Even though it was far from the first time he had seen his esteemed employer take part in undercover raids, Gadi still felt the same sense of wonder as he watched Sheikh Rayyan Al-Atassi effortlessly blend with the rest of the black-outfitted members of S.W.A.T.

Praise Al Afea for his courage!

There really was no one like him, and Gadi was near tears as he thought of just how lucky he was, working for a modern-day hero like the sheikh.

A moment later, the body cameras the agents wore started streaming real-time footage, and try as he might, Gadi was unable to stop himself from chewing on his nails when some of the monitors showed glimpses of the sheikh engaged in actual physical combat.

How did his employer do it, Gadi wondered. It was like the man had been fighting crime all his life, rather than heading straight to battle after meeting his ex-mistress for dinner –

Oops.

The thought made Gadi flush guiltily, and he couldn’t help but steal a look at the girl seated quietly next to him. With a niqab covering her face and the loose folds of an abaya hiding her form, it was hard to tell if Hyacinth Kahveci shared the same fears and worries that beset him whenever the sheikh participated in a life-threatening mission.

Hyacinth had taken Gadi entirely by surprise when she suddenly showed up at his apartment, shaking and white-faced with fear. He’s doing it again, isn’t he? Those raids we see on TV, he’s behind it, isn’t he?

He had tried to lie and cover for the sheikh, but with Hyacinth threatening to disclose her knowledge to the king and time being of the essence, Gadi had no choice but to let the girl accompany him.

And to her credit, she had been everything she promised. I’m not going to get in your way. I just want to be there and do what I can to keep the sheikh safe, even if all I can do is pray.

She had stayed put in her seat while Gadi wheeled about in his seat, doing system checks and making sure all communication channels were working. Their mobile control center was housed in an unmarked van, parked several blocks away from where all the action was taking place.

Hyacinth suddenly turned towards him, her dark gaze questioning, and Gadi felt his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red. He knew it was silly, but he couldn’t help worrying if his face might give something away and he would be at fault for Hyacinth finding out about Jemima Black.

“Are you worried for the sheikh?” the girl asked.

“I always am,” he admitted.

Hyacinth patted his arm comfortingly. “Patience is the key of joy,” she quoted, “but haste is the key to sorrow.” She gave the sheikh’s PA a smile of assurance. “And the sheikh took as much time as was needed for this operation, didn’t he?”

Gadi brightened. “That’s right.” Tonight’s sting operation was the finance department’s biggest and costliest one yet, involving months of dangerous undercover work for their operatives and round-the-clock surveillance across several sheikhdoms. Even so, it was still largely due to the sheikh’s bold and cunning application of the monarchy’s resources that they had been able to pinpoint the last operating base of the Izeaj. That was two months ago, and even though the other factions had wanted to make a move then and there, the sheikh had refused.

We must bide our time. Let us give them as much rope as they need to hang themselves with.

And just as it had always been, the sheikh’s efforts had paid off, with the latest intelligence report revealing information about Izeaj expanding its efforts to illegal firearm sales.

Gadi was only able to draw a proper breath when the last of the criminals were finally rounded up.

Phew.

Hyacinth watched the color coming back to Gadi’s face and secretly envied him for it. The entire operation had only taken a mere fifteen minutes to conclude, thanks to the team’s flawless execution of its strategy, but even so, each second had felt like eternity, and her face still felt frozen with fear.

Damn you, Rayyan Al-Atassi.

The truth was, the face she had shown Gadi was nothing but false bravado. She hadn’t wanted to see Gadi fall apart because the moment he did, she knew that would be the end of her, too, and she would start bawling like a babe.

DAMN YOU, RAYYAN AL-ATASSI.

She caught sight of the sheikh in one of the monitors. He was taking his helmet off, and it was so fucking reminiscent of that day in the tunnels, she could feel her throat start to tighten. And that was when she knew.

The sheikh started removing his balaclava, revealing his face inch by inch.

It’s when the thought of him in pain makes you want to hurt for him.

Her head lowered, her gaze blurring.

No. No. No.

This – this pain in her chest was different.

It had to be different.

In the other side of the room, she heard Gadi answer his phone in a strangely hushed voice, but Hyacinth was too busy trying not to go crazy to even care why that was.

It’s when the thought of him in pain makes you want to hurt for him.

Mrs. B. made it sound like love turned her into a martyr.

But this was different.

When she thought of the sheikh risking his life in battle, it made her want to pick up a gun and throw a fucking bomb under the enemy’s ass.

That was not love.

That was…love for country, which she, like the sheikh, possessed in spades.

That was all –

The doors to the van suddenly opened, and Hyacinth’s head jerked up.

The sheikh, once again bloody and bruised, but still so damnably beautiful, blue eyes filled with mirth –

Something in her snapped.

“You fucking asshole!”

Gadi stood in stunned horror as he watched the girl lunge for Al Afea like a rabid cat, screeching and clawing at whatever she could reach, and even more confusing was how the sheikh didn’t do a thing to stop her.

It took a long time for Gadi to recover from his shock, but when he started to reach for Hyacinth, a cold warning look from the sheikh abruptly put a stop to his movements even as his confusion grew.

Did that mean the sheikh was fine with his future bride assaulting him –

Oh.

Hyacinth’s arms had fallen to her sides.

And then she was sliding to her knees, her shoulders rocking with silent sobs, and Gadi realized in appalled dismay how he had completely misread the whole situation.

Rayyan slowly crouched down. “Maehdina.” I’m sorry.

“Damn right you should be sorry,” she sobbed. “Fucking asshole.”

His lips pressed together to keep himself from smiling. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Too late.” Hyacinth could barely breathe. The tears just kept falling. “You already did. Asshole.” She felt his arms slip around her, and she couldn’t even find the strength to struggle.

The sheikh rose to his feet, Hyacinth in his arms, like a prince carrying his princess.

Yuck.

But she was still crying too hard to even manage a grimace, and when she felt his lips brush her forehead, all hell just broke loose.

“Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.”

Love you. Love you. Love you.

“It’s going to be alright, majamira.”

“No. It’s not.” Her heart felt fit to explode. “B-Because I think I really love you, after all.”

His lips touched her hair once more. “I’m sorry about that.”

Her fist struck his chest. “Why can’t you just fall in love with me?”

Nothing.

“At least tell me…” Her voice broke. “Tell me I have a chance.”

Silence.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

And then she heard the sheikh say, “You do. And more than anyone else in the world---” His arms tightened around her. “I’d want it to be you.”