"We can't leave yet."

Hudayfah tensed as he heard Rami take the seat behind him, and he quickly looked over at Jenna who was waiting in line at the women's restroom, before lifting his phone to his face, pretending to be texting.

"Why not?"

"Hassan was right. Not only are they here but they booked seats on our flight to Egypt."

"How do you know?"

"They don't know who I am, so when we got off the plane I did a little scoping out and when I heard Jenna's last name I sat behind them. For people who are supposed to be incognito, they sure had no problem talking about their plans," Rami gave a snort, "they will never be spies."

"Dang it!" Hudayfah said under his breath. "Were you able to get pictures?"

"Yup. Sending them now."

Hudayfah stole an anxious glance at where his wife had just disappeared into the bathroom, and as his phone beeped, he quickly scrolled through the pictures. The first four men he didn't recognize, but as he reached the last picture, he scowled.

"This man was there that night."

"Which one?" Rami asked, nonchalantly picking up a newspaper and holding it in front of his face so no one would realize he was talking with Hudayfah.

"The last picture you sent me."

"Ah. I don't recognize any of them. Alright Hud, we have to come up with a plan and fast, Jenna will be back any minute."

"Alright let me think for a second." Hudayfah said, and only because Rami was his best friend, did he detect a hint of anxiety in his voice. "Okay," he said after a few seconds, "obviously we will have to stay in New York for a couple of weeks until things calm down. We will tell Jenna that something was wrong with the flight and we can't get another flight out for two weeks."

"Sounds good."

"You will go on ahead to Egypt and follow them."

"No."

"What do you mean no?!" Hudayfah asked in agitation.

"I can't leave you unprotected."

"Rami, I need tabs kept on them, and you are the only one who knows what they look like!"

Rami gave a shrug even though his back was to his friend.

"Text Mahmoud and send him the pictures. Do it now so he can get reinforcement."

"That's a good idea." Hudayfah admitted after a minute of thinking over it, and he hurriedly composed a text to his friend in Egypt, attaching the photos.

"Thanks. I am going to need to meet Jenna you know."

"I know," Hudayfah said with a sigh as he raked a hand through his hair, "alright here is the plan. Go rent a car from downstairs, and I will tell her that I have someone coming to pick us up."

"Alright. But where are we going to stay?"

"My house of course."

"Isn't your house closed?"

"Yes. Call Rana and tell her to open it. Don't give her details, the less she knows the better, just tell her we got stuck in New York on standby, and we decided to extend our stay so my new wife could see the city."

"Isn't she in Jersey?"

"Yes, but she will figure it out. Tell her to hurry."

"Ugh I hate talking to Rana." Rami grumbled, and Hudayfah smiled. His best friend was totally in love with Hudayfah's younger sister Rana, but wouldn't admit it, and instead acted like he hated her. But Hudayfah could see right through him, and knew one day they would end up together.

"Too bad, we don't have time for you and your silly crushes!" He said attempting to scold his friend, and as he spotted Jenna walking back towards them, he took the opportunity as she paused to pull her phone out of her purse to shove his credit card towards his friend. "Go! Now! Hurry she is coming!" He hissed, and Rami hurriedly grabbed it, sliding effortlessly into the crowd before Jenna spotted him.

"Hello." She said giving him a shy smile, as she took the seat next to him.

"Hello. Were you able to freshen up?"

She nodded.

"Yes Alhamdulillah."

"I have bad news."

"What is it?" she asked worriedly, and he could see the sudden spark of fear in her eyes. He hurriedly took her hand in his.

"No, nothing like that. Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you." He said comfortingly, and she nodded, gently removing her hand from his much to his irritation.

"Then what is it?"

"We can't take the flight today and will be stuck here in New York for a couple of weeks."

She frowned slightly.

"How come?"

He hesitated for a second. Now he didn't want to lie to her, but he also knew if she knew that they were being followed by hired thugs, she would panic just a little bit.

"Something to do with overbooking, I am not sure exactly."

"Oh," she said before her face brightened, "I have always wanted to see New York though!"

He grinned.

"That's great, ""Alhamdulillah I," he cleared his throat, "we, have a house here, and uh, my friend is on his way to pick us up, and should be here any minute. Is that okay with you?" he asked, and she nodded.

"That sounds fine."

"Why don't we go to the front to meet him?" he suggested.

"Okay." She said, and she slung her backpack around her shoulders, but before she could bend to take her suitcase, he lifted it effortlessly in his hand, pulling his in the other. She followed him as he swerved in and out of the crowds, and after she lost sight of him for a few panicked seconds, when he came back into view, she took hold of the hem of his shirt, causing him to smile slightly, unnoticed by her.

As they waited in front of the airport on the curb, Jenna turned towards him a bit hesitantly before linking her arm through his. He stared at her in surprise for a few moments and she shrugged a bit uncomfortably.

"I'm guessing we will have to act the part for your friend."

Now Hudayfah knew he should tell her Rami knew all.

He really should.

But the feel of her arm willingly through his was too much, and he reached his hand over to squeeze hers, but didn't say anything. Not two minutes later a black Lexus pulled up to them, and as Rami got out, he attacked Hudayfah in a giant bear hug.

"Hudayfah! It is so good to see you again!" he boomed

"Listen Rami, I didn't tell her you know let's just keep it a secret for now." He whispered quickly into his friend's ear, and as Rami pulled back, his face showed no signs that any exchange had happened.

***

Jenna smiled, instantly liking Hudayfah's friend Rami. He was very tall, taller even than Hudayfah who was well over six feet. He had spiked black hair, tan skin, and muscles bulging everywhere. His eyes were covered by sunglasses, but his smile was wide as he turned to look at Jenna.

"Rami, this is my beautiful wife Jenna," Hudayfah turned to pull Jenna closer to him, and she felt her heart skip a beat slightly at the warmth from his body. They would have to play the newlyweds now for two weeks, she would have to get used to putting on an act. "Jenna, this is my best friend Rami."

"AsalamuAlaikum Jenna! I am Rami!" he bellowed loudly, and Jenna laughed at how friendly he was.

"Walaikumasalaam Rami!" she said trying to match his volume, and both men laughed. "It is nice to meet you!" she said, and Rami's smile widened, revealing a row of perfect teeth.

"The pleasure is all mine! Come let us hurry before it rains!"

"Let's stop by the store before we return home so we have something to eat." Hudayfah said ushering Jenna into the car, before helping Rami with the bags. Jenna turned to watch them through her window, watching the way they were laughing, and it made her miss her own sisters like crazy.

She had two younger sisters, Maria and Emma. Her and Maria looked so different that nothing short of birth certificates would convince strangers that they were related, let alone sisters. However she and Emma were almost identical, down to the same number of beauty marks they had, and with only a year between them, they were always being mistaken for the other. The two of them were also her best friends, and while they had both been texting her already, and Hudayfah had promised they could come and visit as often as they wanted when they got back home to Arizona from their honeymoon, she couldn't help but feel tears spring in her eyes at the thought of them.

As the boys climbed into the car, Rami behind the wheel, Jenna buckled her seatbelt and leaned against the soft leather. Hudayfah turned to look at her, frowning slightly.

"Are you okay?" he asked in concern, and she nodded, dabbing at her eyes.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about my sisters."

A flash of something she didn't understand passed momentarily across his eyes before he smiled.

"Well I don't know if this will help, but I just heard my sister is in town. She lives in Jersey but I guess she is in New York right now, and she has been texting me nonstop about meeting you. Would you be okay with that?" he asked, and Jenna felt Rami's eyes on her as well in his mirror.

No, she wasn't okay with that. Meeting more of his family would mean they were starting a relationship and she didn't want that. But she couldn't exactly say no. A happy new bride wouldn't be balking at the thought of meeting her new husband's sister.

"Yes of course!" she exclaimed brightly, simply for the benefit of Rami. "But can it be another day? All I want to do is take a hot shower and sleep!" she said with a smile.

"It can be whenever you like. My main concern is making sure you are comfortable." He said, and Jenna felt her annoyance rise because she knew he was being genuine, this wasn't for the benefit of his friend.

"Thank you." She said and to her surprise, he captured her hand in his, pressing his lips to it before turning around. After making sure Rami wasn't watching her anymore, she wiped her hand on her jeans. It was tingling more than she cared to admit.

They drove for a good thirty minutes, and while at first Jenna had been staring at her phone, as they began to drive further, she started to get engrossed in her surroundings.

"Where do we live?" she asked, and Hudayfah chuckled.

"The Upper East Side." He answered, and Jenna's eyes raised in surprise. The Upper East Side was for the very elite and rich. She had only heard of it on Gossip Girl, and had never thought she would ever go there, let alone be living there! After another ten minutes, they stopped in front of a grocery store, and as she waited patiently, albeit in slight irritation as Hudayfah came around to open her door, taking her hand to help her step down from the car. Once her feet had touched solid ground, he tucked her hand into his arm, and she winced slightly. She wished he wouldn't touch her, but Rami was watching them now with a huge grin on his face so she knew that they had to.

"You two are just so precious!" he exclaimed, and Jenna felt herself laugh. Rami was just that type of person that made you feel at ease in his company.

Once they had entered the store, Hudayfah pulled out a cart for Jenna with the instructions to get everything and anything she could want. Even if it was new cookware, she should get it. She had given him the first genuine smile since they had gotten married and had skipped away, heading, much to the amusement of the men, towards the chocolate aisle.

***

Rami waited until Jenna had disappeared from view before turning to his friend with a smug smile.

"You probably should have told her I know."

Hudayfah gave a sheepish grin.

"I was going to. I really was."

"Then what happened?"

"She touched me!"

Rami threw his head back and laughed, arching an eyebrow slightly.

"That's all it took was one touch from her?"

"You try being married for three days and having a wife who doesn't want you near her." He grumbled, and Rami chuckled.

"She when are you going to tell her I know?"

"Before we go to Egypt."

Rami gave an amused grin.

"How come you are going to wait so long?"

"Come on man, I'm desperate. Two weeks is a long time, you never know what will happen. She might start to feel something for me!"

Rami chuckled, and pushed his sunglasses onto his forehead.

"That's a risky game. She will get mad at you when she finds out you mislead her."

"Ah but she won't," Hudayfah said raising a finger in the air, "you will 'accidently' find out and then have to accompany us to Egypt as our bodyguard!" he gave a smug smile as Rami threw his head back and laughed.

"You are diabolical friend." He said mockingly, and Hudayfah laughed.

"So I could be a spy?"

Rami snorted.

"Let's not go crazy now!"