“I don’t believe that for a second. Why don’t you get down and—”
“Let go,” Leila snapped. She tightened her slippery grip around her knife. It wasn’t much when up against a rifle, but it was all she had.
Tahir whipped his head around and another toothy grin spread across his face. He released his hold on Amina’s reins, finger by finger, and strolled over to Leila.
“Ah, Leila,” he said as if testing her name on his tongue, “if only you had told me you were going to leave today. I could have given you a ride.” He took hold of her reins instead. Leila tugged them back but his grip didn’t budge. Naturally, he’d figure out her name. He must have asked around Amina’s camp.
“I’ve learned a thing or two about you since we met yesterday,” he continued with a lowered voice, his dark eyes boring into hers. “I have a friend of a friend who knows quite a bit. Some interesting things you may not be aware of, especially about your troubles with Faris Al-Rashid.”
A shock wave jolted through Leila. That was the last name she’d expected to hear all the way out here.
“You’re in very deep, Leila Sterling.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “And you don’t even know that you’re drowning.”
Leila glowered. Of course she knew that. Otherwise she wouldn’t have ended up here.
“We should have a chat,” he added lightly, returning to a normal volume. To her surprise, he let go of the reins and turned. “Come. Refill your water,” he called as he strode back to the jeep. “Then I have an offer to make you won’t want to refuse.”
CHAPTER 20
What was that all about? Leila’s heart pounded as she watched the smuggler’s retreating back. Regardless of what he said, he couldn’t be trusted.
Amina sighed. “We might as well.”
Leila gaped at her. She couldn’t be serious. “I’d rather not.” Who knew what Tahir was up to? He wasn’t carrying that gun for kicks. None of it felt right.
“He’s not going to give up.”
“So we just do as he says?”
“We’ll play along.” Amina shrugged, her worried eyes revealing that she was at as much of a loss as Leila. “Once we find an exit, we’ll run.”
“That’s a horrible plan.”
“Do you have any other ideas?”
No, she didn’t. Leila watched the jeep cautiously. The men in the backseat had gotten out and joined Tahir behind the vehicle. What exactly did he know? What help did he think she needed?
“I don’t know,” she finally said, uncapping her bottle and looking inside. A small amount sloshed around the bottom. While they still had enough reserved, another full bottle would give them more flexibility. With a sigh, she replaced the lid. They didn’t really have a choice. If they turned the camels around and galloped off, Tahir would be after them. And next time, he might be more inclined to use his weapon. “Okay, we refill our water. But don’t get in that jeep under any circumstances.”
Amina nodded. They slid off their camels and walked around to the back of the vehicle. Leila kept her hand in her pocket, clutching her knife. She wouldn’t let go until she was certain it was safe.
The doors of the jeep stood open, revealing nothing horrible inside. Only several more water bottles, a cooler, and a few backpacks tossed carelessly on the floor, steeping in a musty, old carpet smell. Tahir stood at the back, filling a clear plastic bottle from a ten-liter container.
“Help yourselves,” he said with a wave of his hand. His bottle dripping, he put it to his mouth and stepped away. The rifle now hung from its strap across his back.
At least he was drinking the water. A good indication that it wasn’t poisoned.
Keeping an eye on Tahir’s movements, she planted herself next to Amina while she refilled her bottle. The other two men stood by Tahir, discussing something in low tones as they pointed toward the horizon.
Amina shuffled to the side, allowing Leila access to the water canister. As water poured into her bottle, she leaned toward Amina.
“Go back to the camels. I’ll—”
Something moved in the corner of her eye. She turned to face Tahir and the other two men. The twisted sneer on his face told her he wasn’t going to chat.
She dropped her water bottle and plunged her hand into her pocket to grab the knife.
Tahir lunged. A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. Leila shrieked and thrashed to free herself. Amina screamed somewhere to her right. Hand still in her pocket, Leila searched for her knife, but her attacker had her upper arms locked to her side. Her fingertips brushed the smooth wooden hilt. It slid farther out of reach.
She kicked wildly, hoping her feet would hit something. Anything. But the arms around her squeezed tighter. She gasped for air.
Her captor twisted her hands behind her back and Leila hissed from the pain of the awkward angle. But it was the position she needed. With another stretch of her arm, her fingers wrapped around the hilt.
With a flick of her wrist, the blade sliced through the pocket and nicked the man’s arm. He yelped and his grip loosened. A well-aimed kick sent him stumbling back, wheezing.
Out of nowhere, the butt of a rifle flew at her face. She ducked, but not fast enough. It grazed the back of her head, knocking her forward, to her knees.
Head throbbing, she locked her eyes on the camels still milling about several yards away. She scrambled away on all fours, her hands and knees sinking into the soft sand. Desperation to escape fluttered wildly in her chest, though she didn’t know where she would go. Her knife was no match for a gun. Neither was a camel. Sitting on top of one would make an easy target.
Someone grabbed her shoulders and flipped her on her side. Baring her teeth, she slashed out with the knife, but Tahir calmly stood over her and grinned, pointing the barrel of his rifle at her forehead.
“Put the knife down.”
Leila sucked in a deep breath between her clenched teeth. What on earth could he want from them? They had nothing of value. Nothing that was worth getting shot over. With a sinking feeling of defeat, she dropped the knife into the sand.
“That’s better.” Tahir turned away and waved. Moments later, they were joined by another goon. He looked at Tahir expectantly, who nodded at him. The thug looked down at Leila, shrugged, and kicked her in the side.
Pain burst through her stomach and she curled into a ball, holding her arms over her middle with a groan. The thug bent down and pushed a hand against her back, forcing her onto her front. He pulled her arms behind her and a zip-tie being locked in place bit at her wrists.
