Golden Bird

She looked up into the dark eyes that had sparked so much passion. “Well, OK,” she gave in reluctantly, “but I’ll miss you.”

“And I shall miss you, too, little bird.” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Rashid set the phone down, sat back in his chair, and closed his eyes. His worst fears had been realized. Although the thought of scandal worried him, it was not his main concern. How could he bear to part with her now? As in the myth of Ahmal, Rashid would be forced to set his golden bird free. Would she also never return? Wearily, he got up to make the arrangements for his trip to the United States. He had told Jack Hogan to set up an appointment with David Wilson and his detective for the day after tomorrow. He would have one more night with his golden bird.

Rashid wondered what David Wilson was like. Sara had loved and lived with the man. Would she choose to go back to that life, or could she ever choose to leave her family for a life here? She had not had the opportunity to choose as of yet, and though he feared losing her, he could no longer ignore the fact that she was brought here against her will. He had told her he had been working on arrangements with the proper authorities to assure her safe passage home, but in truth, he had been doing no such thing. He had known it was foolish, but he realized now that from the first time he saw her, drugged and helpless on that stretcher, he wanted to keep her all to himself, locked away from the rest of the world. From the very beginning he hoped to win her heart, and make her forget she had ever had another life. It was a fantasy, and now reality came crashing down on him, destroying his dreams.