Sheikh's Command Read Online Free PDF Page A

him to the holding cell,” he said finally. “Release him on my word. That's an order.”
    And in the end, because he was the Sheikh, and because he had been working with the sting operation from the beginning, they agreed.
    At the stroke of the hour, he was back in the café, wondering if Olivia would show up. Before he could even start to doubt her, however, she appeared. She had changed out of that ridiculous dress into a black T-shirt and jeans and had scrubbed the makeup off her face. She had a backpack slung over her shoulder and her ancient violin case in her hand, and there was a determined look on her pale, pretty face.
    For a moment, Makeen wanted to tell her that everything was all right, that things would be fine. Instead, he only nodded when he saw her, turning his phone on.
    “All right, Akeem, let him go.”
    Olivia looked startled, and she started to say something, but he held up a hand, asking her to wait. He listened to Akeem for a few moments, and then he handed the phone to Olivia. She took it as if she were afraid it might turn into a snake, but in a matter of moments he saw her expression change.
    When she had appeared, she looked nervous and cautious. Suddenly, all of the worry dropped off of her face, leaving her copper eyes wide with wonder and joy.
    “David! Oh my God, David, are you all right? Are you …”
    She paused, barely breathing as she listened to her brother, nodding along to whatever he was saying.
    “Oh thank God … Look, just go home. Go home and talk to Mom and Dad. Mom's worried sick. I am so glad you are all right … I … No.”
    Her face took on that determined cast again, and Makeen knew that whatever her brother was asking of her, David had run into a wall. For a moment, Makeen could hate the young criminal for causing this to happen to his sister.
    “David, no. It doesn't matter. Listen to me, it doesn't matter, all right? I'm doing what I want to do. This is … this is what needs to happen.”
    She listened for another moment. Even from where he stood, Makeen could hear her brother's voice, even if he couldn't make it out. The young man was frightened, angry, perhaps ready to do something foolish.
    “No. No. David, this is not something that you can control. I'm sorry. I'll … I'll talk to you when I can. I love you. Please, take care of yourself, all right? At the very worst, I'll see you in a month.”
    While her brother was still talking, she ended the call with a finality that was impressive, and handed the phone back to Makeen.
    “Well, are you—”
    His words cut off in surprise as she threw herself into his arms. One moment he was walking an ice-cold maiden laying down the law like a young queen, and now his arms were full of a beautiful young woman shaking so badly he could feel it in his own body.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, looking up at him. When her copper eyes were bright with tears, they shone like new pennies. “Thank you, oh God, thank you. I didn't know what I was going to do …”
    In that moment, there was nothing that Makeen wanted to do more than to comfort her and to tell her that it was all going to be all right. Instead, he pushed her back, though he did so gently.
    “He will be fine as long as he understands how to stay out of trouble,” Makeen said shortly. “Though I have to say that, given your family, I find that unlikely.”
    Instead of being offended, she stood back and offered him a small smile that nevertheless managed to captivate him with its brilliance.
    “That would not be an inappropriate response,” she said with a slight smile. “I … Thank you for what you have done.”
    There it was again, that unmistakable urge to soften in the face of the woman who stood in front of him. Makeen had to remind himself that she was likely just as much of a con artist as her brother, perhaps even worse. At the very least, David had been caught, while Olivia stood freely, using her wiles on him.
    “Perhaps do not thank me until