Page 107 of Apollo
Though grieved—what she had done, said, would have consequences—she nodded.
“You are right, Nouri,” the king pronounced, his gaze finding her again as he raised the paper given to him moments ago. “The cup was poisoned.” With a flick of his finger, the king held her gaze. Next to him, Maaz produced a dagger.
Adrenaline jacked through Owen as the prince flew straight at them. “No!” he dived in front of Leighton even as he heard the woosh of ghutras and an agonal grunt.
With a lethal blow, the prince took Rayan to the ground.
Leighton screamed even as Owen spun her away from the confrontation and held her there. Omen grouped up around them.
“Prince Maaz recently discovered,” King Faruq said, “that my nephew has been plotting to take my throne by colluding with the man you witnessed.” He sauntered over to the fallen prince and spat on him. Then he moved to Owen and Leighton. “It seems you saved my life today, Nouri.”
She swallowed and straightened.
“You may not be my daughter, but al-Zahrani blood does flow in your veins because of your mother.” He gave a slow, recognizing nod. “For this great mercy you have done me this day, how can I repay you, Leighton Kingslake? Speak and it will be done.”
Leighton shifted out of Owen’s arms. Stood tall before King Faruq. “Just one thing.”
“Name it.”
“Swear nobody—not you nor anyone on behalf of House al-Zahrani—will ever again come after me or those I love.” She moved closer. “I just want to live in peace.” She eyed Owen. “With no more secrets.”
Epilogue
London, England
“We are free, Ummi.” Leighton savored the hug of the woman who had given her life on a brief stop to share all the news and what had happened with her.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” Ummi whispered into her hair. “You are a miracle!” She wept, sobbed. “I never dreamed…never imagined this day could be.” Slowly, she lowered into a chair. “I do not know how to live without looking over my shoulder.”
Leighton caught her ummi’s hands and knelt. “We must learn. Together. I would have us visit often.” She stared into eyes so like her own. “I want to know you.”
“I very much want the same thing.” Ummi gave a nervous laugh. “So many dreams coming true all at once. It is too much…”
A rap at the door dropped them into silence.
Leighton raised herself, knowing who was on the other side of that wooden barrier. She watched as Gerard went and opened it.
The handsome driver nodded to the new arrival. “Juan.”
Juan Navas inclined his head and shook Gerard’s hand. His gaze landed on her, and she noticed how his shoulders tensed. He stilled.
Leighton struggled for a clean breath. My father.
Ummi stood again. “Juan,” she said with a fondness that saturated the air, “our daughter.” Tears ruptured Ummi’s calm façade. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
The cadence of Leighton’s pulse seemed to match his, if the rise and fall of his chest was any indication. The compulsion to rush into his arms was tempered by his reserve. The way he held back… Was he uncertain? “Leighton,” he said tentatively, nervously, his brown eyes searching, hands clenching. As if he wrestled with something.
To keep himself from reaching out for me. Afraid to rush or overstep.
How she knew that, she had no idea. Maybe because it was the same impulse prickling like fire along her nerve endings. The thought threw Leighton toward him, all her misgivings and resentment toward him falling aside as she wrapped him in a hug. “Dad.”
“I…” His arms encircled her, lightly. His chest tremored. Then his embrace tightened. His face pressed into her shoulder and he sobbed. “Lo siento. Lo siento.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she muffled into his shirt. “It’s over. Behind us.”
“Mija,” he whispered, angled his mouth and kissed her, a noisy one at her ear.
But she didn’t mind. It was a piece of the puzzle of her life that had finally fallen into place. They eased apart, and Navas folded his arms over his chest, backing up. Looking at her, tears still falling. He nodded, pursed his lips. Backed up. Then rushed forward, yanking her back into his arms. “I can’t let you go…not again.”
When he released her next, she stayed close and he kept an arm around her. She marveled that this mercenary had a very soft heart beneath the years of hardness.
Ummi laughed as she wiped tears. “Look,” she said. “This is the first time we have all been in the same room together.”
Leighton then noticed Owen, standing quietly to the side, also with red-rimmed eyes, as if he were trying to hold it together and not cry. “All thanks to Owen. Our hero.”
