America had been the reason for receiving military instruction. He wanted to learn how to protect himself in the future from any situation. He also realized that it was time to move on and let it go … unless he ever came face-to-face with the Colombian again.
Shaking off his thoughts of pain, fear and revenge, Gary imagined a beautiful time of healing, discovery and wonder in Dubai.
“All I have to do is mind my own business and behave myself like a respectable tourist, and I’ll be all right,” he stated. “So I’ll book a room at a normal place and do what every other tourist does to stay out of trouble.”
Jonah nodded, agreeing with his strategy. “You do that. So when are you planning to go there?”
Gary shrugged, thinking spontaneously. “I don’t know, in the next few weeks, maybe.”
Jonah nearly choked on her drink. “In the next few
weeks?”
she repeated. “Well, that’s not enough time to—” She stopped herself, thinking about her own spontaneous travel. The military life had its travel perks, and Gary could afford to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Jonah smiled and said, “I hope your friend doesn’t mind the short notice.”
Gary smirked and didn’t respond to that. Instead, he joked, “If you need to fly over and save me from something, don’t hesitate to do it.”
“That’s not funny. And if I have to fly anywhere to save you, your butt’s not going anywhere but Disney World from that point on. So stay out of trouble and leave the exotic women alone.”
Gary chuckled, attempting to keep it light. “Yeah, I’ll do my best.”
Chapter 3
Abdul Khalif Hassan and his wife climbed off of the executive elevator at the garage level of their building, flanked by three armed Muslim guards in white
throbes.
The guards were serious and experienced men with the important duty of executive-level security. Abdul was a tremendously wealthy businessman and was always full of activity, but he was with Hamda, who had talked him into a lunch date.
As they stepped forward and away from the elevator, a white Rolls Royce with gold trim awaited them inside of the parking lot. A large driver sat behind the wheel. More armed security men drove a white Cadillac Escalade in front of the Rolls Royce, with a second white SUV behind it.
Hamda took a deep breath. She was used to it all, nevertheless, she continued to fantasize of less protective measures with her husband. It would have been nice to go out for a change without need of a full security team. Anything was better than nothing. But as soon as they climbed into the luxurious backseat of the car, Abdul’s cell phone rang at his hip; it was his business line.
Hamda noticed it and sighed.
Here we go again …
Abdul quickly held up his right index finger before his wife could announce her usual displeasure. “One minute,” he told her as he answered his phone.
Hamda looked away and shook her head as the three cars drove off toward the garage exit and the streets of Dubai.
“Merciful Allah. I can never have his undivided attention,” she complained.
Abdul frowned and ignored the remark.
The woman just doesn’t understand business,
he thought. His management knew not to call him on his cell phone unless it was urgently important, so he answered it with alarm and curiosity.
“Yes, this is Abdul,” he spoke gruffly. His threatening tone hinted of irritation. It was also his way of maintaining the necessary business edge when needed. At the same time, he reached out to caress his wife’s soft hand. But it only took a few seconds for the dire news to rattle him.
“What?!” he exclaimed into the phone. He released his wife’s hand immediately and brought his fingers up to his temple. “This just happened?”
A frown of concern brought new wrinkles to his forehead.
Hamda turned to study him, knowing that their lunch date was now out of the question. A serious issue was upon them.
“How did this happen?” Abdul
Shaking off his thoughts of pain, fear and revenge, Gary imagined a beautiful time of healing, discovery and wonder in Dubai.
“All I have to do is mind my own business and behave myself like a respectable tourist, and I’ll be all right,” he stated. “So I’ll book a room at a normal place and do what every other tourist does to stay out of trouble.”
Jonah nodded, agreeing with his strategy. “You do that. So when are you planning to go there?”
Gary shrugged, thinking spontaneously. “I don’t know, in the next few weeks, maybe.”
Jonah nearly choked on her drink. “In the next few
weeks?”
she repeated. “Well, that’s not enough time to—” She stopped herself, thinking about her own spontaneous travel. The military life had its travel perks, and Gary could afford to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Jonah smiled and said, “I hope your friend doesn’t mind the short notice.”
Gary smirked and didn’t respond to that. Instead, he joked, “If you need to fly over and save me from something, don’t hesitate to do it.”
“That’s not funny. And if I have to fly anywhere to save you, your butt’s not going anywhere but Disney World from that point on. So stay out of trouble and leave the exotic women alone.”
Gary chuckled, attempting to keep it light. “Yeah, I’ll do my best.”
Chapter 3
Abdul Khalif Hassan and his wife climbed off of the executive elevator at the garage level of their building, flanked by three armed Muslim guards in white
throbes.
The guards were serious and experienced men with the important duty of executive-level security. Abdul was a tremendously wealthy businessman and was always full of activity, but he was with Hamda, who had talked him into a lunch date.
As they stepped forward and away from the elevator, a white Rolls Royce with gold trim awaited them inside of the parking lot. A large driver sat behind the wheel. More armed security men drove a white Cadillac Escalade in front of the Rolls Royce, with a second white SUV behind it.
Hamda took a deep breath. She was used to it all, nevertheless, she continued to fantasize of less protective measures with her husband. It would have been nice to go out for a change without need of a full security team. Anything was better than nothing. But as soon as they climbed into the luxurious backseat of the car, Abdul’s cell phone rang at his hip; it was his business line.
Hamda noticed it and sighed.
Here we go again …
Abdul quickly held up his right index finger before his wife could announce her usual displeasure. “One minute,” he told her as he answered his phone.
Hamda looked away and shook her head as the three cars drove off toward the garage exit and the streets of Dubai.
“Merciful Allah. I can never have his undivided attention,” she complained.
Abdul frowned and ignored the remark.
The woman just doesn’t understand business,
he thought. His management knew not to call him on his cell phone unless it was urgently important, so he answered it with alarm and curiosity.
“Yes, this is Abdul,” he spoke gruffly. His threatening tone hinted of irritation. It was also his way of maintaining the necessary business edge when needed. At the same time, he reached out to caress his wife’s soft hand. But it only took a few seconds for the dire news to rattle him.
“What?!” he exclaimed into the phone. He released his wife’s hand immediately and brought his fingers up to his temple. “This just happened?”
A frown of concern brought new wrinkles to his forehead.
Hamda turned to study him, knowing that their lunch date was now out of the question. A serious issue was upon them.
“How did this happen?” Abdul
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