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PROLOGUE

‘DARKER than night and twice as dangerous’ was how the azine he’d snaffled from his secretary’s desk referred to the al Maktabi brothers Razi al Maktabi replaced it with a wink at the only woman who kne he took his coffee

Razi’s lips were still curving when he shut his office door Theto a halt in front of a wall of s, he placed his first call While he waited for it to connect he studied a gun action soothed hi distance from his penthouse, stood the Houses of Parliament, while behind him was the sleek cocoon of the CEO of Maktabi Communications, a company he had driven to international prominence Ahead of him lay the Phoenix throne of the Isla de Sinnebar, but before he assu one last reunion

The ht, Razi reflected as the telephone droned in Lord Thomas Spencer-Dayly’s Gloucestershire mansion Razi’s elder brother, Sheikh Ra’id al Maktabi, was every bit as hard as the journalist supposed and with good reason Their father had sown enough wild oats to seed the whole of the American Midwest and there were numerous pretenders to Ra’id’s Sapphire throne

This went so why Ra’id ruledhieance’ by those who liked a lick of Hollyith their sheikh The journalist had left one thing out Razi would die for the brother who had ht for hiitimate son…

Razi’s face lit as the voice of his closest friend came on the line

‘What’s up, bad boy?’ To as if he had just climbed out of bed

Razi outlined his proposal

‘The press turning up the heat?’ Toested with amusement

‘They don’t botherone last break before I assume control’

The air between London and Gloucestershire stilled BothRazi TheSheikh of the Isla de Sinnebar, Razi would i for his people ‘It’s a task I relish, Tom’

‘I know…I know’

To his best friend’s ly face staring back at ht here’

Razi’s lips tugged with a been ironed first by his butler, no doubt

‘Here’s just one example…’

Furious rustling ensued as Tom attempted to taic on the Isla de Sinnebar as he has on Maktabi Communications’

‘I’ve heard it, Toood-naturedly

‘They say you’re a danger to women everywhere’

‘Business is my passion,’ Razi cut across Toement of a country

‘And the women?’ Tom pressed, not ready yet to let him off the hook