I dare you to comment on each paragraph for an update before Monday.

Happy reading....

•••••••

"I believe you'll make an exception for me won't you, Hassan."

HSM os Hassan as the woman said inhaled sharply and turned to where she stood, looking regal as ever in the dim room.

The man that escorted her in was about to close the door when she waved him off, he left it open and left.

Fahad Ibrahim watched the exchange with an amused smile.

He still couldn't see the man's face well, so as it remained, he couldn't tell it was him when he saw him outside.

HSM on the other side felt as though he was punched in the gut by her sudden appearance, he knew she would come by one of these days, it was a surprise she took that long he'd breached her territory and she is extremely possessive.

He couldn't remember when last his heartbeat had been that unsteady but as he watched her strut further into the room with her shoulders held high, like she owned the place and everyone in it, his heart was beating so fast he was afraid she could hear it from where she was standing.

He knew she owned him and after all these years and everything they have been through, his heart still skilled a beat at the sight of her because she remained the one woman he loved, with all of him.

"Won't I receive a welcome?" She sat and crossed her legs on the only other chair in the room apart from his and the one Fahad was occupying. She was sitting where she could get a full view of his face.

He didn't want to hide, for the first time in more than twenty years.

"Make yourself at home," He mumbled almost inaudibly.

She smiled ignoring his hostility, there was nothing he could do to her.

Fahad Ibrahim though with the little light illuminating the room tried to make out her features but since now she was backing him, the only thing he could make out was her powerful aura.

A woman that left HSM speechless was surely not  your average woman.

"What brings you by?" Fahad pulled himself out of his thoughts paying rapt attention to their conversation.

He worked with HSM yes but he needed leverage if he wanted to make it out alive.

"How long have you been in town?" She asked instead.

That would've been a death sentence, ignoring him and questioning him, but she has always had her way with him, he couldn't fight her and she couldn't help taking advantage of that.

He thought of what to tell her. Lying was out of the option because chances are she already knew, no he was sure she knew and was just asking to test him.

"It has been a while." She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything.

"What brings you here Batool?" He asked unable to hold the silence any longer. He didn't like what her presence does to him so the sooner she stated the reason for her visit the earlier she leaves and he can go back to being at peace.

"We're not playing that game, stay away from them." He sighed and ran his hands through his short hair.

"Where is my brother?"

"He is your brother, not mine. Why are you asking me?"

"Isn't he your husband?" They heard a sharp intake of breath and both thier attention moved to Fahad Ibrahim who was seated in his earlier position, not at all ashamed he was caught eavesdropping.

In his defence, they weren't exactly subtle do secretive so him listening in was none of their business, they were the ones that chose to talk in front of him.

"Sorry to interrupt but you're a drama filled family, she is your sister in law? Damn." If HSM had a gun then he would definitely have not missed his forehead, too bad he wasn't armed.

"Get out."

"The doppelganger isn't it?"

They said simultaneously, Fahad watched with amusement as she sent a glare to her brother in law.

It was fun until the bone chilling look was directed at him again.

"You should stay away too, I'm not very nice when angry." He gulped, reading the threat in her voice. Seems like the whole family were violent, he thought resting his back on the chair.

"Give us a minute." He didn't argue before standing up and exiting through the already opened door, he tried turning back to catch a glimpse of HSM but still nothing.

"And your son?"

"Keep him out of your mouth Hassan, we may be friends but you know I don't like subtle threats." He nodded in faux understanding.

"You've said what you wanted to say, why don't you leave now?" He wasn't the nicest person on earth and she knew that so she wasn't expecting him to be polite with her, in fact his hostility felt normal but she needed answers from him.

"Why are you doing this? You're hurting your brother, your whole family." She said in a soft voice.

He felt it in his heart, that voice would've stopped him before, years ago when she was the best thing that happened to him. Not anymore, not after she chose his brother, she ruined that effect.

"Retribution." She shook her head. It wasn't just that, they both knew it wasn't that but she couldn't crack him. He wouldn't let her.

"For what?" She asked, wanting to stall him. The more they talked the more he opened up, it always worked.

"Many things B, many things."

"What is their fault in this?"

"He messed up my business."

"What did she do? She was innocent." He knew she was talking about Nai'a.

"Her father crossed me, he killed my child."

"Hassan please," She choked out. Why was he so stubborn?

"I would do this for you Batool but an eye for an eye."

"Don't do this, I beg you to not do this."

He breathed out, frustrated because she had no right to make demands. She had no right to sit there and tell him what to do or not do. She lost that right when he lost her to his brother.

"Why would you kill him? He is back to being paranoid, isn't that enough for you? You caused this right from the start. The person you so claim to love is going to be hurt by this." She yelled the last part but he wasn't moved.

He hid it well because he was breaking inside with the way her voice sounded, she was so close to tears.

"I do love her."

"No you don't, you want to kill her husband in her own home and say you love her, do you know how damaging that is?"

"Thanks to him, my child was shot in my arms Batool, the blood was on my face!" She had known, she knew how damaging it had been for him because he called, in tears.

"And how many have you killed since then?" He didn't reply. Hating her for opening old wounds. She'd been the first person he called when that happened so she knew how he was hurting.

"Don't you know the thought hunts him enough, two lives and everyone you've added to that gruesome pile up till now is on his head, he feels guilty when it isn't his fault."

HSM laughed. "She didn't deserve it too but no one cared, and they shot a baby."

"No amount of hurt you deliver would bring her back," He knew that of course but he needed to keep himself busy with something and grieving wasn't an option so he opt for hurting those who hurt him and since Fahad happened to be in the line of fire then so be it.

"I'm doing it for my peace of mind."

They both didn't say anything after that, both lost in thier thoughts.

"You know, he is worried about you."

He laughed humorlessly. "Let's not talk about that."

"You do know that don't you."

"Fatima let it go."

"He is your brother Hassan!"

"And he is your husband, don't you see how this is so messed up?" She didn't let his anger faze her, he had to get over it soon enough but killing her children was not going to help. A small part of her still believed in his redemption

"You're the one messing it up," She said softly, trying to reason with him but she knew it wouldn't take a while before he made her snap again. They were always like that.

"You were the one who married him."

"Don't be childish." She muttered.

"You chose him Batool, I knew you first and you knew I was in love with you but you chose him. Maybe all of this is even your fault and not his."

She hissed in disapproval. "Maybe if you had let it go like an adult we wouldn't be having this conversation." He rolled his eyes in the dark.

"He left you."

"He didn't have a choice and you know it." Her voice was clipped.

He laughed, knowing he had hit a nerve. "We always have a choice, maybe you weren't worth fighting for."

She inhaled sharply and decide to ignore him, she knew him well enough to know he was stalling, for what? That she didn't know.

"He did come to see me, well I called him and you know him. Family first always, guess it's just your family that is his last."

"She lost a child Hassan!" She snapped, yelling hoping it would penetrate his thick skull.

"So did you but he fucking chose her!" He yelled back, letting out all his anger.

"Why are you so angry?" They were friends of course and he cared about her, somewhere in his sick mind he thought he loved her, even after she married his twin brother he still had the hope that she would somehow come back to him.

"Because he fucking separated us then left you to fend for yourself, and don't give me that shit about you telling him to stay with her. If only he'd been man enough to not hide you like that, none of that would've happened but he chose to be a fucking coward and ruined his own family." He hit the desk making her jump in fright.

HSM moved back and took a deep breath calming himself.

"I wouldn't have treated you that way." He added much softer.

The woman–Batool shook her head and stood up.

"Whatever he would have done, it was written that this would happen, I don't know if you're still a Muslim but I believe I do believe in my qadr." She adjusted the veil that was on her head and made to leave when she stopped and turned back.

"You should do take what I said as a warning, touch a hair on his head and I'll remind you of the reason you always thought twice before talking to me anyhow." She exited the room with that, leaving HSM looking confused.

"I heard a lot of yelling." Fahad stated, peeking into the room, he walked in and closed th door before taking the seat she vacated. Hoping even with the poor lighting he would be able to make out the man's face, he didn't have such luck.

"Were you eavesdropping?"

Fahad groaned, "well I tried but I couldn't, you talk so fast like damn, were you on fast forward or something like that?" HSM rolled his eyes, wondering why he got caught up in the kid's web.

"Tell them to back off," He stared at him wondering what he meant by that.

"No one should make a move on Barkindo." He added when he got no reply. Fahad chuckled, a short mirthless laughter.

"And why?" HSM ignored him and lighted his cigar before taking a drag.

"Is it because that woman said so? Who is she?" He asked not caring that the older man was ignoring him.

"What, just because your lover said not to do it then we won't? Do you know the hell we've risked to get him in that position? He is freaking paranoid and can't even fucking think straight with wife on the line. He'll do everything to protect her thinking she's the target." He sighed frustrated. "When a king is kept busy, he forgets to protect himself, this is the only chance we have."

"Touch a hair on his head and you'll see why people cower in her presence."

Fahad Ibrahim rolled his eyes tired of the man's riddles.

"That means?" He asked irritation tinged in his voice. "She's not the mafia. Is she?"

"She is worst than the mafia."

"How can she possibly be worst than them?"

"She is a mother and she wouldn't mind bringing hell to us if we shy from her warning." Fahad Ibrahim groaned.

"This seems a lot more complicated than I earlier thought."

"You have no idea." They sat in silence after that.

Fahad Ibrahim stood up a few minutes later and called it a night. HSM ignored him and went back to his work, trying to figure out what to do now since Fahad was untouchable.

Fahad Ibrahim on the other hand had seen the woman's face and he called his friend to do a background check on her. A woman that HSM undoubtedly has a second thought about, she's his escape in this if he wanted to come out alive.

*******

Fahad stared at Khadijah that was laying on his office couch, he couldn't tell if she was sleeping but he doubted she was awake, she has been in the position for more than an hour.

It's past twelve midnight and he couldn't find it in him to go to bed, for two reasons, the first, all the usual things that kept him from sleeping, the second, he didn't know what to do about her.

She didn't want to be alone at all.

He didn't blame her because she had been shaken, he knew that feeling of paranoia and impending doom and it's the worst thing ever.

He sighed and got to his feet then walked the few steps to where she was, he was right she was sleeping.

He knew if he didn't move her she'll have neck cramps by morning.

"Khadijah?" He called out softly, she only moved slightly but didn't make a move to wake up.

"Khadijah." He tried again, this time she didn't even move.

He breathed in giving up before he crouched and picked her up.

Her eyes opened immediately and she stiffened. He laid her back on the couch and she sat up fully awake.

"Hey," She croaked in panic.

He saw her visibly calm when she noticed it was just him.

"Sorry," He scratched the back of his head, "you didn't wake up." She nodded and got to her feet when he moved back.

She wordlessly followed him out of the room, he made for her bedroom and she followed behind him.

He sat on the loveseat and she entered the closet, leaving the door slightly open. She keeps seeing the man whenever she's alone.

One thing she didn't tell Fahad was he had a weapon, she'd thought it was just her imagination and that's why she left it out but now that she was sure he was real and he was so close to hurt her, she didn't trust the whole house.

She wore a pajama set that was modest then donned a floor length hijab over it before walking out.

Fahad's head was tipped back and she could tell that his eyes were closed but he wasn't sleeping.

Sleeping! The thought came like a slap on her face.

How were they going to sleep, she definitely can't sleep alone and....oh no.

He opened his eyes and his gaze on her, she saw the fight in his eyes. He didn't want to leave her and well, the second option was quite complicated.

He didn't know he would have to think of a solution for this, this wasn't part of the marriage deal, certainly not what he signed up for.

He cleared his throat and told her to come with him, she followed like a child on a leash.

She hesitated before stepping into his room with a soft said taslim. She has never been inside for the three months they've lived there.

It was quite simple, somewhat like his room when he was younger just that this had more grey than white, everything was in place, the bed was made and the blinds were closed. His familiar scent was everywhere and she couldn't help taking a deep breath.

She looked at the almost empty dresser an a smile made its way to her face despite everything that was pulling her down. There, a prayer mat lay folded stop the dresser, just like in Kaduna where he had it on his study table.

She guessed he was a man of habit.

"The room is pretty....dusty." She looked at him with an eyebrow raised, there was no single spec of dirt but she'll let him have it. "Make yourself at home." He opened one of the four doors in the room and stepped it before closing it back.

Khadijah stood by the door as though someone glued her there with her arms wrapped around herself.

She sighted the soft looking dark cushioned chairs and made her way to one then sat, timidly.

She hugged her legs to herself, successfully making her whole self small in the couch, at first glance you wouldn't notice someone was there since the color of her hijab almost matched the dark grey cushions.

Fahad walked out dressed in sweats and a Tee. He saw Khadijah huddled on the couch. He let out a breath through his mouth before walking up to her.

He didn't bother waking her up this time, he picked her extra cautiously so she wouldn't wake up and laid her on the bed then pulled up the comforter, he considered taking off the hijab but left her to it, he knew she wouldn't appreciate that and she has been shaken enough for one night, finding her hijab off her might just push her over the edge.

He moved to the living area in the master bedroom and picked his laptop, his phone pinged with a message, he was shocked to see the sender's name and what time it was.

He disregarded those thoughts and opened the message.

He read the address and the message beneath it.

Not much security but you're their target and they won't mind executing you. Take a break and go to Kaduna for a bit. HSM wouldn't go there.

He sighed before replying with an okay. He forwarded the message to Zayn. Though his mind was on how his aunt knew where to find the men.

He would meet her first thing tomorrow and have a talk with her.

Sleeping didn't come easy, it never did so he didn't even bother trying rather he searched the address on the map, he knew the place but he couldn't remember where he knew it from. He pushed that to the back of his mind, he'll figure it out later.

It was already three in the morning and since he knew he wasn't going to get any sleep, he opted for praying. He went to his bathroom and performed ablution before walking out and picking his mat that was on the dresser, keeping it there was a bad habit he couldn't seem to get rid of.

He prayed until he heard the first adhan for subh prayers. He prayed the two units sunnah prayer for fajr before waking Khadijah up.

It took her a bit of blinking before she fully woke up, coming in contact with him. She moved back immediately.

"You should pray." She nodded and got off the bed, then made for the door, her hand stopped on the knob, Fahad watched her with amusement when she turned to him.

His lips curved upwards at the sides before he followed her out. She kept a bit more distance than the night before but she was still within arm's reach, he wouldn't even have to stretch to get to her.

He sat on the chair like last night while she did her business. She came back out with a different hijab, she must've taken a bath because she took quite a while.

"Sorry, i to–"

"Don't worry, come on." He cut her off then stood up and motioned for her to follow him.

Khadijah walked behind him, trying not to jump at the tiniest sound.

He spread the mats and they prayed together, they both sat in thier mats as though glued to it after. He picked up his Qur'an and read while she used her phone, not having it in her to ask him to escort her to pick hers.

The situation would've been funny had her life not been on the line. She who shied away from company desperately seeking one.

Not any company for that matter, a males company. Her husband but she didn't think that word worked for her. This is the longest they've been in each others presence since the wedding, they do sit and talk, quite alright if she had to say so herself but never for long periods at once.

Fahad had a good humour and a calm aura, whenever she started being too distant, moving back into her shell, he somehow pulls her out with a clam she didn't