Chapter 5

 

Faris al-Farik is a despicable, homicidal, manic. He is a sadistic terrorist that believes anyone who doesn't accept the truth in the Koran the way he does are infidels and need to be executed to save the Muslim world. He has a twisted view of the Koran and will do anything to prove he is right.

Faris al-Farik was born as Saad Abal, but after his family sent him to be with his uncle, he took that family name and became Saad bin Safwan. Sadir and Saad were identical twins, right down to even sounding alike. They did everything together early in life, but as teenagers Saad became troublesome for his parents. He started using violence to settle his arguments and it was when he drew a knife on his own brothers, that his parents sent him to his mother's brother.

His uncle was a military man and his parents thought he could use his military discipline to help Saad with his anger issues. His parents soon learned his uncle was in ways, worse than Saad had ever been. He was a Muslim extremist and was soon teaching his nephew his translation of the Koran.

When the government got word Farik had once again lived through their last assassination attempt, they put him on the most wanted list and put up a reward of fifty thousand dollars for his capture. Airlines and shipping yards were on alert to watch for him. The United States did not want him to return.

Farik and his second in command, Ilija Korjenic were hiding with a family in Serbia after the last attempt to kill them. When Farik learned that his daughter had heard he was dead, he started to panic. He needed to contact her in person, to prove to her he was very much alive. He risked calling the school he had sent her to, but he soon found out her grandfather, Mansur Abal had taken her home with him. This made him furious. He never wanted his family to have any contact with Asma. He vowed to get her back no matter what it took.

Farik found out that his parents were on their way to the United States to visit his brothers for a few weeks. This didn't give him and Ilija much time to find a way back there. It was then he realized he had the perfect way to enter the United States. He would become his brother Sadir.

Ilija worked on getting the fake documents and new clothing for the mission. Ilija had grown a mustache and colored his hair black since the attack on their lives. The same people who helped Farik escape after his showdown with Darwin, saved him. He had shrapnel in his leg from the blast, but he healed quickly as did Farik.

They had no trouble getting on a plane in Serbia to Russia. From there they got on a plane to the United States with no problems. It was the security at LAX he was worried about. When he produced his passport, there was a slight delay when the officer made a phone call. However, when he was finished relaying information about both men, they were able to leave.

Jaxon needed sedation whenever she flew and had to have someone with her. Ever since she saw the planes hit the World Trade Center, she would have severe panic attacks just walking onto a plane. Since she was still not speaking to Sadir, she had asked Andrea to go with her.

Andrea thought it was an excellent idea, since she wanted to keep a close eye on Mr. Palmer and make sure he got back to Lexington, so she could arrest him. She could have asked the local police to arrest him, but she wanted to arrest him personally. She was very fond of Gloria and wanted to handle everything in this case, so it would not be thrown out of court.

When Jaxon and Andrea arrived at the hotel, they observed a small group of people at the reservation desk. Jaxon gasped when she saw Sadir among them. She was hoping not to see him right away. She grabbed Andrea by the arm and pulled her back toward the entrance, so they could watch the group secretly.

"What is your problem?" Andrea wondered.

"He's here already. I don't want to see him. He'll try to break down my defenses and I'm not ready to forgive him."

"Jax, do you want to be his wife?"

"I thought I did, but now I'm not too sure," she said. "I'm just not sure I'm princess material."

"I'm sure he feels you are or he wouldn''t have asked you to marry him."

"To be truthful, I have never thought of him as a Prince. I only see him as a gentle, loving, and caring man."

"So, you never thought of him wanting a royal wedding?"

"He never brought it up! It's his fault!" Jaxon said, spying on the group.

"He didn't want to hurt your feelings. He loves you so much that he was afraid to say anything. He wanted your wedding to be your dream wedding."

"You've talked to him, haven't you?"

"Yes, I thought I could negotiate a truce," said Andrea, smiling.

"How could you do that to me?"

"I was doing it for you, fool! I want my friend to be happy and I know that man is your happiness. The two of you need to talk to each other and hash this out. It's making you both miserable."

"I'll consider it. They're going to the elevator; let's check in, I'm tired."

"Damn stubborn too!" Andrea said under her breath.

Jaxon couldn't believe her luck. When they checked in she asked what suite Prince Sadir was in and she soon found out he was down the hall from her and Andrea. When she asked for a different room, she was told they were completely booked for the weekend.

They went up to their room, but Jaxon wouldn't get off the elevator until Andrea made sure Sadir was nowhere in sight. When they were settled, Jaxon made a call to her trainer to see how Glory Rose was doing. After a few other calls, she and Andrea went to get something to eat.

They were dining in the country club banquet hall at the racetrack when Sadir and his entourage came in. Andrea laughed when Jaxon tried to hide, but when Sadir saw her and ignored her presence she became angry.

"What do you expect? You haven't called or made any attempt to talk to him," Andrea commented.

"He is the one who should apologize, besides..." She was interrupted when she heard a young girl yelling out 'Father' in Arabic and seeing her run toward Sadir. "Father! He has a daughter!"

"I didn't know he had been married before," Andrea said, observing the people around Sadir's table.

Sadir was surprised to see this young girl. He had no idea who she was or why she would call him father. When he looked up, he saw his mother and father approaching as well.

"I'm sorry, but I think you have mistaken me for someone else," he said to the girl. "Mother, Father, do you know this girl?"

"She is your niece, Asma. Her father is Saad," Mansur answered, while his wife, Tahira explained things to the young girl.

"Saad...I was hoping I would never hear that name again," Sadir said, angrily.

"Saad is dead. Killed in an attack by the Americans," Mansur reported, quietly. "Her mother died in the attack as well."

"I feel so sorry a girl that young had to lose both parents," Sadir said. "How did you obtain custody of her?"

"I have contacts in your brother's world. How else do you think I kept track of him? He had her at a school in England. When I received word about the attack, I contacted the school and they allowed me to take her home," Mansur explained.

"How reliable was the source of Saad's demise?"

"Do you doubt the report?"

"Father, he is wanted for terrorism. I do not put it past him to leak a story that he is dead. What better way to move around, if people believe you are no longer among the living?"

"Perhaps, but do you not think he would have contacted Asma to tell her he is alive?"

"Only if it served him to do so," Sadir said bitterly.

"Very well, I will have the report checked and double checked to make sure it was correct. The reason we brought her here, is that we would like for you to keep her here in the states. I think being with you will be slightly easier on her to adjust to life without her father."

"Father, she thought I was Saad. I do not think it will help her mourn if I am the exact image of her father," Sadir said, looking into the eyes of Asma. "Asma, do you want to say something?"

"I am sorry I called you father. I was confused. Grandmother tells me you have a horse here. May I see it?"

"Yes, I will take you, but would you not like to have dinner with me first?"

"Yes, it was a long flight. May we stay and eat first, Grandmother?" Asma asked.

"Of course," she answered, smiling.

"I will get to know my niece before I decide about her staying with me," Sadir said quietly to his father.