Page 54 of High Treason
“Simply answer him. The truth has no competitor.”
“I’m going with you.” Fatima moved to the doorway of Yasmine’s bedroom. “I’ll grab myhijab. My sister deserves my support.”
Monica blinked. “What brought on the change of heart?”
“Yasmine and I will discuss her indiscretions later. Right now she needs me.”
Monica had grown up with brothers, and her best friend—as close as she could get to a friend—was Lori. This love-hate relationship between Fatima and Yasmine seemed as foreign as their mannerisms.
What had Kord discovered? Before they reached the suite door leading to the hallway, Monica stopped and stared at Yasmine. “I need to know now. Do you have information about Zain’s murder or the assassination plot against Prince Omar?”
Yasmine sobbed. “No. I promise you. I love my brother.”
Monica understood how a woman could love a man and have him manipulate her for his own self-serving purposes. The three crept down the winding staircase and on to the kitchen. A single light shone in the cooking area, where Kord stood with Malik. The Saudi press secretary arched his shoulders the moment she and the other two women entered the area. Fatima wrapped her arm around her sister in a vise grip hold.
“That was fast,” Kord said.
“We were talking when you texted me.” She glanced at Malik. His eye twitched.
Kord leaned against the marble counter. His typical serious mode and more. “I need to ask Yasmine a few questions.”
“About what?” Fatima said, anger simmering with each word like a slow boil.
Monica sent a silent message to the woman:Leave your personal feelings out of this.
“My job is to keep your brother alive. Zain is dead. Two other innocent men are dead. Unless you can give me a name of who’s responsible, I suggest you listen while I do my job.”
Fatima’s face reddened, but she said nothing.
“Yasmine, how many times have you met Malik alone?” Kord said.
She trembled. “Twice here.”
“And at home?”
“Not sure.”
“Yasmine?”
“Several times.”
“Why have you broken your culture’s laws, dishonored yourself, and shamed your family?”
Yasmine wept against her sister’s shoulder. Monica wished Kord would take the young woman’s age into consideration.
“Yasmine, this is serious.” His voice gave no hint of sympathy.
“Why is Yasmine your concern?” Fatima said.
Kord glared at Fatima with a look that could have cracked concrete. “Yasmine, I need an answer.”
The young woman broke away from Fatima as though finding strength. “I thought only of being with Malik.”
Probably not the best response.
“What did you talk about?”
She paled but kept her stance. “Our love and our future together.”
