The Devil

harsh, flickering fluorescent light of the black-market clinic. The smell of antiseptic and stale

hake violently, but I force myself into a sitting posit

me back down onto the thin mattress. "You need to stay still, Miss Al-Sabah. You've suffe

!" I scream, my voice cracking

is stable but still in a coma. Mr. Sterling is in the nex

hes out of my lung

fortable pity in his eyes. "Miss Al-Sabah, there is something else.

beat. "What are y

whisper. "About four weeks along. The reason you collapsed wasn't just exha

ning. The air is suc

r w

ur weeks ago, Faisal was playing the part of the devoted fiancé. He was tr

Faisal

to burn my father alive. I press my hands again

y, I hear a low

isa

His left arm is strapped in a massive, bulky sling, the white bandages stained with fresh

out of bed," Dr. Aris sc

ks slowly, painfully, toward my cot. He stops right bes

ys, his voice a low, dang

tasting like poison. "The t

his skin. For a terrifying second, I expect him to turn around and wa

nd gently grabs my chin, f

I don't care whose blood runs in that child's veins. If it is yours, it is under my

ayla bursts inside, her perfectly styled hair falling out of place, her f

ti had a secondary GPS tracker hidden in the undercarriage. The poli

settling in my chest e

ommander. He rips the IV line out of his good arm. "Layla, pull the v

retcher. I stumble out of the cot, my legs nearly buckling, and grab Kayden. He wraps his good arm around

utility van before the front door of the clinic spli

the gas, and the van tears out of the alleyway jus

leans his head back against the wall, sweating profusely from the exertion. My

as Layla navigates the dark, empty underpasses of the

burner ph

the silent van. I pull it out of

e, his eyes sharp. I answer th

aisal's voice purrs

d turns

musement. "Blowing up the mansion, stealing my drive, running away with my uncle.

aisal?" I ask, my vo

he says. "And I know

"I know about the baby, Amira. I have

oat. I look at Kayden, whos

the biological father, I have already filed an emergency motion in the High Court. I am suing for full custody of

kes, turning around to

do that,"

orty-eight hours to walk down the aisle and marry me. If you don't, I will have the police hunt you down like a dog.

ne goe

er tablet, her fingers flying across the screen. H

s live. If we go to the airstrip, the police have the legal right to

I look at my father, unconscious and dying. I think about the child growing

not an opti

here is the closest

rth," she says. "But I j

, my voice dropping to a cold, steady re

flash of surprise crossing his

isted plan forming in my mind. "Fine. L