"Promise me you'll be careful!" Jenna exclaimed for the tenth time since Hudayfah had gotten up, and he laughed, pulling her towards him.

"I already told you I will! I will be as careful as possible!"

"And there is nothing I can do to tempt you to stay?!" she asked, and he shook his head in amusement.

"Sorry darling, but we have to go find Emma. You understand that better than anyone."

She nodded, and waited until he had put on his jacket before throwing her arms around his neck.

"You'll be extra careful?"

He brought his hands around her back.

"Extremely careful."

She pushed away from his chest to peer up into his face.

"And you will get out of there if there is any sign of danger?"

He laughed, and combed his fingers through her hair.

"Any sign at all!"

"And you'll come home to me?" she asked, her eyes watering, and he cupped her cheek, bringing his lips down on hers. She put her hands on his face, kissing him back just as fiercely, and once they had pulled apart, she leaned her forehead against his. "You didn't answer me." She whispered, and he kissed her again.

"InshaAllah I'll come home to you."

She sat quietly, watching him as he finished getting ready, and as he picked up his phone and keys, she tumbled into his arms again.

"Oh Hudayfah." She said quietly, and he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I love you darling." He said softly, and she stared up at him, clinging to his jacket.

Say it back Jenna.

Tell him you love him.

Say it!

Instead she said nothing, bringing him down for one last kiss, and as she watched him leave their bedroom, she felt fear settle in the pit of her stomach.

***

It was quiet and tense in the car as Rami drove his jeep down the deserted streets, three other cars containing their security team following. They were originally going to take Omar with them, but then they realized there was no one else they could trust to stay with the girls except for him, so he had given detailed directions to Jamaal's house, and they had taken a very weary Muhsin instead.

"Did Rana give you a hard time about going?" Hudayfah asked, and Rami nodded, yawning widely.

"Yeah. Jenna too?"

Hudayfah nodded.

"Yup." He paused to slip his gun into the holster attached to his shoulder. "Gosh the last time I touched a gun was when we all went out the night before I got married."

Rami laughed.

"I don't think a paintball gun counts bro! You should come with me to the shooting range when I go to practice."

Hudayfah shook his head.

"I never thought I would need to use a gun again honestly."

"Is your license still valid?"

"Psh of course. Do you honestly think I'd keep a gun without having the proper papers!?"

Rami grinned.

"That's right I forgot who I'm talking to."

"Do I get a gun?" Muhsin asked from the backseat.

"No!" Hudayfah and Rami shouted in unison, and Muhsin crossed his arms, glaring at them.

"I'm thinking of getting a gun for Rana." Rami said, moving to turn on the heater.

Hudayfah raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

Rami nodded.

"Yeah with all that is going on, it worries me to think that she might not be able to protect herself if something were to happen."

"I think Jenna would faint if I tried to get her a gun. She would faint if she knew I had a gun!"

Rami chuckled.

"Yeah she wouldn't be able to handle it. But if we keep the two of them together, and Rana has one, I think they will be okay."

Hudayfah nodded.

"Sounds reasonable. Doesn't it take a while to get a license though? You won't get one in time before Thursday."

Rami grinned sheepishly.

"I applied for the license for her after I got shot. I picked it up yesterday."

"Aw Rami! You guys weren't even married yet and you were trying to protect her! Aw that's so cute!" Muhsin exclaimed, and Rami scowled at him in the review mirror.

"Be quiet Muhsin!"

"No he's right, it is cute!" Hudayfah teased, and Rami pushed him with one hand. Hudayfah laughed, before his face grew somber.

"Alright according to the map Omar made for us, Jamaal lives on the top floor of that building. Let's park over here."

Rami flashed his emergency lights so the cars behind them would know they had arrived, and he pulled up to the curb, putting the car in park. As they got out, twelve men exited the other cars, and made their way towards them. Each man was dressed in a dark suit, had on a pair of sunglasses despite that it was still dark outside, and carried a gun. As they came to a halt, one of the men stepped forward, extending his hand.

"Mr. Sulayman? I am John Reynolds, head of this security team."

"Nice to meet you John." Hudayfah said shaking his hand. "This is Rami, and Muhsin, my brothers in law."

John nodded in each of their direction, before pushing his sunglasses onto his head.

"Mr. Sulayman, just from a quick glance around, I have already spotted two security cameras, and there are probably more hidden. That being said, I advise you to cover your license plates," he handed over a roll of duct tape, "and put on these masks."

As Hudayfah, Rami and Muhsin each took a mask, the other men put on theirs, and after Rami had bent to cover their license plate number, John pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it and spreading it over the car's hood.

"Here are the blueprints for the building."

Rami raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you get those?"

"We have our ways sir."

Rami gave an impressed whistle.

"Did you hear that Hud? I'm a sir!"

Hudayfah rolled his eyes.

"Please continue John."

John nodded.

"Just a reminder, any precautions we take today, please keep them in mind for Thursday. Now the plan is for us to spread out and locate any other cameras that may be around. Afterwards we should try to pinpoint the room the young lady is being held in. According to this layout of the penthouse, there are six rooms not including the kitchen, living rooms, dining room, and bathrooms, each, thankfully, attached to a fire escape. So the good news is we can climb up and look in the windows."

"What's the bad news?" Hudayfah asked, and John folded up the paper.

"Someone could see us. And while the masks would cover our identities, there is no way to be sure that someone won't shoot at us. That is why we are all wearing bulletproof vests. Correct?"

Hudayfah nodded.

"Yes."

"Very well. Here are your ear pieces," he handed one to Hudayfah and one to Rami, "I understand that you are to stay in the car?" he asked Muhsin, and he nodded a bit begrudgingly.

"Yes." He mumbled.

"Okay. Gianni is going to stay with you, and the two of you will keep track of where everyone is." He handed Muhsin a black box with about twenty switches on it. "Everyone should check in every three minutes. If for some reason you do not hear from one of us, you check on us yourself. If they still don't answer, you press this red button on the receiver here that will alert all of us that something is wrong. You also check in with us if you hear or see anything suspicious. Understand?"

Muhsin nodded.

"Yes."

"Aw see Muhsin, you get to be a spy after all!" Rami teased, and Muhsin scowled at him.

"Now we will meet back here to regroup in one hour. If for some reason you feel like your position has been compromised, abandon your post immediately."

"Where do you want Hud and I to go?" Rami asked.

"Give my men twenty minutes to find all the cameras, and then we will assign posts."

Hudayfah nodded, and he leaned against the car, watching as the men melted into the darkness.

"They seem more like FBI agents than a pay by the hour security team!" Rami exclaimed, and Hudayfah laughed.

"Seriously."

The three of them waited in silence for fifteen minutes, before one by one the men returned, and as John appeared, he removed his mask.

"We detected six cameras in all, but one is on the roof, and the other is on what appears to be the kitchen window, which means there are two rooms that do not have a camera. The one on the west side of the building, and the other on the south. Since those don't have cameras, I would advise you two to each take one of those rooms." He said motioning to Hudayfah and Rami. "If my men and I get recorded on a camera, they won't know who we are, but you two could be recognized."

Hudayfah nodded.

"That sounds like a good plan."

"Can you climb a fire escape?" John asked.

"A psh! PSH! Can I climb a fire escape?! Uh yes!" Rami scoffed, and Hudayfah rolled his eyes.

"We will be fine."

John nodded.

"Okay, ear pieces in?"

"Check." The men said in unison, and Rami raised an eyebrow.

"Woah."

"Watches synchronized for one hour on the dot?"

"Check."

"Are you sure you guys aren't secretly the FBI!?" Rami exclaimed, and John blinked a few times before pulling his mask back on.

"Alright, move out men!"

***

Jenna tied her robe shut before stepping into her slippers, and leaving the room. She couldn't sleep. It had been almost an hour since Hudayfah had left, and she was so worried that she actually felt nauseous. She had tried to ignore it, but eventually she decided she needed a cup of tea to soothe her nerves. As she descended the staircase, she was surprised to see the kitchen light already on, and as she entered the room, she found Rana sitting on one of the kitchen stools, staring absently into a coffee cup.

"Hey Rana." She said as she pulled a cup out of the cupboard, and Rana looked up.

"Hey Jen."

Jenna filled the tea kettle with water, and put it on the stove.

"You couldn't sleep either?" she asked, and Rana shook her head, taking a sip from her cup.

"Nope. I'm trying so hard not to have a panic attack right now."

Jenna nodded, taking a seat next to her.

"Have you heard anything?"

"Rami text me that they were there, but that was almost an hour ago. I haven't heard anything since, but I don't want to text him and have it cause a problem or something."

Jenna nodded.

"Me too." She sighed, and reached into the cookie jar, taking out a few cookies before extending it towards Rana.

"They're going to be okay InshaAllah right?" Rana asked taking a handful, and Jenna hesitated before nodding.

"InshaAllah."

"You know what's funny?"

"Hmm?"

"Tonight isn't even the dangerous part. They are just going to check out the building. The real worrying should happen Thursday when they do the trade off."

Jenna laughed, and poured the hot water into her mug.

"Believe me I am going to be worrying like crazy then too." She added a tea bag into the water, and put in a spoonful of sugar. "But it doesn't make me any less worried at the moment."

Rana nodded, and bit into her cookie.

"I totally agree. I hate that we just have to sit here and wait and worry. I feel so helpless. I wish they would have taken us with them."

Jenna laughed, and took a seat.

"Nah I tried that already, and Hud almost had a heart attack." she took a sip of her tea as Rana laughed. "Would you even want to go?"

Rana winced.

"No."

Jenna nodded.

"Me neither. I just didn't want him to go. You know if anything were to happen to him, I don't even know how I would handle it."

Rana put a hand on her sister's arm.

"I know habibti, and while I wish neither one of them had to go, I'm glad that I don't have to experience this alone."

Jenna smiled.

"Me too."

"How are you holding up with Emma being gone?"

Jenna sighed.

"I'm not doing too well, but I think I'm handling it better than Maria."

"Poor Maria. I had to give her quite a strong dose before she calmed down."

Jenna shook her head.

"I wish I could have shielded both of them from this. I wish they went home when they were supposed to."

"I know habibti, but there is nothing we can do about that now. InshaAllah everything will be okay."

Jenna nodded, and it was silent in the room, the only sound that of their cups clinking against the counter. After a few moments, Jenna turned towards Rana, a smile on her face.

"Okay we have to get our minds off of things."

"Good idea. What shall we do?"

"Let's talk!"

Rana smiled.

"Okay, about what?"

"Um, how is married life treating you? You didn't even get a proper honeymoon!"

Rana laughed.

"You didn't either!"

Jenna smiled.

"InshaAllah once this whole mess is straightened out we will get the best honeymoons in the world!"

"InshaAllah!"

Jenna nudged her sister with her shoulder.

"So tell me! How do you like being married to Rami?"

Rana blushed slightly, picking up another cookie.

"It's amazing Jenna. MashaAllah he's just so sweet and gentle and caring. It's a side of him I've never seen before and I have to admit I love it. He's so attentive, and affectionate, and not a moment goes by that I don't want to be in his arms."

"Aw!" Jenna exclaimed, and Rana shook her head, blushing deeper.

"Plus you know he's got that whole incredibly handsome and muscular thing going on. That's an added bonus!" They both laughed. "But the best part is that nothing has changed between us, but at the same time everything has."

Jenna took a sip of her tea.

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Rana said tucking her legs under her, "obviously we've transitioned from whatever we were to husband and wife, and that in itself is a big change. But even though we've made that adjustment to our relationship, we are still the same people we were before. I can be myself and not worry about impressing him, and I know what I'm getting with him. I know him, and he knows me so there are no surprises there. I already feel like he is my best friend, and I'm looking forward to what is to come."

Jenna smiled, and brought her legs up to her chest.

"That's beautiful habibti. May Allah swt bless your relationship!"

Rana smiled.

"Ameen. Did I tell you that right before we got married, he came to my room and made a Du'aa?"

"Aw!" Jenna exclaimed, putting a hand over her heart. "That's beautiful! MashaAllah!"

"It was so cute, he was so nervous but it was still so beautiful and he included a prayer for many children."

"Ooh! Are you planning to have them right away!?"

"Well we haven't exactly talked about it, but we both want kids InshaAllah, so I hope it happens soon!"

"That's so exciting! Yallah hurry, I want to be an Aunt!"

Rana laughed.

"Hey that's my line! You've been married longer than I have, you should go first."

Jenna shook her head in amusement.

"Whenever it happens, it will happen InshaAllah."

Rana leaned forward.

"How are things with you and Hudayfah?"

Jenna smiled.

"Wonderful. I know this probably isn't the best thing to say, but when we first got married, if someone had told me that I would be falling in love with him, I would have called them crazy!"

"Aw, you're in love with him!?"

This time it was Jenna's turn to blush.

"This is a weird conversation to be having with his sister!"

Rana shook her head.

"No, right now I'm your sister!"

Jenna smiled.

"Okay, well yeah. I think I am in love with him."

Rana smiled, taking a drink from her mug.

"Have you told him yet?"

"No."

"How come?"

Jenna shrugged.

"I don't know. Every time the chance comes up it's like the words get stuck in my throat."

"Are you embarrassed to say it?"

"No."

"Scared?"

Jenna shrugged.

"I'm not sure honestly. And I know it's not like he is going to reject me or something because he's said it a million times already. But I just don't know what's wrong!"

"It will happen when you're ready. Don't force it, because the first time you say it and truly mean it, it's the most incredible feeling."

Jenna smiled.

"Thank you Rana. I'm glad I have you around."

Rana laughed, and nudged Jenna with her shoulder.

"You aren't so bad yourself!"

"So I think after this whole thing gets resolved, I'm going to tell Hudayfah I want to go back to Arizona."

"Aw, but I don't want you guys to leave!"

"Come with us!" Jenna exclaimed, and Rana laughed.

"What will I do in Arizona?!"

"Be a doctor!"

"It isn't that easy to get a job!"

Jenna waved a hand in the air.

"With your talents, I am positive you will!"

Rana smiled, and picked up her coffee, but the sound of her phone buzzing caused her to put her cup down, and hurriedly unlock her screen.

"Oh it's from Rami!" she breathed in relief.

"Oh Alhamdulillah! What did he say?!"

"He said that everything is fine, and they are taking every precaution, and should be home within the hour InshaAllah."

Jenna gave a sigh, and put a hand to her head.

"Alhamdulillah!"

***

Hudayfah slipped on his gloves, before gripping the first rung of the ladder. It looked rusty and unstable, and he took a hesitant step, sighing in relief when it didn't make a sound. He quickly scaled the first few flights of the fire escape, pausing on every landing to make sure no one was watching.

Once he had made it to the fifteenth story, he paused to catch his breath, and pressed the button on his ear piece.

"Muhsin?"

There was a brief moment of silence before his brother in law's voice filled his ear.

"I hear you loud and clear Hudayfah. State your position."

Hudayfah rolled his eyes. Muhsin was really taking this whole spy mission to the next level.

"I'm on the fifth floor, I have about fifteen more before I reach the top window."

"Roger that bro."

Hudayfah shook his head in amusement, before gripping the ladder again, and resuming the climb. By the time he reached the fifteenth floor he was seriously regretting all the times he left the gym early, and as he arrived on the twentieth floor, he had made a resolution to put in an exercise room in their apartment, and build up his stamina because he was seriously having trouble staying upright. Once he had caught his breath, he checked in with Muhsin again, whispering quietly in case someone could hear him, before he tiptoed towards the window, peering inside. At first he couldn't see a thing, as the room was darkened, but suddenly a light turned on, and as he saw Emma, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

After looking from side to side and making sure no one was around, he tapped lightly on the window, and as she looked up, panic crossed her features as her eyes landed on him. He hurriedly removed his mask, and once she saw that it was him, she practically tripped over her feet in her haste to get to the window.

"Oh my God. Oh my God Hudayfah!" she exclaimed as she opened the window, and he put a finger to his lips.

"Shh Emma. Be quiet." He whispered, and she nodded.

"I'm so glad you are here. Please get me out!" she pleaded.

"We will as soon as possible InshaAllah. Are you okay?"

She shrugged, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I guess. I mean he isn't torturing me or anything, but I want to go home."

"I know." He was quiet for a moment as he studied the bars on her window. There would be no way to remove them without causing extreme noise, and he wondered if they would be able to create a big enough distraction where the sound would be drowned out.

"Hud, can you get me out now?" she whispered, and he felt his heart go out to her.

"No, not yet Emma. We have to wait until Thursday."

"That's still a day away!" she exclaimed, wiping away a tear that had managed to escape down her cheek, and he gave her an apologetic glance.

"I know, and I am so sorry. But we would be putting everyone in danger, including yourself if we did it now. Try to hang in there okay?"

She nodded again.

"Okay. What are you doing here now?"

"We were trying to find your room and make sure we knew where all the security cameras were so we are ready."

"Hudayfah, you haven't checked in, is everything okay?" came Muhsin's voice from his earpiece, and he pressed his fingers to it.

"Yes I am, and I have located Emma."

"Oh Alhamdulillah! Is she okay?!"

"As much as she can be in this situation."

"Okay, John says to return to the car immediately."

"I'll be right down."

"Do you have to go now?" she asked as he brought his hand down, and he winced slightly.

"Yeah I do. But hang in there, you're tough, I know you'll be okay."

She smiled, and wiped at her eyes again.

"I already kicked him once and managed to stab him with my fork."

Hudayfah gave a soft chuckle.

"Good girl. And what did he do?"

"He just glared before leaving. I think he's scared of me."

Hudayfah smiled.

"Well, you can be pretty scary."

She shook her head.

"Thank you for coming big bro."

"You're welcome Emma. Now hurry, close the window before someone comes to check on you."

"Okay. Bye Hud."

He watched as she began to slide the window shut, and as he heard the latch of the lock, he gave her a thumbs up. She started to smile in return before her face turned to one of horror, and she pointed behind him.

"HUD!" she shouted, but before he could turn around and see what she was pointing at, someone grabbed his arm, and he felt the tip of a blade being pushed into his neck.

"Take off your earpiece." A voice whispered into his other ear, and while at first he hesitated, he hurried to remove it when he felt the dagger being pushed deeper, setting it down on the windowsill. "Good. Now hand over your gun."

Hudayfah did as he was told, not daring to turn around, and once the gun and been taken from his hand, he felt rope encircling his wrists, and once his arms had been securely tightened behind him, he was released, and he turned around, facing Jamaal's smiling face.

"I warned you not to try anything Hud."