Hasan Sheikhs: The Complete Series Read online

  The plane broke through the clouds, the moonlight streaming down on the tops. He wanted to bang on the windows of the plane and shout at the pilot to turn around.

  He grabbed for the phone on the desk of the private jet and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail. Yaseen fired off a text to his security at the hotel. The lead man responded instantly. She’s in the penthouse suite for the night, he said. No sign she’s leaving. He felt a momentary relief. She was safe. But he missed her voice like a man in the desert misses cool water.

  He landed in France and checked into the hotel but couldn’t imagine falling asleep. It was dark, but not particularly late, and the streets of Paris were lit up with a thousand streetlights. Yaseen changed into a less formal shirt and started walking. He walked, and walked, and walked. The blocks rolled by. He made turns at random, not wanting to know where he was. He had no idea how far he’d gone when he came across the football field.

  It was lit up by a powerful set of floodlights, and beneath those lights were two teams of girls. On one side of the field, a group of women—their mothers, probably—sat huddled on blankets with coffee cups in their hands.

  The ball rolled over and knocked against his foot.

  He looked up at the field, and one of the girls waved him in, a big grin on her face. He dribbled out onto the field, choosing one of the sides at random, and they continued the game. Yaseen jogged up and down the field three times, passing the ball until one of the girls scored.

  “You’re not bad,” one of them said, her blonde hair almost glowing in the floodlights.

  “I could be a lot worse.” He smiled, gave them a wave, and left the field.

  The field’s grass was perfectly manicured without a divot out of place. The even lawn extended, he saw now, over to a small cricket field, also under lights as bright as day. Two teams of boys played there. As he watched, part of the cricket audience came over to watch the girls play. They cheered each other on, the groups of people shifting between the two sporting events and a third area—a playground.

  This was like Mennah and the team he wanted to sponsor. The difference was that these children had wonderful fields to play on. Everyone enjoyed themselves. The shouts rose into the night around him, joy echoing back. But Yaseen frowned. Why should the children in Mennah have less than these children in France? Why shouldn’t his own people have these advantages? It hit him all at once—that’s what Kara meant about using a different metric to evaluate the kinds of projects she worked on. Guilt turned his stomach. Here he was, participating in a joy that he denied to his own people.

  He reached for his phone in his pocket, only to pull back. Kara thought the worst of him now. Rightfully so—he’d behaved horribly. But he’d win her back. He’d show her he’d had a change of heart. And that she had his heart. No matter what.

  Four days later, Yaseen paced his office at the palace in Raihan. The situation in France hadn’t taken long to resolve—mostly because he pushed for a hasty resolution every step of the way. Now he was back where he belonged.

  Time to make things right.

  He looked through the paperwork in his hand, triple-checking that he hadn’t signed off on the final version. His official response to the proposal from Community Connections hadn’t been filed. He’d delayed it and was glad for it. He had things to fix.

  A knock at the door broke into his thoughts, but it wasn’t the brother he expected.

  “Nadim, what are you doing here?” His older brother, Zayid, followed a beat later.

  “Don’t you wish I was at all your meetings?” said Nadim, hands over his heart.

  Zayid nudged Nadim with an elbow. “Our parents have begun to bring the hammer down on Nadim’s directionless ways. They’ve assigned him to shadow me until he finds a suitable assignment.

  Nadim rolled his eyes. “My ways aren’t directionless. I’m looking for my passion, not the first available routine.” His expression turned serious. “I’d gladly accept a hunt for something meaningful over being married off like the two of you have been. That would be easier than all the wedding fuss, and it would have the benefit of distracting them from my single status.” He leaned against Yaseen’s desk. “How are things with you and Kara, by the way? Is it the same as with Zayid?” He jerked his head in Zayid’s direction. “This man has never been happier.”

  “I have never been happier,” agreed Zayid, but Yaseen saw the way his eldest brother looked at him. “What about you, Yaseen? This meeting sounded urgent.”

  “Things are complicated at the moment.” That was all he was willing to reveal. “But that’s on me, not Kara.”

  “Oh, no,” said Nadim. “I know that look. That’s the same look Zayid gets on his face when he talks about Laila.” He let his head fall forward with a groan. “When our parents learn about this, that even the second brother has fallen in love, they’ll be in full matchmaker mode.”

  “Focus on something other than yourself, Nadim,” said Yaseen, tossing the papers back onto his desk. “Listen to me. I have a situation, and I have a plan.”

  As Yaseen sat in a council meeting with his brothers and the councilmen, he could hardly stay still in his seat. The head council member read an endless list of facts and figures. Nadim gave up trying to appear interested ten minutes in.

  “You’re failing miserably at this,” Yaseen whispered to him. His brother glared at him. “Don’t worry.” Yaseen patted his arm. “I’m about to make things interesting.”

  “Thank you, Mahmoud,” he said, cutting the man off when he paused to take a breath. “It’s time to discuss a new policy I’m putting in place, effective today. Here are the details.” He passed around packets to everyone at the table. “I’ll sum them up for you. As head of Finance and Commerce, I’ve determined that we need to reorganize the way we handle our profits.” Silence reigned at the table. “From now on, twenty percent of the profit brought in by any government investments or government-owned or operated business—which will, of course, include all of our oil profits, profits from other natural resources, and profits from government-owned companies—must be invested in community-building projects in partnership with community organizations and local investors.”

  Nadim did his level best to look surprised. Zayid looked up at Yaseen with a furrowed brow. “Is this policy retroactive?”

  “Yes.” They’d discussed this in Yaseen’s office, and now each brother was playing his part. “First on the list is the money I salvaged during my emergency trip to Germany. Thanks to me, the government of Raihan has an extra five million dollars in the treasury. That means that one million dollars will be earmarked for the community and sports center in Mennah.”

  He could see the Mahmoud preparing to interject, but Zayid steamrolled him. “I agree with this.” He put his packet down in front of him and tapped it with his knuckles. “It makes perfect sense.”

  “And I wouldn’t mind having a project of my own,” Nadim said under his breath.

  None of the councilmembers dared to challenge the crown prince on this. How could they argue against benefitting the community? Yaseen knew they could make the same arguments he’d made all along—but they wouldn’t. Not with all three of the brothers sitting here.

  “The community center already has a partner organization for us to work with, and finding local buy-in will be a walk in the park. It’s all but settled.” He looked around the table. “Please come to the next meeting with ideas for further projects. I’m interested in creating a long-term fund, but not at the expense of today’s citizens.”

  Yaseen waited for any protest. There was none. He had done it—refigured the entire budget for Raihan and made way for Kara’s vision. She would only take them higher. She had a gift for making connections with local leaders.

  “Good,” he said. “Business in the now is all well and good, but we must build a future for Raihan and our people. I’ll see you at the next meeting.”

  19

  “Thank you, Salima
,” Kara said into the phone, tracing a path over her desk calendar with one fingertip. It was all she could do not to jump for joy. Too much of it coursed through her system. This conversation with Salima had been the most exciting of her life. It was almost exciting enough to wipe away the dull sadness that hung over her every waking minute. Being apart from Yaseen had increased her courage, perhaps, but she still missed him more than anything. “We’ll be in touch shortly.”

  She hung up the phone and punched the air with both fists. She’d done it. She’d done it. Salima, though her business’s philanthropic arm, had decided to donate to the project. Her contribution made up more than half of the money they’d needed to get from the government of Raihan. “Leslie! Michael! Jean! Everybody! Come in here!”

  Kara stood up as they all came in, bumping into one another in their rush. “Are you okay?” Leslie was first to Kara’s desk. “Did you go into labor?”

  “No, no. We’ve had a massive private donation to the project.” She filled them in on Salima’s contribution.

  The room erupted in cheers, and Michael and Leslie high-fived. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she called over the noise. “There’s still a lot more money to raise. But it’s a start—it’s a great start.” Kara accepted their congratulations and was being hugged tightly by Jean when the others abruptly stopped talking.

  “What is it?” She craned her neck to look around Jean. “Yaseen?”

  Jean wheeled around, then turned back to Kara with sparkling eyes. “We’ll get out of your way,” she said loudly, and ushered the rest of the team out in a matter of seconds.

  Kara braced herself against the desk. “I—I wasn’t expecting you. Is something wrong? Is that why you came all the way here?”

  Yaseen closed the door behind him. “All is well. It’s only that I have some news. I didn’t want to wait to tell you, but now—” He looked out the window at her team, talking excitedly among themselves. “Now I feel like I’ve interrupted something important.”

  Kara stood up straight. “I just got a call from one of my contacts in the private sector.” She told him about Salima, about the time they’d spent talking at various events, and about her connection to Mennah. “Since her grandmother started her business there, she wants to give back in a big, big way.”

  Yaseen laughed, eyes glowing with pride. “I should have known you’d already have the final piece of the puzzle.”

  “The final piece?” She shook her head. “No, we can’t truly celebrate yet. We have a lot more money to raise.”

  “No,” said Yaseen. “We have it all. The government of Raihan is contributing one million dollars. With the contributions from Salima and the money Community Connections has already raised, it’s more than enough.”

  Her heart stopped, then raced forward again at top speed. He couldn’t be serious. “What about your profits?”

  He came toward her, every sinuous movement lighting up a new pinpoint of want and lust inside of her. His voice smoothed over her skin. The hairs on the backs of her arms stood up. “I put a new policy in place an hour ago. Each government department will create a list of investment areas. We’ll be dedicating twenty percent of all our profits to community-building investments.”

  Kara’s mouth dropped open.

  “There are so many areas to pursue,” he said, eyes locked on hers. “Sport and Youth ministry will probably want to invest in youth leagues to move kids to a national team. We could play in the World Cup one day. Health and Human services will focus on community support. The education department will have a similar focus. And of course, someone taught me that there are other ways of measuring profitability, like human value. It’s not always about the money.”

  She wanted to leap on him and kiss him until he begged her to stop. Instead, she just...took him in. Took in the moment. She had never once expected Yaseen to come on board with her ideas this fully. Love bloomed in her chest, deep and true. It had always been there, she realized. It had just been conflicted, the kind of feeling that ran and hid whenever she looked straight at it.

  “Why did you do it?” The words escaped on a whisper, and she cleared her throat. “Why, Yaseen?”

  He came closer and took her hand, drawing her out from behind the desk. “Not to win you back, Kara. But because you’re right. About everything. You taught me to see the value in making things better for the people. They’re the true treasure of Raihan. Those children in Mennah and throughout the country are our most precious assets. All citizens should be considered a member of my family, and all of them should benefit from the wealth of the royal treasury.” Yaseen put his hands on the sides of her face, looking down at her as if he might never get another chance. “And you—you’re the love of my life. I couldn’t bear to let you down. And I’ll never do it again. I won’t let you down, and I won’t let our child down. Not ever.”

  She breathed in the familiar scent of him and curved her hands around his wrists. Could she look into Yaseen’s eyes forever? Yes.

  “I used to want a white knight as the love of my life.” Kara took a deep, shuddering breath. “I don’t anymore. Now I know there’s no such thing. Now I can see.” Her voice broke.

  “See what?” The smile that played over his face was so gorgeous it stole the last of her breath. Kara fought to get it back.

  “Now I see that if someone is going to be the one, I have to love him with all of his faults and foibles.” She rose up on tiptoe and kissed his lips. “As long as you keep coming back to me, Yaseen, you’ll always be my one.”

  Epilogue

  Kara stood in the center of their bedroom in Mennah, letting the night wash over her. It had been six months since she’d given birth to a perfect baby boy, who they’d named Jaron. His dimpled, chubby face was the joy of her life. That, and being with Yaseen.

  The late night had closed in on their little villa, giving them privacy from the world. Jaron had woken in the night. Kara had gotten up to feed him, but when she went to put him back in his bassinet, Yaseen stopped her.

  Now he stood on the balcony, shirtless, with the baby in his arms. He sang in a soft voice to the baby, who looked up at his father, dark eyes filled with awe. Kara’s heart echoed that awe. The two of them, bathed in moonlight, made up the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. She wanted to paint it, freeze it in time somehow—but she knew the best way to do it would be to memorize it. So she did. She memorized the way the moonlight shone on their dark hair. She memorized the way Yaseen’s muscles cast little shadows. She memorized the way Jaron curled his tiny fist against Yaseen’s chest. All of it.

  Yaseen must’ve caught her watching from the corner of his eye, because he faced her with a smile. Since the final weeks of her pregnancy, Kara had seen how sensitive Yaseen could be. How deeply caring he was. How committed he was as a husband and a father. And he’d proven it when he’d had a lawyer amend their marriage contract, excising the clause outlining their eventual separation. They would never separate.

  She took a deep breath, steadying herself against a powerful wave of love. She loved Yaseen so much. She loved Jaron so much. The feeling was primal, something she knew she’d never shake. It was in her blood and bones. And it grew with each day. Each night, she went to bed thinking she couldn’t love the two of them any more. And every morning, she woke up and proved herself wrong. A wonderful cycle.

  Yaseen looked back down at Jaron in his arms, and a softer smile spread across his face.

  “He’s sleeping,” he whispered to her, and came in from the moonlight.

  In the bedroom he was a gorgeous shadow. He crossed the room on light feet and bent to place Jaron gently in his bassinet in the adjoining room. Then Yaseen came to her, hooking one arm around her waist and pulling her in. To Kara, it felt like dancing. She’d returned to a body that didn’t feel like it was still recovering, and now she could twirl in Yaseen’s arms, catching herself on his broad shoulders.

  He danced her across the room to the bed. “I�
��m glad we came early,” he murmured into her ear. “I’ve needed this with you.”

  “I’ve needed it with you more,” she teased, and Yaseen laughed. “I’m glad we came early, too. What’s the point of visiting Mennah if we’re not going to spend a few extra days in such a wonderful place?”

  “No point,” agreed Yaseen. “No point at all. In fact, any time you want to tack on some extra family time in town, you have my full permission.”

  “Oooh, thank you. I’ll keep that in mind,” Kara said. She leaned in and kissed the side of Yaseen’s neck, watching as goosebumps rose across his chest. “Are you ready for your speech tomorrow?” They’d come to Mennah for the groundbreaking ceremony for the sports center. Yaseen was set to make a speech on behalf of the royal family.

  “I’ve been thinking about that.” Yaseen spun her around again, then lifted her onto the bed and crawled over her. “I think you should be the one to make the speech. You can represent Community Connections and the royal family.”

  She traced a line down the center of his chest, heading directly for the low-slung waistband of his shorts. “Are you trying to avoid public speaking? That’s not like you, Yaseen. You’re too brave to be afraid of a crowd of happy people.”

  “I’m not afraid,” he growled, kissing her collarbone, then tugging down the sheer fabric of her nightgown. “I’m just willing to admit that I think you’re the right person for the job.”

  Kara lay back under his attentions. She wouldn’t even have to write it down. She could already hear her speech now, talking about how anything was possible when people came together for a common goal. Anything. She would tell the story of Community Connections and the royal family. She would tell her own story. Yaseen circled one of her nipples with his tongue, and she gasped out loud.