Page 3 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

"I can see that you will not drop this charade until I tell you the truth," he said.

"There's going to be a lot of trouble," Nicole said, panic rising inside her. "You know that don't you Hakim?"

He tilted his head and smiled down at her sardonically. "How could I forget? You are the daughter of the American ambassador." He waved a hand casually. "Such an important person," he said sarcastically.

Nicole peered up at him. He didn't seem worried that there would be searches for Nicole once it was realized she was missing.

"It makes no difference," he said casually.

"Why not?"

"Once it is done, it matters not who you are." His eyes narrowed. "Nor does it matter who you once were," he added ominously.

Nicole felt coldness tighten around her heart. What on earth was he talking about? Who did he think he was? Had he forgotten who she was? Or was the fact that she was the daughter of the American ambassador the real reason why she had been brought out here in the first place.

"What are you talking about, who I once was?"

Hakim sighed. "When we have done what must be done, you will no longer be who you once were. That is as it should be."

Nicole squinted at Hakim. She could see serious purpose in his eyes. He was no longer joking with her. In fact, he had changed beyond recognition. Nicole gritted her teeth. He mustn't see how she was feeling. If he got the slightest hint that she was terrified, then she knew her troubles would only get worse.

There was the sound of laughter from outside. Men's laughter.

"Are you going to tell me what they're doing out there?"

He ran his tongue along his lower lip and for a moment he seemed lost in thought. Finally, he nodded. "I suppose it won't do any harm to show you the preparations which are being made."

"Preparations for what?" she demanded, but he ignored her.

Hakim took her hand and started to walk towards the entrance of the tent. He glanced back at her. "Are you sure you want to see this?"

Nicole glared at Hakim, saying nothing in response. Hakim smiled and pulled the flap open.

Nicole squinted her eyes in the bright sunshine. She followed Hakim out and looked around. Over to the left, near the palm trees and the oasis, there was some kind of makeshift platform which had been constructed out of wooden planks. In front of it stood a group of around twenty men all dressed in traditional white robes.

Nicole looked at Hakim. "What is that for?" she asked pointing toward the makeshift platform.

Hakim smiled. "That is where the wedding will take place," he said almost matter-of-factly.

Nicole felt herself freeze. "The what?"

Hakim leaned closer to her. "The wedding, my dear."

Nicole's heart started beating furiously. She peered into Hakim's eyes. Surely he must be joking.

Nicole swallowed. This was becoming unreal.

"Is there going to be some kind of tribal wedding?" she asked. Somewhere at the back of her mind a small, desperate voice told her that she already knew the answer to that question. It confirmed every bad feeling she'd had sincearriving in the encampment. And now, with Hakim looking at her like that, she knew that she had probably made one of the biggest mistakes of her life in deciding to come here with him.

"It is not just anyone's wedding, my dear Nicole," Hakim announced quietly. "It is the reason why I brought you out here."

It all suddenly seemed like some kind of grotesque nightmare. He couldn't be serious about this. Could he?

She looked up into his eyes and saw the grim expression on his features. Darkness and menace. That was all she could think when she looked at him.

Nicole shook her head, as if in a dream.

No. A nightmare.

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