Page 59 of The Geek and the Sheikh

“Oh my. Well, we’ll have to make sure they don’t catch you. You can tell me all about them while we make the hot chocolate.”

* * *

“What can I do to help you, my boy?” Gilbert asked.

Jameel hid his grin when Gilbert walked over to a bookcase, pulled out a bottle, and walked over to the couch where a tray was set up with refreshments. He poured the tea into two fragile-looking cups that Jameel suspected were almost as old as the chateau.

“Would you care for a drop or two?” Gilbert asked.

“No, thank you.”

Gilbert added a healthy splash to his cup before handing Jameel the undoctored tea. Picking up his cup, Gilbert sat on the couch, tucking the bottle under a cushion next to him before he relaxed back in his seat.

“Now, what spot of trouble are we looking at?”

Jameel took a seat in the chair across from Gilbert. He knew quite a lot about the old man, and Jameel knew the reverse was true as well. For most people, Gilbert was a scholarly figure who had spent his life in dusty classrooms filled with bored students. But he had lived in another world too, working for some government agency somewhere, doing things that the man still couldn’t talk about.

Jameel slowly related everything that had happened to date. He didn’t leave anything out… well, except for the personal stuff between him and Junebug. It wouldn’t be hard for Gilbert to add two-and-two together and know how he felt about her.

Gilbert was shaking his head. “The world is a much more challenging place with all of this technology now.”

“In some ways, but easier in others,” Jameel acknowledged.

“Well, the first thing you need to do is to get home. I still have a few connections and can help with that,” Gilbert said.

“If I contact the palace, one of my brothers would send one.”

Gilbert shook his head. “The moment you contact them, those chasing you would know where you are. No… no… the best way would be for me to call in a few favors. In the meantime, Agatha and I look forward to having you as our guest.”

“Thank you, Gilbert.”

Gilbert chuckled. “Things like this keep me young. Now, tell me how your parents are doing. I suspect Ihab still isn’t ready to take up my offer to steal her away from Melik.”

Jameel chuckled and shook his head. “Not in this lifetime… or any other. Since mother’s illness, Father has been glued to her side.”

“Illness?! Now I really must know what’s going on,” Gilbert exclaimed.

“She’s fine,” he hastily said. “She was having issues with an irregular heartbeat. Junayd could explain it better than me, but he assured the rest of us that since her operation, she will be fine.”

“Ah, good. You gave my poor heart a start there,” Gilbert said.

* * *

Vilnius, Lithuania

Andrius Bronislav tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. Once again, his plans had been delayed by the incompetence of those he had hired. He had high hopes for Allison, but she continued to disappoint him.

He played with a piece of cardboard between his fingers. There was no name on it, just a number. The number had come from the last person he expected—Colin Coldhouse before his disappearance.

“You are on your own now.”

He remembered his anger—anger fueled by pain. Colin had gotten him to a remote airfield where one of his jets was waiting for him. Rage and disbelief still stung him when he remembered Colin’s dismissal of him.

“I paid you to do a job.”he had accused.

Colin’s sneer had pulled at the burns that had cauterized the damage to his ravaged face. Andrius knew his head of security had to be in excruciating pain, but he didn’t show it. Colin sent three of his men to carry Andrius to his plane.

“What am I supposed to do now?”he had demanded.

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