Free The Sheikh's Secret Bride by Leslie North Page B

turned her down.
    She’d said her doctor wouldn’t allow her to travel due to an infection, which meant her siblings couldn’t come either, as they’d need to stay home to care for her. Getting married without her family present didn’t sit well with her, but she had no choice now, it seemed.
    Janna finished running through her daily checklist then closed her planner. Eyes closed, she tipped her head back and allowed the sunshine to warm her face. It was lovely here and she hated to leave her quiet oasis, but duty called. With a sigh, she stood and headed back inside the palace. The only thing left to oversee was the actual placement of the flower arrangements and food tables on the day of the wedding.
    Lost in thoughts, she went upstairs to her room and contemplated a nap. She’d just kicked off her shoes when someone knocked on her door. Thinking it was her maid, Hafa, Janna didn’t bother putting her shoes back on. The face on the other side of the door, however, didn’t belong to Hafa. “Hazim? What are you doing here?”
    He stepped forward, his expression dark, his tone menacing. “You and Nassir think you are so smart. Taking what’s mine.”
    “What are you talking about?” She took a step back into her room, her hand on the door. “If you need to speak with Nassir, he’s at his office.”
    She started to close the door, but he blocked it with his arm. “No, you cannot get rid of me that easily. Control of Adjalane Oil should have been mine. Without his precious American bride, Nassir will have no choice but to marry Nehla.”
    Janna tensed, but refused to be bullied. “That’s all fine and dandy, but I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Yes, you are.” Hazim stepped forward and grabbed her arm. She struggled against him, but he was much stronger than he looked. “You will come with me now.”
    “Like hell.” She kicked and shoved at him. “You won’t get away with this. Nassir is on his way…”
    “We both know that Nassir is a workaholic and will no doubt remain at his office until late in the evening. By then, you will have disappeared. With the time constraints, he will have no choice but to acquiesce to my plans.”
    Next thing she knew, Hazim had pulled both of her arms behind her back and duct taped her wrists together. Cursing, she tried to free herself but couldn’t. “How exactly do you plan to get me out of the palace without anyone seeing us? The place is teeming with servants.”
    “Who said I’m taking you from the palace?” His smile was cold enough to freeze water. “You’ve put so much effort into this wedding, it would be a shame for you not to see it come to fruition.”
    She started to scream, but he slapped a piece of tape over her mouth. Bound tight, she could only watch as Hazim strode to the closet and pulled out her suitcases then hastily stuffed her belongings inside. Once he’d emptied the bathroom of her toiletries as well, he gathered her planner and her purse and set it all by the suite door. He knocked her facedown onto the bed then whispered in her ear. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
    Alone, Janna squirmed on the bed until got back to her feet, then searched for a way out of this situation. Her arms ached from the awkward position and her fingers were going numb from lack of blood supply. Panic set in, but she clamped a quick lid on it. Freaking out wouldn’t help anything now. She needed a plan. A way to communicate. Her gaze locked on the phone by the bedside table.
    Janna rushed over to it and tried to grab the receiver with her tingling fingers, but it was no use.
    Hazim mumbled something in what she assumed was his native language as he dragged her back onto the bed, then rolled her onto her stomach and pressed his knee into her lower back to hold her in place. The last thing she remembered was the smell of the cloth he pressed to her face—sickly sweet and nauseating and…
     

Chapter 14
     
    Nassir returned to the