“Ah, there you are,” Jennie said, coming from the stove to pull Adira away from Maddox and into her arms. “Poor thing, you must be starved. I’ve been waiting to make you a Jennie special.”

Adira returned the hug though she looked at Maddox, her eyes questioning Jennie’s statement.

“She means pancakes… well, what she considers to be pancakes.” He ducked when Jennie twirled towards him, a spatula in her hand. “They are delicious,” Maddox said, backpedaling and grinning once he was out of range. “Even if they are made with buckwheat and not flour.”

“They sound delicious,” Adira said.

“They are wonderful,” Jennie assured her. “Full of blueberries from my garden and, of course, blueberry syrup I made myself.” Jennie smiled and returned to the stove, waving her spatula at Maddox as she did. “Get your girl a cup of coffee,” she said.

Maddox wasn’t surprised when Jennie used the words “your girl”. That woman never missed a thing, and he was happy that he and Adira wouldn’t have to try to hide their growing feelings. “Yes, ma’am,” Maddox said graciously, grinning at Adira, pleased to see the look of panic had disappeared from her face. “What do you take in your coffee, babe?” He hadn’t called a woman “babe” in front of his family before and he liked it. It seemed natural.

“Um, do you have tea?” Adira asked.

Maddox groaned. “You can’t wait to eat fake flapjacks and aren’t even gonna wash them down with true coffee? No wonder Jennie already adores you.”

“Ignore him,” Jennie said. “It’s obvious you have a much better understanding of nutrition that he does. We have a variety of tea as well as either almond, rice or soy milk. None of those fake, chemical sweeteners, of course, but we do have honey from our hives.”

“You have bee hives?” Adira asked, her eyes wide. “That’s amazing!” Choosing a packet from a wooden box that Maddox offered her, she teased, “Almond milk, unless you want me to fix it, seeing how you seem to believe tea is offensive?”

“Nope, I’ve got it. You go on and take a seat,” Maddox said, moving to pull out a chair, noticing that a previously empty seat now had a nice thick cushion on it. After Adira sat, he dropped a kiss on top of her head and moved towards the coffee pot. “I’ll take a couple of those fine flapjacks myself,” he said, grabbing two mugs off a wooden mug tree.

“I don’t know,” Jennie said, shaking her head. “Seems like a nice big bowl of granola or maybe an egg-white and kale omelet would serve you better.”

“Aw, Jennie, you know I love you,” Maddox said, wrapping an arm around her waist and dropping a kiss on her cheek. His voice was much lower as he said, “Thanks,” knowing that she’d understand he didn’t mean anything about pancakes but was thanking her for not only providing the pillow but for making Adira feel so very welcome. She nodded and smiled as he picked up the tea-kettle, pouring hot water into one mug and adding the tea bag, allowing it to steep as he poured his own coffee. Grabbing a carton of almond milk from the refrigerator and a jar of honey from the cabinet, he took them to the table. Returning with their mugs, he set the one containing tea in front of Adira, slipping into the chair beside her. He wasn’t surprised to hear Adira quietly apologizing for her behavior the evening before.

“Don’t worry about it,” Drake said, reaching over to pat her hand. “It’s obvious that everything’s been worked out.”

“Um, thank you, but I do want to apologize to the man at the stables. I was… a little rude.”

“I’m sure Kurt would appreciate that,” Anson said with a nod. “But Pops is right. No need to discuss it any more unless you want to.”

“Or if you have any problems with the way Maddox worked it out?” Stryder said, a grin on his lips that stayed even after Anson gave him an elbow in his ribs.

Maddox grinned when Adira shot him a quick look and then shook her head. “No… I think I’m good.” She busied herself adding milk and honey to her tea and took a sip. “Oh, this is perfect!”

Jennie set a plate in front of her that held a huge pancake with a pile of blueberries mounded on top. Maddox reached for the syrup and poured it over the fruit. Then, leaning towards Adira, one hand moving to hold the nape of her neck, he plucked a huge blueberry from her plate and held it at her lips, whispering, “Look, babe, it’s your favorite color… purple.” She blushed but opened her lips to accept the berry when, suddenly, it fell back to her plate as Maddox yelped, the hand disappearing from the back of her neck to rub the top of his head.

“What the hell was that for?” he demanded, scowling up at Jennie.

“Leave that child alone to eat in peace,” Jennie said. “Lord knows she doesn’t need you mauling her during breakfast.”

Maddox dropped his hand, looking up to see his father shaking his head, and though his brothers were both grinning, their small nods told him that they’d gotten the message. Adira was not just his save—she was his—period.

He’d just taken a big sip of coffee when he saw that Adira had picked up the blueberry, and as the tip of her tongue peeked out between her lips to swipe at the syrup on the berry before curling around it to draw it into her mouth, his cock jerked and he had to fight not to spew hot coffee across the table. This time, his brothers laughed out loud, and Jennie pounded him on the back as he choked a bit before she returned to the stove to finish his pancakes.

Maddox leaned towards Adira again. “Watch it, little girl. It’s not nice to tease.” He grinned as Adira just giggled, seeming totally unconcerned about his warning. Leaning even closer, he said, “Remember that story you were talking about?” At her tiny nod, he continued. “Just know that I’ll be the one writing the script.” Running his fingertip across her lips, he grinned at seeing her eyes widen and her cheeks flush. He had just barely managed to kiss her cheek and sit back before Jennie placed his plate with a stack of three pancakes in front of him. He took several bites before pausing to wash it down with orange juice.

“Do you grow oranges too?” Adira asked, taking a long sip as well.

“Oranges, apples, pears, grapefruit, just to name a few,” Jennie answered. “I’ll show you the orchards after breakfast.”

“I’m afraid that will have to wait,” Maddox countered. “We’ve got some stuff to do this morning.” Jennie didn’t question him but simply nodded. Maddox turned to his brothers. “I’ve explained to Adira that we’re going to be talking to Hadi. Before we do, have you dug up anything else?”

“I’ve put some feelers out,” Anson said. “Nothing concrete yet but with the identification from the photos you and Pops took, and the film from the camera on the boat right before the yacht…” He stopped speaking, his eyes going from Maddox to Adira.

“Please,” Adira said, looking between the men. “Don’t feel you have to walk on eggshells around me, and please do not keep me in the dark. I have every right to know who murdered my family.”

Maddox nodded. “You do,” he agreed. “I know I asked you before but can you think of anyone specific who might have reason to do this?”

“No,” Adira said. “I know my family made enemies but I can’t imagine anyone doing something so heinous. Even if they wanted my father or grandfather dead, there were so many innocent people on that boat.”

Maddox nodded, explaining that he’d asked Anson to run some photos through his extensive data base. “He was able to put a name to one of the faces. Do you remember hearing anything about a Vasily Poplov? He’s Russian and was at the auction…”

“Yes, he and two others were my father’s guests at dinner that same night.”

“Do you remember their names?” Anson asked, sitting forward in his chair.

Adira closed her eyes as if trying to recall and then said, “I think one was Michael… no, Mikhail Soko… Sokolov, and the other was Nick Orlolov… no, that’s not right but it’s close. I can’t remember exactly. Why?”

“We think the Russians are involved,” Stryder offered.

“I don’t know,” Adira said, pushing her plate away. “I mean, if they intended to destroy us, why would they be discussing business with my father at dinner…” Her voice trailed off.

“What is it?” Maddox asked.

“I… I’m not sure, but I remember thinking that Father seemed harder… like he didn’t really feel comfortable or that he didn’t trust them.” She looked at Maddox, her eyes wide. “I also remember that they knew my family was going to be on the yacht the next night. Father was so proud of my graduation, and though he followed my wishes and kept the guest list to only family and a few of his business associates, he told them the party was being held on the yacht.” She paused again and when she began to visibly tremble, Maddox placed his hand on her neck again.

“It’s all right,” he said softly.

“Oh, God,” she said. “If he’d actually invited everyone he wanted, there would have been over three hundred people who died…”

Silence held for several moments before Jennie spoke. “Then as horrible as it was, your father’s decision to meet your wishes saved hundreds of people.”

Maddox silently thanked her when her words seemed to help Adira as he felt her body relaxing beneath his hand and she nodded.

Drake spoke up from the head of the table. “Hearing this has me convinced that the Russians are responsible. Now we just need to know why. What sort of business deal was your father discussing that night at dinner, Adira?”

“Father didn’t discuss any specifics,” Adira admitted. “My job was to act as hostess and keep up appearances.” Sitting up a bit straighter, she continued. “But I’m neither blind nor deaf. I know my family was into money laundering, so if he was going to do any sort of deal with the Russians, it had to have involved money… a great deal of money.”

Maddox looked at his watch. “All right. We need to get to the operations center. Hadi is supposed to call in a few minutes.” Pushing back his chair, he held out his hand to help Adira from hers as his dad and brothers stood as well. “You okay?” he whispered, his mouth near her ear.

“Yes,” Adira reassured him. “Mad as hell but I’m okay. I can’t believe they’d sit at a table, enjoying my father’s hospitality, knowing they were going to destroy him and everyone he loved within hours. What sort of men do that?”

“Monsters,” Maddox said, slipping his hand to her neck again, tilting her head back in order to meet her eyes. “Monsters who won’t be walking this Earth much longer.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Maddox said, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. “The Steeles do not do half-assed jobs.”

“Good,” Adira said after he’d bent to give her a quick kiss.

They followed the others to the operations center, every one of them determined to discover the reason why the Nazar family had been decimated, and just as determined to make anyone who played a part pay dearly for that decision.

The group gathered around the equipment and Anson busied himself setting up everything in preparation for the expected call. His skill not only guaranteed that the signal would be bounced all over the world and back again, making it virtually untraceable, he’d also record every word to be referred to later if needed. Stryder handed Maddox a folder.

“These are the pictures from the binocular camera that night.”

Maddox nodded, opened the folder, and after looking at a photo, passed it to Adira. She’d looked at about a dozen when she spoke. “This is Vasily.”

Maddox nodded and passed her another. “Were these the other two men at dinner?” It wasn’t a great photo, the boat’s speed and the spray of the water as well as the green tinge from the night vision lens on the camera didn’t give a clear shot, but they did appear to be the same men he’d seen in the restaurant the night before all hell broke loose.

“I think so,” Adira said, looking from the photo up into his face. “Why are they wearing wetsuits?”

She’d asked for honesty and he gave it to her. “To place the bombs along the hull of the yacht. In order to ensure the explosion would be completely devastating, they had to have placed several in different locations.”

Adira nodded and after a moment, said, “There were bombs on the yacht as well… in the flower arrangements.”

“I wondered how one could find so many flowers in a desert,” Maddox admitted. “There had to be over a hundred arrangements unloaded from the florist vans.”

Adira nodded. “I could smell them the moment I stepped foot on the deck. They were in every room and… on every deck.” Her eyes closed briefly before opening. “I… they exploded right in front of my eyes when Farrah and I were on the sun deck. My father even had some delivered below decks to allow the crew to feel included. God, they were so beautiful and yet so…”

Maddox was grateful when a monitor began to beep, cutting her off, and Anson softly asked if she was ready.

Adira handed the picture back and after putting it into the folder, Maddox’s hand moved to once again cup her neck as he gave it a slight squeeze. “Here we go, babe.”

Hadi Nazar’s face appeared on the screen, his eyes instantly locking onto Adira’s. “Jidd,” she said softly, her fingertips reaching out to press against the screen, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Adira,” Hadi said, his own eyes welling. The Steeles remained silent, allowing the two the much needed connection, Maddox wishing it could be in person but knowing this was the safest way for them to speak. The two broke into Arabic and though he understood what they were saying, he didn’t bother to translate for the others as it was nothing they needed to know as both assured each other that they were fine, they were safe, and that they loved each other dearly. When, after a few minutes, Adira mentioned the name Poplov, Maddox bent down.

“English, babe.” At her nod, she repeated the question in English.

“Jidd, what do you know about a Vasily Poplov?”

“He leads an organization out of Russia. He was brokering a deal with your father…”

“What sort of deal?” Adira asked, and when her grandfather hesitated, she shook her head. “No more games, Jidd. Tell me what sort of deal was so important that it costs us everyone we loved?”

Hadi nodded. “There is much unrest in his country, and he said it was his wish to build a force… an army, really… to begin taking it back.” He paused again and shook his head. “He told your father that they wished not to take it back physically but to return it to the old ways. He comes from a long line of men who spent their lives in service to the government, and when it collapsed, they lost more than money, they lost the respect they felt they’d earned.”

“You mean they lost being able to terrorize anyone for their own benefit or amusement,” Drake offered. “The ‘good old days’ weren’t so good for anyone who wasn’t corrupt as hell or willing to look the other way.”

“You are correct,” Hadi admitted, both men of the age to remember the time when Russia was known as the USSR, a great power that used threats, torture, imprisonment, and death to keep those who rebelled against its practices in line. “Poplov has been running drugs for years but got into other more lucrative practices over the last few years, trying to amass a huge sum of money...”

“What other practices?” Drake asked.

Hadi again looked uncomfortable but after a moment nodded, as if accepting that the truth needed to be out in the open. “I don’t know everything but do know they’ve been using blackmail against highly ranked government officials… in several different countries’ governments. Not only to keep their state secrets safe or to allow operations to carry on, but to keep their families back home and their constituents from learning they have the tendency to enjoy things no human being should find entertaining.”

“Like what, grandfather?” Adira asked, leaning forward in her chair.

“Adira, I am not comfortable discussing such things with you…”

“Oh, so you’re talking about sex? Jidd, prostitution has been going on since the beginning of time and—”

Maddox cut her off. “I don’t believe that’s what your grandfather is talking—”

“Sure it is,” Adira countered. “He just doesn’t want to admit that I’m a grown woman who knows about such things. But while I agree that it might be embarrassing to have your family discover you’ve been involved in a bit of hanky panky on the government’s dime, I don’t think that—”

“Adira!” Hadi spoke sharply, cutting his granddaughter off. “I’m not talking about a few hours spent in the arms of an eahira… a prostitute. I’m talking about the sex slave trade. I’m talking about the fact that these poor women aren’t only sold to the highest bidder and used for every kind of perverted sexual act you can think of, but that once they are considered no longer ‘fresh,’ they are then murdered on film by these men.”

“Oh… oh, God,” Adira whispered, sitting back in her chair, her face going pale. “I-I didn’t know…”

“And for that, I’m grateful,” Hadi said, his tone returning to gravel. “I didn’t agree with my son about this venture, but he had the backing of the rest of the family. We are talking about a great sum of money they wanted laundered.”

“So what were they going to do with this clean money?” Maddox asked. “Why the need for such large amounts?”

“Fadil believed they were brokering deals all over Europe to acquire weapons,” Hadi said. “Ever since the breakup of the country, they have needed to restock their larders with modern weapons that actually work instead of the antiquated, useless stock they have depended on for years.”

“I’m not following,” Drake said. “If Fadil was working out a deal with them, why would the Russians eliminate your family?”

“It could be because we aren’t the only family who launders money. With the amounts we are talking about, we are talking millions of dollars earned on our end. Someone wanted a piece of that; someone willing to pay enough money in order to make it look like a boating accident.”

Maddox squatted down beside Adira’s chair. “You said ‘could be’ but I don’t think that’s what you believe. What are we missing?”

Hadi nodded. “I’m positive Fadil believed their plan was to buy weapons, but I don’t accept that theory.”

“Why not?” Stryder asked.

“Because you don’t hire engineers, geologists, and put in orders to purchase drilling rigs and hire crew if you’re building some kind of army.”

“You think this Poplov is setting up some type of oil exploration company?” Anson asked. “What would be the purpose?”

Maddox answered for Hadi. “Because the world wouldn’t sit back and watch the Russians revert to their old tactics without taking steps to squash their attempts. But I have no problem believing that the USA and other countries wouldn’t fuss too much if suddenly there was a new, cheaper source of oil.”

“Exactly,” Hadi said. “There have been vast amounts of oil in Russia’s backyard for centuries but they haven’t had the technology or the funds to access it. But, once they have, it will disrupt the entire Middle East’s economy. No longer would they have a stranglehold on the oil the world needs.”

“And with the Middle East’s most valued asset going into the toilet, there would be great unrest in those countries, and the rest of the world would most likely just sit back and enjoy the fall-out,” Maddox finished.

Everyone in the room was quiet for a moment to assimilate this theory but all were nodding. “It makes a lot more sense than staging some military coup,” Drake said.

“It does, and I’ve learned that deals have already been made with the Chinese,” Hadi said. “Though I agree that your country wouldn’t necessarily step in on my country’s behalf, I’m willing to bet they’d sit up and take notice if China and Russia decide to crawl into bed with each other and turn the oil cartel upside down.”

“We need to find out who would benefit the most. I know you said you aren’t the only family laundering money but you’ve spent decades doing so without your competitors taking you out. No, I don’t think this stems from just some disgruntled competitor. This was too huge, too personal. You need to ask yourself: who would go to such lengths? What would the payout be in the long run? And we need to get our hands on Poplov and find out who is bankrolling this operation and what his plans are.”

Hadi leaned forward, his face growing larger on the monitor. “I don’t particularly give a fuck what his plans are. I want Poplov and his men dead, and whoever is financing this shit found and brought to stand before me. I’ll spend every fucking riyal I have and every breath I take making sure that happens.”

Maddox had no doubt the older man meant every word, his eyes had gone hard, the dark color unwavering in his intensity to seek justice for his family.

“You asked us to do a job, sir, and we won’t fail you,” Maddox began, only to have Hadi shake his head.

“No, I can’t ask you to become involved in this. You’ve done the job I asked of you by coming to Dubai and saving my granddaughter. And, Mr. Steele, I can see that she is not only safe but happy, despite the pain she’s experienced. That is what I wanted from you. The rest of this…”

“We will handle with you, sir,” Maddox stated unequivocally. “If not for you, there would be no Steele family, and to be perfectly honest, sir, nobody—and I mean nobody—messes with what is mine.”

The two men stared at each other as if no one else was in the room. Finally, Hadi’s head bobbed once and when he lifted it again, his face no longer looked as if it were carved from granite. “Then I thank you again. Money is no object, as when this is done, I will be liquidating everything we have. I wish to spend the remainder of my life in peace doing nothing more stressful than taking long walks, working with stallions, reading great books or,” he paused and grinned, “perhaps bouncing a great-grandchild on my knee?”

Maddox saw Adira’s cheeks flush but neither of them denied the possibility. Instead, Adira touched the screen again.

“Jidd, promise me you’ll be careful. I’d rather have you safe than lose you in the name of revenge…”

“I promise I’ll do everything I can,” Hadi said. “Meanwhile, young lady, you do everything any of the Steeles instructs you to do.” He actually chuckled and continued, “And, after that, you make sure you obey your Maddox… he doesn’t appear to be the type of man who will let you wrap him around your little finger like you do your grandfather.”

Adira laughed and reached up to clasp Maddox’s arm, which hadn’t left her neck. “Yes, Jidd, I’ll do as you say but when you are done… please, come to Texas. I really need to feel your arms around me.”

The old man nodded, his eyes soft again. After making arrangements to call again within the next few days, Adira kissed her fingertips and laid them against Hadi’s image. The monitor faded to black and the men gave her a few minutes to gather her emotions. Maddox was extremely proud when she swiped a finger across a cheek to remove a single tear and then nodded. “All right, then. What do we do now?”

“There’s nothing for you to do right now…”

“You promised to keep me in the loop!” Adira said sharply.

“Watch your tone, babe,” Maddox warned, tightening his grip just a fraction. “I did and I will, but until we have time to gather more intel, the best thing you can do is just rest. Let Jennie show you the orchards and the garden, read a book, take a nap…” He paused and leaned close. “Nix that… we’ll take a nap together.”

Adira smiled, her hand lifting to cup his cheek. “Hmm, I like the sound of that,” she said, her tongue once again licking along her bottom lip.

His cock stirring, Maddox grinned. “Just know that sweet little tongue better have a major role in that story you will be sharing with me.” Her quick inhale of breath had him picturing her naked, on her knees before him. He was fully prepared to help her create a story that would end with those luscious lips wrapped around his cock. Pulling his thoughts away from the provocative picture, he said, “Until then, do not go anywhere alone.”

“I wanted to go to the stables to apologize to Kurt,” she said.

“That’s fine. I’ll go with you as I need to check on how the stallions are settling in.” At her nod, he added, “Perhaps that is where you can help for now. You are more familiar with these stallions than we are. Think you can do that?”

Her smile and the way her eyes lit up told him that she not only could, but she would. With his hand guiding her, they left the operations room after Maddox informed his brothers and father he’d be back in a bit.

“That’s fine, son, but remember your phone and from now on, none of us goes unarmed,” Drake said.

“Got that covered, Pops,” Maddox said, patting the center of his back where he’d placed his pistol when he’d gone to his room to dress. Looking down at Adira, he said, “I don’t want you to be concerned, but just know that we will all be carrying until we are certain the mission is over.”

“I understand.”

“Good, now if you don’t go let Jennie fuss over you, she’s gonna wallop me again, and I’m getting a trifle tired of it.”

Adira giggled and shook her head. “Imagine that, my man can dish it out without worrying about how my butt feels but is a big baby when someone smacks him on his arm.” She squealed when a huge hand gave her right buttock a squeeze.

“Nope, you’re wrong, babe,” Maddox said, squeezing again. “Believe me, I think about how your butt feels all the time, and it feels pretty darn good if you ask me.” He chuckled as Adira swatted his arm, glad that she was smiling and relaxed by the time they entered the kitchen. “She’s all yours, Jennie,” Maddox said after giving her a quick kiss. “I’ll be back in a bit and we’ll finish our tour of the ranch.” Adira nodded and by the time he left the women, they were already chatting about what they might pick from the garden to prepare for dinner.