Sweet Revenge

Addy taking the necklace. You should know that the plan was hers. I came in on it only during the last stages, and though it bruises the pride to admit it, she could have carried it off alone. She slipped it out from under your nose, and it’s to her you’ll make payment.” He paused a moment. “But it’s to me you’ll answer if any harm comes to her. I should add that if you’ve any thought of making a deal, then having our throats quietly slit, Interpol already has the details of the entire transaction. Our deaths, accidental or otherwise, will trigger an investigation of you and your country which I believe you’d prefer to avoid. She’s bested you, Abdu. My advice is to take it like a man.”
    “What would you know of being a man? You’re nothing but a woman’s lapdog.”
    Philip only smiled, but even the amusement was deadly.“Would you prefer to go outside and settle this in an alley? I assure you I’m agreeable.” He glanced over as Adrianne walked back into the room. “Thank you, darling.” After accepting the brandy he gestured to Abdu. “I think we’d better get on with business. Abdu’s a busy man.”
    Her hands were steady again. She deliberately chose a chair between Philip and Abdu. “As I said, the necklace is my property. This is the law, one which would be held up even in Jaquir if the situation were made public. I’d prefer to avoid publicity, but will go to the press here, in Europe, and in the East if it becomes necessary. The scandal would be of little consequence to me.”
    “The story of the theft and your treachery would ruin you.”
    “On the contrary.” Now she smiled. “I could dine off the story for the rest of my life. But that’s hardly the issue. I’ll return the necklace to you and forfeit all claim to it. I’ll keep silent about your treatment of my mother, and of your dishonor. You can return to Jaquir with The Sun and the Moon and your secrets—for five million dollars.”
    “You put a high price on your honor.”
    Hard, unwavering, her eyes met his again. “Not on mine, on my mother’s.”
    He could have them dead. Abdu weighed the satisfaction of seeing them blown apart by a car bomb, assassinated by a silenced bullet, poisoned at some decadent American party. He had the means and the power to arrange it. The satisfaction would be great. But so would the consequences.
    If their deaths were traced back to him, he could not hold off the outcries. If it became known that The Sun and the Moon had been taken from him, his people might riot and he would be shamed. He wanted the necklace back and couldn’t, as yet, afford to avenge himself.
    His ties with the West were hateful but necessary. Money was pumped out of the desert every day. Five million dollars would scarcely lighten his purse.
    “You will have your money if money is what you require.”
    “It’s all I require from you.” Rising, she opened her purse and took out a business card. “My attorneys,” she said as she handed it to Abdu. “The transaction will be made through them. The moment I’m assured the deposit has beenmade in my Swiss account, I’ll give The Sun and the Moon to you or your representative.”
    “You will not return to Jaquir or have contact with any members of my family.”
    Her price, and it was heavier than she’d ever imagined. “I will not, as long as you live.”
    He spoke to her in Arabic softly, so that she paled. Then he turned away and left her standing in the rubble of her home.
    “What did he say to you?”
    Because it was important not to care, even now, she shrugged. “He said that he would live a very long time, but that to him, and to all members of the House of Jaquir, I was already dead. He will pray to Allah that I will die in pain and despair, like my mother.”
    Philip rose and tilted her chin up with his hand. “You could hardly expect a blessing.”
    She forced a smile. “No. It’s done, and I expected to feel a fabulous wave of joy, if not satisfaction.”
    “What do you feel?”
    “Nothing. After all this, after everything, I can’t seem to feel anything at all.”
    “Then maybe we should go down and look at your building.”
    Now the smile came easily. Then she laughed and dragged her hands through her hair. “That might do it. I need to know it was right.” When she looked over at her mother’s portrait her stomach muscles unclenched. “The money meant nothing to him, but I want to be sure he understood, and he