The Sheik’s Vow (The Billionaire’s Club #13)

Chapter 27

Kaia curled up in Riaz’ arms, unable to move after the explosive pleasure they’d just enjoyed. She hadn’t realized that fingers could create pleasure like that, but Riaz continued to surprise her.

His phone buzzed. She muttered something when he reached over to pick it up, as she snuggled closer, breathing in the male scent of him.

Riaz grunted after reading the text. “We need to turn on the news,” he grumbled.

They watched with fascination as the local news reporter relayed the latest on the investigation.

“ Law enforcement conducted a raid on the business offices of Ethan Howell, the charismatic cult leader apprehended two days ago on charges of sexual assault, rape, kidnapping, and sex trafficking connected to his purported church. Reliable sources reveal that authorities unearthed video evidence implicating twenty-five politicians, among them the Todras chief of police, in engaging in illegal financial transactions with Mr. Howell. The police suspect these exchanges involved hush money for numerous compromising videos featuring the politicians.”

“Wow!” Kaia whispered, gripping Riaz’ hand. “He blackmailed them? ”

“Apparently,” he replied.

“ Also, several of the cult members have stepped forward, pressing charges against Mr. Howell for crimes that are too craven to describe on the news. But details of Mr. Howell’s atrocities will eventually come out during the court hearings.”

“It’s over?” Kaia asked, still staring at the television even though Riaz had turned off the sound.

“It’s over, love,” he assured her.

Kaia nodded, but deep down inside, she knew that it was going to take a while longer for her, and Tara, as well as the villagers of Todras, Kentucky, to feel genuinely safe. She’d been running from Ethan for fourteen years. Epilogu e

Kaia stepped into the nursery, and came to a halt as she took in the scene. Bindi and Huron, the brother and sister offspring of Marta and another guard dog, were in the crib. Bindi and Huron were snuggled up around Zultin, their one month old son, who cooed happily.

However, it wasn’t the sight of the two, furry, ferocious looking guard dogs napping beside her infant son that stopped her in her tracks.

“What have you done?” she whispered.

Marta’s wet nose nudged Kaia’s hand and, automatically, Kaia reached out to scratch Marta’s ears. The dog snuffled blissfully at the touch, and then sighed with happiness when Kaia’s fingers reached her favorite spot, behind her left ear.

Kaia was about to speak, when she heard a male voice behind her. “What the hell?” Riaz rasped. “I thought you locked up the toys.”

Kaia shrugged. “I remember putting them in the toy chest. I guess…Marta decided Zultin needed…guard toys?” she offered.

Riaz chuckled as they eyed the semi-circle of toys that the guard dogs had arranged strategically around their son’s crib.

“Well, on the plus side,” Kaia started out, tiptoeing around the various toys, “no one would dare steal Zultin out of this crib. Not with Huron and Bindi in there with him.”

When she smiled down at her baby boy, Zultin waved his pudgy hands, playing with Huron’s silky fur. The big dog didn’t seem to mind. In fact, the dog nudged Zultin whenever his fingers slowed.

Kaia chuckled, then lifted her son into her arms. Huron and Bindi leapt out, then moved to Kaia’s side. There was a slight tussle between Marta and Huron, but the mother persevered.

“You are all wonderful protectors,” Kaia assured the animals.

“Careful of the toy landmines,” Riaz grumbled, picking several of the toys up so that Kaia could escape.

She laughed. “I don’t mind the toys. I love it, actually. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this safe in my life,” she told her husband, as she lifted onto her toes to kiss him.