even if we turn over the two million, he’ll still kill our father,” Tamrin said as she sat down. “We need some insurance to make sure our debts are cleared and we’re safe.”

“You’re very good at this,” Jaymin said quietly as he studied her. She was more than just good. She was a professional.

“I have a plan,” Tamrin said as she ignored his comment. “But I need you, and I need your trust.”

“Well, you’ve had me, and you’ve had my trust. The only thing I can offer you now is my presence, and I guess my two million,” he said wryly.

Her body stiffened at his words. “I need more than just your two million. The last call he made to Dad demanded interest. If we offer more money, he’ll send someone to pick it up. But if we offer something valuable, he’ll come in person to authenticate it.”

Anger cascaded through him. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want two million and an heirloom? I know when I’m being conned. No.”

“Clearly, you didn’t know when you were being conned, and if you don’t, our Dad is dead,” Tamara snapped.

“Tamara!” Tamrin growled. “Leave it.”

“The answer is no. Come up with a new plan that doesn’t cost me an artifact.”

“What do I need to do to get you to do this for us? How can I earn your trust? Please, Jaymin. I can’t do this without you,” Tamrin pleaded.

Jaymin’s eyes flickered to Tamara. “Leave us.”

“The hell, I will.”

“Tamara, go talk to security again. Tell them about the information you gathered from your time in Negatin’s house,” Tamrin said calmly. “I’ll be fine here.”

The sisters exchanged a look before Tamara slowly left the room. It was obvious that while there was tension between them, they cared about each other. “We’re alone. What are your conditions?” Tamrin asked. She sounded almost resolute, as if she were expecting the worse.

“What was the original con? I assume you were hoping to go after Adil? He’s a happily married man. He doesn’t sleep around anymore,” Jaymin said as he sat back.

“We assumed that we’d be dealing with your security. It didn’t occur to us that someone of the royal family would take a personal interest. The con was simply to lose the necklace and make arrangements to have it paid for. That was it. No contact necessary,” Tamrin said quietly.

“So the shooting wasn’t part of the con?”

Tamrin paled. “No.”

“It wasn’t you, was it?”

“I almost lost my whole family in that moment. Believe me when I tell you that it wasn’t the plan. But it threw the whole con off. My father wanted it to get more personal the moment you made contact with me, but I wanted to keep my distance. After the shooting, I figured the safest place for us was here.”

Jaymin watched her carefully. “Your father didn’t think that. Why did he leave?”

“It was hard to hide Tamara while I wasn’t here. Dad got out to smuggle her out. We got into a huge argument about it,” Tamrin shifted like she was uncomfortable.

“Your father wasn’t into you whoring yourself out for a con?” he asked harshly, as she flinched.

“What do you want me to say, Jaymin? What will make you feel better? Should I tell you that my feelings were real? You clearly don’t believe that. I could tell you that using my body to get what I want comes naturally to me, but I have a feeling that will only piss you off more. So why don’t you tell me what you want me to say so we can move on,” she snapped angrily.

Jaymin didn’t move a muscle. If he held any hope that she might love him, it was dashed in that moment. “Tell your friend that you stole the Kebra Nagast from our archives.”

“The Ethiopian holy book?” she asked, startled.

“If that book makes it past my security, I will throw your whole family in prison, and you will never see the sun again. Do you understand me?”

“I understand. I just thought that maybe you’d offer something less valuable.”

Jaymin stood and smoothed a hand over his shirt. “I would love to offer you something less valuable, but I want to get this over as quickly as possible. The sooner that you and your family are out of my life, the happier I will be. Talk to Kaz to get a list of meeting places. If you can’t get Negatin to agree to meet at any of them, it’s off.”

“Thank you, Jaymin. When this is all over, I promise that security will have your book.”

“Not security. Me. You won’t be meeting with Negatin without me, Tamrin, but he doesn’t have to know that. Go. Let’s get this over with.”

They locked eyes for a moment, and then she quickly ran out. Jaymin watched her leave and felt his rage grow. Once she was out of sight, he grabbed his plate of food and hurled it across the dining room. It shattered and rained ceramic to the floor, but it didn’t do anything to alleviate his anger.

* * *

T
amrin wrapped
her arms around herself nervously as she stood in the open in the warehouse. The holy book was wrapped in cloth, and she hugged it tightly to her chest. She knew that Jaymin’s men all had guns trained on her, but they were melted into the shadows. Who knew how many men Anton would bring?

Her heart hammered against her chest. She might not get out of this alive.

“Relax,” Jaymin growled in her ear. “If you look nervous, he may not show.”

Tamrin winced and rubbed her ear. The communicator in her ear made her uncomfortable. “And quit messing with the earpiece.”

Sighing, she dropped her hand. “He will not hesitate to put a bullet in my brain,” she muttered. “Forgive me if I’m a little nervous.”

“All cons are dangerous, Tamrin.” His voice was soothing in her ear, and she frowned. He hated her right now. Why would he try to soothe her? “You can plan to the last minute, but even one tiny thing could make everything go wrong. But you are a professional. And you can handle the pressure.”

He wanted this to go smoothly. So did she. The sooner she could put this whole mess behind her, the better. The more she saw Jaymin, the more she hurt.

“Ms. Lewis.” The dark voice bounced off the empty walls, and Tamrin slowly exhaled. It was show time.

Body language was everything. She needed to seem confident. Popping her hip out, she tapped her shoe against the floor. “Mr. Negatin, I presume. You’re late.”

“I was here on time. I just wanted to make sure that we were alone,” he said as he walked out of the shadows. Anton Negatin could be easily underestimated. His family dripped in wealth, and he looked and acted like a man who didn’t like to get his hands dirty. She knew that wasn’t true.

“Fine. I have the two million that makes us even.” She pushed her toe toward the duffle bag. “I want the hit taken off my father.”

“Not so fast, my dear. I’ll take the money, but I’m far more interested in what you’re holding so tightly to your chest. Why don’t you tell me how you smuggled the Kebra Nagast out of the Khalidizack palace?”

“Very carefully,” Tamrin said as she jutted her chin out.

“Details or the deal is off,” Negatin said as he walked calmly around the edges of the room.

Tamrin rolled her eyes. She could hear Jaymin breathing in her ear. Offering him a silent apology, she took a deep breath. “It’s not all that hard. A pretty woman can easily turn heads in the opposite direction. Stealing the book is one thing, but replacing the security tapes is another. It can only be done in security. Seduce the head of security, and you’re in. I think you’d have trouble on that front. I’m more his type.”

His eyes roamed up and down her body, and she tried not to shudder. “My sweet thing, I think you’re everybody’s type.” He moved closer and held out his hand. “I’d like to explore the book.”

Jaymin was very clear. Anton was never to touch the book. She gripped it and stepped back, but Jaymin’s guards were already closing in. “Hands up in the air!”

“What?” Negatin hissed as he stepped back. “Where the hell are my men?”

“Unconscious from the moment they took up post,” Jaymin said as he walked out of the shadows. “Hello, Anton.”

“Sheikh Jaymin Khalidizack. We haven’t had the pleasure yet,” Negatin said as his body eased. He put his hands down and smiled.

Jaymin put a hand to the small of her back, and Tamrin instantly felt better. “No. You took a few pot shots at Masoud, and you stole from Adil. I’ve been looking forward to this moment.”

“And how did you think this moment would go?”

“I thought I’d put a bullet in your head,” Jaymin said. Tamrin gasped at the coldness in his voice.

Negatin chuckled. “I don’t think your girlfriend cares much for violence.”

Immediately, Jaymin removed his hand. “She’s not my girlfriend. And while I would love to avenge my family, we’re here on a completely different matter. You are going to remove the hit on Sean Lewis’s head, and you’re going to leave this country and never return.”

“In exchange for the two million?” Negatin asked skeptically.

“In exchange for my silence.” Jaymin pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Negatin. “That is a list of every stolen piece of artwork and every stolen artifact, along with their locations in your different homes.”

Negatin’s eyes widened when he looked at the list. “How did you get this?” he asked darkly.

“It doesn’t matter,” Tamrin said quickly. She didn’t want her sister’s name brought into the mix. “What matters is that you’d never part with any of it. They’re your babies. And if you leave my family alone, you won’t have to.”

Negatin slowly folded the piece of paper up and put it in his pocket. “Fine. I need time to leave the country though. I’ve still got some business to attend here.”

“No, you don’t,” Jaymin said angrily. “And if you’re hoping for more time to smuggle out what you’ve acquired, you won’t have it. I suggest you return it, conclude your business, and get out. If I don’t have proof that you left by dawn, I’ll make sure Interpol gets the list.”

“You would give up the chance to take your revenge on me simply for the chance to save the life of a man who tried to con you? I suppose you’re not so different from your brothers after all. Ms. Lewis, it’s been a pleasure seeing you. If you need any freelance work, you’re welcome to look me up. I could use a woman of your talents in my employ.” He winked at her and slowly backed out of the warehouse with his hands up.

“Tamrin!” Tamara and her father rushed out of the shadows and hugged her.

“You did well,” her father whispered in her ear.

“Sean,” Jaymin said in a low voice. “Anton Negatin isn’t the only man who is being blackmailed tonight. Your con business ends now. I’ll have paperwork drawn up for Tamara so the twins can live separate lives, and those lives better be legitimate. If you don’t, I’ll press charges. There are no statutory limitations for crimes against the royal family.”

Her father nodded. “I swear this was going to be my last con. Things have simply gotten too dangerous for my family. But, I did plan on having a little something to pad my bank account to make retirement easier for me and my girls.” He looked specifically at the duffle bag, and Tamrin felt her cheeks redden.

“We don’t need the money,” she muttered. “We’re leaving.”

“Take it,” Jaymin said without looking at her. “You and your daughters have earned it.”

A fist clenched around her heart, and Tamrin gasped. Jaymin took the book from her and gestured to his men. Without sparing her a single glance, they left the warehouse.

Sean reached down and grabbed the duffle bag. “A job well done, ladies. But I’m afraid this is the end for us. We’ll have to go legit.”

“Tamrin?” Tamara asked softly. “Are you okay?”

Jaymin basically thought she was a whore. Tamrin didn’t think she’d ever be okay again. “I’m fine,” she said stiffly. “Let’s get out of here.”

Her sister wrapped a hand around her waist and guided her out of the warehouse. She made it all the way out to the car before the first tear finally fell. For the first time in her life, she’d had something real, but Tamara was right.

She’d just been a fool.