Page 100 of Cruel Revenge
“I bring a surprise,” I said loud enough for him. As I entered, he was already pushing himself to stand up. I saw the way his eyes lit up as Carey’s scent hit him and she came into view.
“Oh, am I entertaining both of you today?” he said, smiling. “You just decided to bring Carey to the island for her first visit today?”
“It was Heath’s idea,” I explained.
“Well, it’s perfect. Carey will be able to tell me what she would like in her suite in my territory,” Hasan said, already a doting grandfather, ready to spoil the hell out of his only granddaughter.
“My own room?” Carey asked, a small whisper.
“He does it for everyone. I have my own. All my siblings have their own suites. Makalo has one. Amir…”
“Amir doesn’t yet. He’s still young enough that he prefers to be close to his parents.” Hasan loved that baby, and his eyes twinkled. “Recently, when Zuri and Kushim needed the night off, he stayed with Subira and me. He’s still the cuddler he was as a baby.”
“Aw.” I couldn’t help but find that a bit precious.
“Now, let’s go. We don’t need to talk about this here,” Hasan said, looking beyond us. “Don’t need any more being said in these spaces.”
He reached for the door and opened it. I could smell the ocean when a breeze came through the door.
“And I believe my island is much warmer this time of year than your home in Texas.”
“Probably,” I agreed and walked through, bringing Carey with me.
I was able to smell her amazement that we were suddenly on a tropical island, in an opulent home with large, open windows and the ocean air. She ran around the desk to those windows. I followed her, knowing Hasan was just behind me. I took in the scenery with her. It had been some time since I had been in this place, feeling at peace. The greenery was lush and vibrant outside. She gasped, seeing the ocean and the wonderful island Hasan called home most of the time. Though he was staying in Africa with Subira recently, this was still his territory, his space.
“You’ve been keeping up with it,” I said, looking over my shoulder at him.
“It’s still mine. I come back once a week to run my territory and enjoy my own earth. As well as full moons. I won’t spend those in Africa.”
“Why not?” Carey asked.
“Something I’ll tell your mother, not you,” he answered. “Now, your mother and I have an important discussion to have. My staff here will know who you are and tell you everything about the island. There’s a private beach we’re allowed to use. Go explore.”
Carey looked at me, and I nodded. She, with her gym bag of things, ran for a different door. I started to open my mouth, but Hasan beat me to a warning.
“Don’t think you’re going to get away with anything, though. The entire island is my territory. I will know where you are and if you’re not supposed to be there.”
“Yes, sir!” she called back, then she was gone.
“There she goes,” I said wistfully.
“You have a lovely daughter,” he said gently.
“I know,” I said, smiling at him. “She’s so perfect.”
“She is…” He reached out, touching my face. “Like her mother.”
“Don’t.” I tried to bat away his hand. “We argue too much?—”
“We argue because I’m an old, stubborn ass… though you are just stubborn.”
“See!”
But we both laughed. It died after a moment as we looked at each other.
“So, we need to talk. Come with me. We’ll go to my internal study.”
I followed him to it, and he closed us in the windowless room. It had a skylight through the ceiling, but that was it.
