Wanted: A Baby by the Sheikh(58)

He cursed softly as he ran up the stone steps to the upper floors. He’d imposed so many security measures, done so much to prevent such a thing as this happening, and yet it had happened. The most priceless jewel of all, Taina, had been caught in the security measures he’d imposed. He’d trapped her in a net of his own making, with the man he most wanted to protect her from.

When he reached the top of the stairs he stopped in a cloud of dust. Taina was in Mark’s arms and they were kissing.

Fury roared through Daidan and he bridged the gap between him and the kissing couple in a split second, hauling Mark from Taina. A misplaced punch from Mark sent Taina flying down into the dirt. Daidan gripped Mark’s shirt at his throat and slammed him against the wall.

“Daidan! No!” Taina scrambled to her feet and tried to pull him off Mark. “No, don’t.”

Daidan brought back his arm to land a punch on Mark but through the bloody haze he felt Taina’s soft touch on his arm and slowly her pleas filtered through to him. He turned in confusion. Why the hell didn’t she want him to sort this animal out after what he’d done?

“Don’t,” she appealed again.

He pushed Mark up against the wall and let him fall to his feet. “Christ, Daidan,” gasped Mark as he doubled up, coughing. “Thought you’d lost your mind for a moment there.”

“No, I’ve lost it now, letting you go.” Daidan stepped back as an added security against him hitting Mark again.

“She begged me for it, so what could I do?” Mark dusted off his jacket. “A nice piece. I can see why you took her back. We were just having a bit of fun. You know?”

“No, I don’t know.” Daidan didn’t turn around to Taina. He wasn’t going to take his eyes off that snake. “It didn’t look like fun to me. Taina?” There was silence. He turned around then. “Taina?” But she was gone.

A cold fear gripped his heart that had nothing to do with the man in front of him and all to do with the woman he’d believed had loved him but who hadn’t stuck around to tell him so. Had everything that had gone on between them these past months been a charade, a parade of lies? Simply a trick to get what she wanted after all?

“Run away, has she?” Mark taunted. “Didn’t like being caught out by her husband. Sorry, mate.”

Anger and frustration beat back the fear as Daidan focused on Mark. He’d deal with Taina later. But now he’d deal with Mark.





CHAPTER TWELVE





A sudden sound made Daidan twist back around, ready to pounce, all thought of calm gone. Mark was trying to walk away.

Daidan stepped wide, blocking his path.

If Taina had looked fearful, that was nothing to how the Aussie looked. His eyes shifted around, searching for escape like a trapped animal. Which he was, thought Daidan.

“Where do you think you’re going, Mark?”

Mark half-laughed and shifted uneasily from foot to foot. “Back to the concert, of course. The second act should be starting soon. Believe me, I don’t want to miss that.”

He’d made a promise to Taina to control his temper. No more fights. No more violent outbursts. But his blood pounded with an anger so fierce he could hardly think at all. He advanced on his prey, just as he was sure Mark had done to the woman Daidan loved more than life itself. He wouldn’t let the old primitive instinct take over. He wouldn’t. He’d give Mark one last chance to make amends.

“Okay, have it your way. You can leave now, if you like. Take your girlfriend and get the hell out of here.”

“You’re making a mistake. I’ve done nothing wrong. Twelve months ago I simply saw a chance with Taina and took it.” Mark tried to side-step Daidan but Daidan wasn’t inclined to move an inch. Mark shrugged and grimaced. “You know what women are like.”

“You tell me.”

Mark was so egotistical, he’d obviously lost the ability to pick up danger signals. And Daidan was sure he’d been giving off enough of them.

“What can I say? I have women throwing themselves at me all the time. She came on to me. Reckon she’d been drinking a bit, taking a few drugs, and was having a bit of fun, a bit of laugh with everyone. You know how it is…”

“Do I?”

“Yeah, sure you do.” He shrugged. “You know how women get, touchy feely, putting their hands on your arm and all that. You know if they’re up for it.”

“Because she touches you on the arm, you think she wants sex?”

“Hey, it was more than that.”

“Tell me what happened next.”

“You really want to know?”