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Talib had turned a dull red Cooper briefly wondered if they still chopped off heads in Bezakistan "Yasmin offered to head the charity in Alea’s stead She was also the first one to call and to beg me to pay whatever ransom they asked for"

"She was a jealous child," Rafe said, running a hand through his hair "She had everything given to her, but she couldn’t stand the fact that Alea lived in the palace That Alea was called princess Her mother and father were incredibly wealthy Our parents were close to them After Alea’s mother and father died, Yasmin’s parents offered to take her in, but my mother wouldn’t have it She told me she was afraid Yasht she’d have grown up and gotten over it"

"I don’t believe she has She only ht Alea wanted hiement party," Kade said

"And you never bothered to ht she was just a jealous bitch I didn’t realize she was crazy enough to have Alea kidnapped," Kade shot back "Do we knohere Yasmin is in the palace?"

Cooper felt his blood run cold "She’s in the palace? Why the fuck is she here?"

Do her here I wanted to be able to keep an eye on her I suspected either she or her husband was involved about a week ago I had Talib invite them here to discuss the further search for Alea We told her that she could be critical to the effort I knew she couldn’t resist being the center of attention"

"So this time she just intended to kill Alea?" Lan asked

"Oh, no That plane was insured heavily, plus sheup his accounts so she could upgrade security I had so in on her cell phone conversations for a couple of days She pocketed the cash I’h because she recently took out a twenty million dollar life insurance policy on her husband I think once she decided Alea was dead, she no longer needed Oliver Thurston–Hughes Since she signed a prenup, eli as much of his family’s wealth as she could I intend to have a discussion with Oliver as soon as thisis over"

Tal reached for the phone on the conference table in front of hile button "I need you to put Yasht She does not have freedom to roam the palace Cut her phone lines and her Internet access Do not allow her to leave under any circu him toboth hands on the table "Do you want to explain why you chose to cover this up until now?"

Do, Mitchell We just got confirmation today At any point in time, she could have bolted and she has the resources to disappear I wanted her brought here so she couldn’t escape Besides, it was rather safe since Alea wasn’t in the palace Now she’s under guard, and I suspect you three won’t let her out of your sight She’s locked up in her room She’s not allowed visitors"

"I never said she couldn’t have visitors," Tal said, picking up that phone again

Cooper didn’t wait for the order He shoved his chair back and took off running He prayed Alea was safe and sound and locked away, but his instincts were screah the doors and into the vestibule, he felt Dane and Lan beside him

Whatever happened, he wouldn’t be alone

Alea looked down at the floor and wondered how long Oliver had He was bleeding badly, curled on his side She couldn’t see exactly where he was hit, but it had been soht at the bottoe

Oliver probably didn’t have long, but then she wasn’t sure she had much time, either

"You’re home for just a few hours but you’re already all over my husband" Yasmin stared down at the usted look on her face

"I have never touched Oliver Not ever" Alea tried to keep her voice calotten in? She looked over to the door

Yasmin’s lips curled into a wicked sht slacks to the shirt that clung to her It had a plunging V-neckline that showed off her nearly skeletal chest Yasaunt now She sported a pair of leather gloves on her hands She’d obviously been concerned about leaving fingerprints "The guard isn’t going to help you, cousin He was a little too trusting of feet really close, so I shot him Do you like the silencer? It really helps And of course you never touched Oliver He never wanted you, you stupid cow Who would want you when they had me? God, Lea, you were even in a brothel and no one wanted you"

Panic got shoved down in the place of anger "You were behind all this?"