Chapter 11

Bassem strode out of the room and down the hall as fast as he could. He rushed to the CCTV room so that he could see exactly what had happened to his brother. He heard the pitter-patter of Blake’s footsteps behind him. Bassem walked into the security room. There was a security guard sitting at the desk.

“Sheikh,” the security guard said as he rose to his feet.  

“Show me what happened,” Bassem demanded.

“Yes sheikh.” The security guard zoomed in on the monitor showing the front gate and rewound the footage. “Here,” he added and then left the footage to play for the sheikh.

The footage showed a black van driving up to the gate and blocking Basil’s car. The windows rolled down and a man fired his AK47 at the two security guards that were guarding the gate. Then the van door slid open and four masked men rushed out. They opened Basil’s car door and pulled him out of the car. Basil managed to throw a few punches but one masked man pointed a gun at his head. He was then forced into the van. 

After seeing the van drive off, Bassem punched the table. “Who would dare to come to my house and abduct my brother?” he said. Blake was standing next to him completely frozen. She was not sure what to do or say. She was also worried for Basil.

“Excuse me, sheikh,” a maid said as she walked into the room.

“What?” Bassem spat out.

“There is someone on the phone for you.”

“Do I look like I am in the mood to be receiving calls?” he asked her. The maid swallowed nervously before she replied.

“The person says that it’s about your brother.” Her arms trembled as she handed the phone over to the sheikh. Bassem snatched the phone from her.

“Who is this?” he demanded.

“Sheikh Bassem,” a hoarse voice replied, “if you wish to see your brother alive, you will have to pay 100 million dollars.” Bassem crossed his eyebrows.

“I’m not giving you anything.”

“I don’t think you have a choice. I will give you 48 hours to decide what’s more important to you, 100 million dollars or your brother’s life. I believe the latter choice is of more importance.”

“If you harm a single hair on my brother’s head, I will decapitate you with my bare hands.”

There was sinister laugh before the line went dead. Bassem groaned before he rammed his fist into the table. Blake gasped loudly.

“What did they say?” Blake asked.

“I have to give them one hundred million dollars if I wish to see Basil alive.”

Blake’s green eyes widened. She placed her hands on her heart. “Those jerks,” she said.

“Call Badir,” Bassem ordered the security guard.

“Yes, sheikh,” he replied. He fished his phone out of his pocket and pressed a few buttons.

“Shouldn’t we call the police?” Blake asked.

“No,” Bassem replied. Blake stared at him in confusion. “I don’t want the public to find out what happened to my brother. The last thing I need is for it to be all over the tabloids,” he explained.

“Okay, but the police can help.”

“They’re too slow.”

“Do you have another option then?”

“I have my own men that will do the job faster. You should go home.”

Blake stared at Bassem in concern. “I don’t mind sticking around,” she said. Bassem shook his head.

“I’ll have someone tail you home and make sure that you’re okay.”

“No, that’s—” Before Blake finished speaking, Bassem cut her off.

“It’s not up for discussion.”

“Yes sheikh.” Blake rubbed her arm before she headed out of the room.

“Badir is on his way,” the security guard said to Bassem.

“Follow Blake home and make sure she gets home okay,” Bassem ordered.

“Yes sheikh.” The security guard scrambled out of the room. Bassem sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

Badir walked into the room minutes later. “I came as soon as I could,” he said to Bassem. Badir was part of Al Huddah’s secret service. Badir and his team were located in Austin to make sure that Bassem and Basil were safe.

“Someone has dared to come to my house and abduct my brother,” said Bassem. Badir’s eyebrows shot up into his forehead.

“They came here?”

“Yes.” Bassem played the footage for Badir.

“That is strange,” said Badir.

“What is?”

“That they would come to your house to abduct Prince Basil.”

Bassem crossed his arms over his chest. “How did they know that my brother was here? Either they were stalking him or I was the target,” he said. Badir nodded in agreement.

“I will get my men on this,” he said.

“You must find my brother as soon as possible. The perpetrators called a few minutes ago and asked for 100 million dollars. They’ve given me 48 hours to decide.”

Badir raised his eyebrows. “I will make sure that I find the prince within 48 hours,” he said.

“Yes, because I’m not willing to give them anything. I want to find out who’s behind all this mess and make him pay.” Bassem was infuriated. He couldn’t tolerate anyone trying to bring harm to those close to him.