Jenna watched from her hiding place in the dining room as Rana dashed up the stairs, her mind whirling in overdrive. She had never seen her sister in law cry before, and to see her sobbing over Rami was quite a surprise. She especially felt like she was intruding on an intimate moment when she heard the last of the conversation. She hadn’t meant to, she was just coming back downstairs to check on Rami, and had paused when she heard Rana crying. She hadn’t fully understood their exchange, but knew it had to do with whatever feelings they both were suppressing. She watched now as Rami leaned back against the island, his face still pale, his body trembling slightly, and she slowly made her way into the kitchen. At the sound of her footsteps he looked up, and gave her a small smile.

“Hey Jenna.”

“Hi Rami. How are you feeling?”

“You know I’ve been better.” He said with a laugh, and she gave him a sympathetic look.

“You should go up to your room and rest. Do you want me to bring you some food or water or anything?” she asked a bit worriedly, and he shook his head.

“For now I just want to sleep, but maybe later something to eat would be nice. Thank you Jen.”

“You’re welcome.” She replied, and as he made his way up the stairs she stood momentarily in the middle of the kitchen, remembering the sight of him soaked in blood, before she shook her head, and began to pull out the things for dinner. She was going to make lasagna, and as the tomatoes in their backyard had just ripened, she decided to go pick some.

As she walked through the backyard, she took a deep whiff of the roses, glad that Hudayfah hadn’t restricted her from going into the yard. She crouched near the tomato vine, and began to pick the plumpest of the fruits, pleased to see that the other vegetables would be ready soon.

“Salaam neighbor!”

She looked up with a start, her heart hammering in her chest, but as she saw it was Laith, standing on the balcony across from their backyard, she smiled.

“Oh you scared me! Walaikumasalaam!”

He grinned.

“How’ve you been?” he asked, and she put a few more tomatoes in her little basket before standing.

“Good Alhamdulillah. How are you and your brothers enjoying living here?” she asked, and he smiled.

“Oh it’s wonderful! MashaAllah everyone is so friendly. I think I caught a glimpse of your husband earlier! Really tall, black spiked hair?”

Jenna shook her head.

“No that’s Hudayfah’s best friend Rami.”

“Oh okay. Well I hope to meet your husband soon!”

Jenna smiled.

“I’m sure he would love that. Maybe we can have you and your brothers over for dinner sometime!”

“How very kind of you! We are going to be out of town for a while starting tomorrow, but when we come back, we accept your invitation!”

They spoke for another few minutes before Jenna said she had to get dinner ready, and as she came back inside she smiled.

He was so nice!

***

Hudayfah turned off his computer, took off his earpiece, yawned, and stood up from his desk. He had been in a meeting all day, and was exhausted! He made his way towards his office door, intent on seeking out Jenna. He had missed her, and wanted to spend a little time with her, however as he opened the door, he found his sister curled up on the ground next to it.

“Rana?” he asked in concern, and as she glanced up at him, he was surprised to realize she had been crying.

“Hey big bro.” she said, and he reached out a hand to help her up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ok. Don’t freak out.”

Hudayfah’s stomach sunk.

“What happened!?”

“Rami and Jenna went out today, and someone shot at them.”

The world began to spin, and for a second Hudayfah was positive he was going to keel over. He gripped the doorframe for support.

“What!? Where is she!? Is she okay!?”

“She is fine Hudayfah,” relief flood through him, “but Rami was shot.”

“Oh my God. Is he okay?! Where is he?!”

“I was able to get the bullets out and stitch him up. He’s in his room now resting, but Hudayfah,” she hesitated, “the bullets were laced with poison.”

Hudayfah’s eyes widened.

“How do you know?”

“By the way his wound was festering. I didn’t want to scare him so I told him I had to send it to a lab, but I know they were.”

Hudayfah ran a hand over his beard.

“Do you know what it was?”

She shook her head.

“No. I sent them to my friend about an hour ago, she will call me as soon as she finds out.” She began to nervously fiddle with the fringe on the end of her Hijab. “We will just have to watch him.”

“Do you think he needs to go to the hospital?”

She shook her head.

“No, I can take care of him, I just need access to some supplies.” She glanced down at her watch. “One of my friends has an office in the city, she said I could buy what I needed from her. If I leave now I can be back in an hour.”

Hhudayfah nodded.

“Be careful.”

“I will InshaAllah. We will have to take turns watching him through the night though.”

“Well the boys will be here in a few hours, we can arrange something then.”

She nodded

“Okay.”

“You’re really worried about him aren’t you?”

She nodded, her eyes watering again.

“I was terrified Hud. I was trying so hard not to show it but it was killing me to see him like that!”

Hudayfah pulled his sister into a hug, patting her back.

“He’s going to be okay InshaAllah. He’s tough.”

Rana gave him a weak smile before wiping at her eyes.

“Alright I’ll be back in an hour or two.”

“Text me when you get there. Be careful.”

Hudayfah waited until his sister had gone back into her room before he dashed full speed down the staircase in search of his wife, his heart pounding.

*** Jenna had just pulled her magnificently smelling lasagna out of the oven, when all of a sudden Hudayfah came flying into the room, wrapped his arms around her, and they both stumbled backwards against the wall, him stopping them from falling at the last second.

“Oh Jenna.” He whispered into her ear, his hold tightening to the point she was having trouble breathing, and she knew he must have heard of what happened to Rami.

“Hudayfah I’m okay.” She said with a small laugh, “you’re squishing me!”

He gave a chuckle, and though he loosened his hold, he still kept his arms around her waist, his face drawn with worry.

“I’m glad you’re okay Alhamdulillah. But the thought that you were anywhere near a gun,” he paused to close his eyes for a few seconds, before reopening them, “scares me so much.” He finished in a whisper. He gave her waist a squeeze. “What happened?”

She shrugged.

“I’m not sure. We stopped to get ice cream, I felt this guy staring at us, and then before I knew it he had pulled out a gun. Rami pushed me against the wall to get me out of the way,” she swallowed hard, “and I felt it when the bullets hit him.”

Hudayfah frowned, and pulled her back to his chest.

“I’m so glad you’re safe Alhamdulillah.”

She wrapped her arms around his middle, and they just stood there for a few seconds until he pulled back slightly.

“Just to warn you, the house is going to be crawling with like ten guys in a few hours.”

“I thought only five are coming from Arizona?”

Hudayfah nodded.

“They are. But three are coming from Florida, and two of my cousins live here in the city.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Really? I didn’t know you have family here!”

Hudayfah nodded.

“They live on Long Island, and were planning on going to Egypt for the wedding my grandparents were going to throw for us, but when we decided not to go, they decided to come here and they have been planning a small celebration with Rana.”

“Aw that’s so sweet! Rana didn’t say anything!”

“I guess she wanted to surprise you.”

She smiled, and brushed a piece of hair back from his face.

“Another wedding huh?”

“Is that okay? It would just be a small party.”

“That would be perfect.”

He smiled, and gave her head a kiss before releasing his hold, his smile deepening as she blushed slightly.

“Well I’m going to go check on Rami. I’ll be back down to eat in a few minutes.”

“Wait, take a tray up to him to so he can eat.”

Hudayfah watched her as she bustled around the kitchen putting two large slices of lasagna, a bowl of salad, some bread, a can of soda, silverware and a napkin on a tray, and handing it to him.

*** “Well. I have to admit Rami, I always thought that if you got shot, it would be Rana who did it.”

Rami looked up as Hudayfah stepped into the room, and he laughed, watching as his friend made room on his bedside table for the tray.

“Gee thanks bro. Make fun of the invalid.” He said and as he shifted in his seat to reach for the piece of bread, he winced slightly, putting a hand over his wrapped bandage. Hudayfah sat down on the end of his friend’s bed, trying to contain his shock. Rami wasn’t looking good. His face was almost a yellow color, and he had a sheen of sweat over his body. Hudayfah didn’t know much about poisons but he was beginning to think his sister was right. The bullets had been laced.

“How are you feeling?”

Rami shrugged.

“A little bit worse actually. You think my body was just in shock before and is only now registering I got shot?”

“Maybe.”

Rami turned his face to the wall opposite his bed and crossed his arms over his chest, avoiding looking at Hudayfah.

“The bullets were poisoned weren’t they?”

Hudayfah was silent for a few seconds before sighing.

“We won’t know for certain until they come back from the lab.”

“But Rana thinks they are doesn’t she? She just didn’t want to tell me. Don’t lie to me Hud, I can see it in your face.”

“Yeah, she does.”

Rami sighed, and leaned back against his headboard.

“You know she started crying today after she finished fixing me up.”

Hudayfah nodded.

“She told me she was scared.”

Rami continued to stare at the wall.

“I’ve never seen her like that. Worried about me.” He turned to look at Hudayfah. “Usually she’s just getting on my nerves. Fighting with me. But today,” he shook his head, “I saw a different side of her.”

“What does this mean?” Hudayfah asked excitedly.

“Well for one thing I think I tried to get her to admit her feelings for me.”

“Rami!” Hudayfah exclaimed, “You can’t do that! You have to at least propose first!”

Rami put his hands up.

“I know I know! I think I was delirious from the pain,” he shrugged slightly, “believe me I wasn’t in my right mind, otherwise I never would have said anything. I’ve spent years denying what she was to me.”

“And that is?” Hudayfah asked with a small grin, and Rami scowled slightly.

“You know what that is. I didn’t want to admit it. But now that it’s out in the open…” he trailed off, leaning back against his pillow, and it was silent for a few moments, before Hudayfah cleared his throat.

“Now that it’s out in the open what?”

Rami shrugged.

“If I don’t die from poisoning, I’m going to marry her InshaAllah.”

*** “Jamaal?”

Jamaal looked up from where he was seated on the couch.

“What?” he snapped, and the man watched as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. He had come to realize that the more nervous Jamaal was, the more he smoked. He couldn’t help but wonder how far off of the plan things were going if he was going through cartons per day.

“I’m on my way to Hudayfah’s.”

“What do you need a farewell party?” Jamaal asked sarcastically and he winced slightly.

“I just wanted to let you know. Is there anything in specific you want done?”

“Today Louis shot Rami.”

His eyes widened.

Rami!

Oh my God.

He swallowed deeply.

“Did he kill him?”

Jamaal shook his head.

“He shot his arm.” He gave a slight chuckle. “But I didn’t expect the bullets to kill him.” He blew out a cloud of smoke.

“Why?”

“The poison will.”

His mouth dropped open.

“You poisoned him!?”

Jamaal flicked ash in the man’s direction.

“It would be too easy just to kill him with a shot. I want Hudayfah to suffer as he watches his best friend die. And the great thing is they won’t take him to the hospital because then the police would get involved.” He laughed a long raspy sound, and the man flinched.

“You know Hudayfah’s sister is a doctor right?”

There was a beat of silence.

The calm before the storm…

“WHAT!?”

He stepped out of the way as Jamaal began to whirl around the room in a flurry of rage, before he came to a sudden halt and turned towards him, his eyes slightly crazed.

“You’ll be on the inside. Even if she saves him, kill him.”

“W…what?”

“We need Rami out of the way. The rest of the men too. Kill the sister as well. We need to isolate Hudayfah, take everyone away from him until the only one he has left is Jenna. Then, we take her too.”

He felt his blood run cold. Kill everyone?!

“I thought this was about Muhsin? I thought you just wanted Jenna. Why does anyone else have to die!?”

Jamaal laughed, and took a few steps forward.

“There is so much more that is going on. You don’t even know the half of it. The battle is just beginning. As for Hudayfah? He made e himself a target the second he took away what was promised to me. And I don’t forgive easily.”

*** Jenna stood in the corner of the living room debating whether or not to put her hands over her ears. The noise of all of the men reuniting was deafening, as they yelled joyfully and hugged and laughed and talked. She hadn’t even seen Hudayfah in over five minutes, for he had been descended upon the second the doorbell had rang. She had yet to be introduced to anyone, Hudayfah had been too excited to be reunited with his friends to remember her, but she didn’t mind too much. It gave her a chance to observe.

“Pretty loud aren’t they?” Rana asked as she came up to Jenna, handing her a cup of juice. Jenna took it with a laugh.

“Yeah they are. But it’s nice!” she took a sip from her cup. “How’s Rami doing?”

Rana flinched slightly.

“Not great. He’s starting to get a fever.”

“What can you do for him?”

“For now, nothing. We have to wait until the lab results come back to find out what they were poisoned with. Then we can give him the antidote.”

“How is he doing?”

Rana rolled her eyes slightly.

“You know Rami. Making jokes and trying to get on my nerves as usually.”

Jenna traced the rim of her cup, wondering if she had the nerve to ask her sister this.

“How are you doing?”

Rana looked at her sharply.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jenna shrugged.

“How are you handling him being like this?”

Rana was silent, staring into her cup before she sighed.

“It’s killing me to see him like this.” She shook her head. “When I was working on him earlier, it took everything in my power not to just…” she trailed off, and Jenna touched her arm.

“Do you love him?”

It was quiet between the two of them for far too long, and just when Jenna was wondering if she had pushed Rana too far, her sister nodded.

“Yes.”

She didn’t offer anything else, and Jenna didn’t ask, and they stood together, just watching the men before them.

“Salaam girls!” Hudayfah exclaimed as he cheerfully came up to them, and as he wove an arm around Jenna’s waist, she flinched slightly. While things had been better between them, she still wasn’t entirely comfortable yet. She knew he would be taking more liberties around his buddies, and she wondered if she would be able to handle that.

“Hey Hud.” Rana replied.

“How’s Rami doing?”

“Still the same. I should go check on him.” She put her cup down, and as she headed towards the stairs, Hudayfah beamed at Jenna.

“Sorry it’s so loud in here.”

She smiled, and straightened out his tie.

“Don’t apologize. It’s nice to see you with all of your friends.”

He grinned, and gave her waist a squeeze.

“I’ll introduce you in a little bit, I just want things to calm down.” He said, and after giving her another hug, he ran off to one of the men, laughing hysterically.

Jenna watched them for another few minutes in amusement, before the doorbell rang, and she went over to the intercom.

“Who is it?” she asked, pressing the talk button, and when she released it she heard a slight scramble before a voice came through the speaker.



“Guess who little sis!?”