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“I—I barely set foot here, I need more time…”

“You had sixteen months”

The endlessness of space around theht she’d haveherself into Carmen’s arms As if she kne itation, to reht it time to end the confrontation He held out his ara herself around the circle of her new-for his face as she wriggled and giggled, perfor her enchanthtful treasure It’s a in perspective We’re uncles, Kamal Farooq, you’re a father Ya Ullah, do you realize what a miracle this is? It’s all thatMennah out “She is”

Kamal held out a hand to Mennah, as if unsure whether he could touch her She grabbed his hand, tried to use it as a chewing toy, before repeating her catch-e hands capable of crushingin his eyes Pride, protection, possessiveness He was Farooq’s brother, all right

After a few roaned, “Let’s get those ned and sealed”

Farooq’s face was satisfaction itself at his unyielding brother’s capitulation, at how Mennah had secured it without effort He beckoned, and Hashe the chest

Farooq took Mennah back from Kamal Shehab reached for the chest, his eyes on Car of the e her, that one step out of line, even if forgiven by Farooq, would guarantee her a formidable enemy for life

Well, one out of two—make that three—was better than zero

Farooq pulled her back to him, looked down at her for a moment before he let her have Mennah “Wait for me in the limo I’ll coordinate tomorrow’s ceremony with Shehab and Kaoing hoine Farooq’s home Mennah’s now Would it be hers? Could it ever be?

The questions ricocheted inside her until she felt pulped

She again tried to let the splendor rushing by distract her It wasn’t every day that she drove through a city that had materialized out of revolutionary architects’ wildest dreah restored historical sites that blended into the whole, its rawness in preserved natural sights

No use She felt no pleasure at the ah Thanks to Farooq He sat at the end of the couch that ran the side of the limo beside Mennah, as passed out in her car seat, worn-out by her uncles’ delight and stimulation, by her newfound extroversion

“I must knohat you want for yourto say to her So she’d only heard about, never iined could ever be applied to her The ht to enjoy marital relations