Laura awoke the next morning to the sound of persistent knocking. She squinted one eye open and moved out of the protective embrace of Raheem’s arms. A peek at the clock on the nightstand showed it was just after six. Who in the world would be up this early?

Raheem cursed and rolled over in the bed and pulled a pillow over his head. “Unless the palace is burning down, tell them to go away.”

She got up and tugged on her robe, running a quick hand through her hair though she suspected it was beyond repair, then cracked open the door to find all four of Raheem’s sisters standing there looking none too happy, if their matching scowls were any indication. Laura cleared her throat, then said, “Can I help you?”

“We need to speak with our brother,” Jess said, giving Laura a disapproving glare. “And don’t even try to tell us he’s not sleeping in your bed. I know for a fact that he didn’t return to his rooms last night. We all saw him carrying you up here.”

Heat prickled her cheeks and she glanced back uncertainly at the bed, only to find it empty.

Raheem finished tying the belt of his robe before stalking over to yank the door open, his expression murderous. “What the hell are you all doing here? You have no right keeping tabs on me!”

“I could care less how you entertain yourself, brother,” Jess said, giving Laura another unflattering once-over. “But I thought you’d like to know that that production company of hers just filed paperwork to purchase the land you planned to use as your wildlife refuge over near the caves.”

“What?” Laura and Raheem said in unison.

“Yes. Feraz just got off the phone with them. He sent us up here to get you.” Jess crossed her arms and sneered. “I told you something wasn’t right with her, brother. Now we know. She was using herself as a distraction and feeding them information so that company of hers could buy the land out from under you.”

Cala and Najma muttered what sounded like an Arabic curse in Laura’s direction, while Razi just stood there, watching her with a narrowed, thoughtful gaze.

“That’s not right. That can’t be right,” Laura said, stunned by the information. She’d known her boss was a wily, sleazy, lazy mess, but she’d never suspected he’d stoop so low. And yes, maybe she had told him about the locations she’d visited while working with Raheem, but that was only to let him know that she’d done better for herself by choosing to work for Raheem instead of the production company while here. She’d never, ever meant for him to take that information and use it against her. God, she was such an idiot.

“Raheem, I—”

He held up a hand, forestalling her speech, his expression angry and shuttered.

“Where is Feraz now?” he asked his sisters.

“Downstairs, in the informal dining room,” Jess said. “He asked that you join him as soon as possible.”

“Fine. Let him know that I’ll be down momentarily.” With that, he closed the door in his sisters’ faces. He turned back to face Laura, any trace of the kind, caring, vulnerable man from the night before gone. “Get dressed. Meet me downstairs in the foyer in an hour. Don’t be late.”

“But Raheem, wait. Please. I didn’t know anything about this,” Laura begged, trying to take his arm as he walked out the door. “Please, you have to believe me.”

He shook her off, stopping in the hall, but not looking at her. “I don’t know what to believe at this point, Laura. Just do as I say.”

Raheem walked out and Laura closed the door behind him, then leaned back against it and slid down to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. How could such a beautiful night, such a rewarding job, such a romantic dream, turn into such a nightmare so quickly?