Jenna walked next to her brother through the backyard, an awkward silence settled over them like a thick cloud. They had been outside for five minutes now and beyond ‘watch your step’ not a single word had been uttered between them. As she now glanced up at him, she was startled to see that he had a grim expression on his face, but before she could comment on it, he caught her staring at him, and his expression changed instantly to a smile.

“Well you’ve done well for yourself little sis.” He said motioning around them, and she shifted uncomfortably.

“I did nothing. This was your doing remember?”

He smirked.

“So I guess you should thank me.”

Jenna scowled, and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Why are you here Muhsin?”

He paused to pick some mint off of its plant, and after inhaling its scent he tossed it to the ground before looking at her.

“I’m here to see you.”

“Why?”

He shrugged, pulling an apple down from its tree, polishing it on his shirt, and taking a bite.

“I need a reason?”

“Are you here for a loan?”

He didn’t reply, taking another bite from his apple, and she sighed.

“Muhsin, answer me. Did you come out here hoping to get money?”

“I came out here because I got a ticket. Whether it was from Hudayfah or not, it was given to me.”

“Do you remember anything about the guy who gave you the ticket?”

“Nope.”

As Jenna stared at him, waiting for him to say something else, he held her gaze steadily biting into the apple. Just when the crunching sound was beginning to grate on her nerves he spoke.

“Is he treating you right?”

His question startled her and it took her a second to find her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“Hudayfah. Is he doing right by you?”

She nodded.

“Yeah. He is.”

Muhsin took another bite, looking at her thoughtfully.

“I was surprised by how open he was with his affection yesterday.”

“Why is that?”

Muhsin shrugged again, and took another series of bites.

“With your marriage being a sham and all.”

Jenna felt her chest tighten.

“It may have started out like that, but we are doing better. We are starting to have a real relationship!”

Muhsin scoffed.

“Please little sis. You’re just business in his eyes.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are just something he has to protect. To look out for.”

“What are you talking about!?”

“The men I was involved with, were scary people. Hudayfah saved my butt from getting killed. They would have killed the rest of the family too.”

“Yes I know that’s why I married him!”

Muhsin shook his head.

Jenna blinked.

“What did Hudayfah tell you nothing!? Why do you think the house is now crowded with men? Why do you think Rami is recovering from bullet wounds? Your husband paid off my debt a long time ago. There should be no more war. But there is still one thing Jamaal wants, and he isn’t going to rest until he gets it.”

“What is it?” she asked, and he looked at her for a few seconds before turning away.

“You haven’t found it odd that you’re practically living in a prison? Not even allowed to go out into your backyard without being watched?” he motioned towards where one of the men was watching them through the window.

She twisted a thread from her scarf around her finger nervously.

“It’s for my own safety.”

“Why would you need more safety than say Emma or Maria?”

She shrugged.

“Because when I married Hudayfah, your problems became his.”

Muhsin’s face softened slightly.

“Like I said, my problems are over. I’m out of the woods.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He married you to keep you away from the leader of the gang.”

“Why would he need to do that?” she asked, confusion etched on her face, and Muhsin sighed.

“Seriously? He wants you, and Hudayfah’s job right now is to make sure he doesn’t get you.”

Jenna’s jaw dropped and she just stared at her brother in utter disbelief and horror.

“Me!? Why would he want me!?”

Muhsin shrugged.

“Who knows? I guess he saw you one day and set his cap at you. But he’s not a nice guy in the slightest.”

“Why did Hudayfah have to come into the picture then?”

“Like I told you before, he has a lot of money and is powerful. He can protect you. You didn’t find it odd that you had a bodyguard on what was supposed to be your honeymoon?!”

“A bodyguard? Who?”

“Rami.” Muhsin said with an eye roll.

“Rami doesn’t know why we had to get married.”

Muhsin scoffed.

“Of course he does. He was there the night that they saved me.”

Jenna felt her cheeks start to flush.

He had lied to her.

“But now that I think about it, the affection he was showing earlier makes sense. He needs to put up a front.”

“How do you know it’s not real!?” she demanded, and he laughed.

“Because he isn’t over it.”

“Over what?”

Muhsin regarded her through narrowed eyes.

“He didn’t tell you?”’

“Tell me what?” she asked, slightly panicked, and he shook his head.

“If he didn’t tell you, it’s not my place to.”

“Muhsin,” she said through clenched teeth, “what are you talking about?!”

“Ask him about Marwa.”

Jenna froze.

“Who is Marwa?”

“She was his fiancée.”

The backyard was so silent, that you could have heard an ant walking across the cement ground.

His fiancée?

“How long ago?” she asked, finally finding her voice, and Muhsin shrugged.

“Six months maybe. I don’t remember really.”

Jenna felt her stomach sink all the way to the ground. Six months?! They had been married almost a month! So almost five months ago he was engaged to someone else?!

“What happened between them?”

Muhsin shrugged.

“I don’t know. He never told me.”

Jenna shook her head.

“I don’t believe you.”

Muhsin rolled his eyes.

“Fine, don’t.”

“Why did he marry me then if he was engaged to someone else?!”

“Hello!? Have you not been paying attention through our entire conversation!? He married you to keep you away from Jamaal. Now Jamaal is pissed, and is retaliating! Sheesh Jenna, you’re supposed to be the smart one!” Muhsin cried in annoyance, and Jenna crossed her arms over her chest.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”



“You don’t. But if things are as good as you say they are between the two of you, then ask him.”