Page 138 of Knot Their Arrangement

LUXURIOUS REVELATIONS

~KAMARI~

"W-W-W-WE'RE IN DUBAI?!!!" The words explode from me as I watch Ezekiel casually remove his suit jacket, as if being on the other side of the world is perfectly normal. "Like DUBAI?! A WHOLE DIFFERENT COUNTRY?! How did we even get here? How long have I been asleep? Why didn't I even notice when I woke up?!"

My voice rises with each question, the sheer absurdity of the situation finally hitting me.

One moment I was in my apartment at the Safe Haven, the next I'm apparently in one of the most luxurious cities on Earth, watching an impossibly attractive detective prepare for target practice.

"Because you didn't look out the window," Ezekiel explains with obvious amusement, "and the moment I said I was going to a shooting range, you lost your marbles and insisted you come with me."

The reminder makes heat flood my cheeks as I recall my earlier enthusiasm. He's right – I'd been so excited about the prospect of learning to shoot that I hadn't paid attention to my surroundings at all.

"Yeah," I admit quietly, "I'd suck as an agent for that."

His chuckle sends inappropriate shivers down my spine as he begins rolling up his sleeves with precise movements. The action draws attention to his forearms – all lean muscle and subtle strength that makes my mouth go dry.

I try not to stare as he reaches for the protective glasses, but it's a losing battle.

The whole look is devastating – crisp white dress shirt with three buttons undone, sleeves rolled to expose those forearms, gun holster visible beneath his perfectly tailored vest. He looks like he stepped out of one of Kieran's steamier novels, though I doubt even Xavier Knight could capture this level of casual deadly grace in words.

"So are we shooting bullets now or do you want a recap of what happened?" His voice draws me back from my inappropriate musings.

A groan escapes me as I try to focus on the actual situation rather than how good he looks.

"I got the logistics that the smell in the air was some chemical that knocked me out, but I didn't think it was an ambush." The words come out thoughtful as I process everything. "I mean, who would want to kidnap me?"

Ezekiel pauses in loading his weapon, both of us letting that naïve statement hang in the air. When his lips start to curl into a knowing smirk, I quickly add.

"Don't answer that."

The reality of my situation –multiple powerful Alphas interested in claiming me, a father willing to use any means to control me, enemies and allies I probably don't even know about yet– suddenly feels very real.

But before I can spiral down that path, another thought hits me with devastating force.

Something more frightening than the idea of my Father finding me.

"OH FUCK!" The exclamation echoes through the private shooting range.

Ezekiel's frown carries genuine concern as he watches me rush toward him.

"I need your phone," I explain urgently, the words tumbling out in a rush.

His arched eyebrow isn't refusing – I can see that as he's already setting down his gun to retrieve the device from his back pocket. But the question in his expression demands an explanation.

"I need to call Astraea and let her know I'm here," I clarify quickly, "or that woman will summon the damn CIA of global national security or whatever it's called to find my ass."

"I guess she's one of those friends, huh?" Ezekiel's slow nod carries understanding, though he’s obviously finding it harder to not smirk.

"Best friend," I correct firmly. "She's a real one. I'm gonna have to finesse a little bit or she'll think I'm being blackmailed or something, so let me just do my thing."

"As you wish, princess," he says with a wink that makes my insides melt as he offers the phone.

Another blush heats my cheeks as I try desperately not to check him out again. But it's impossible not to notice how his shirt gapes slightly, offering teasing glimpses of his chest.

No getting horny in an indoor shooting range in Dubai, I scold myself silently.

My inner voice helpfully adds that we can't do anything unless we're married anyway, though the weight of the very expensive ring on my finger reminds me that we're supposedly working on that.

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