Neil woke up to see Avni in his arms, her hair led messily over his chest and her hand was resting on his waist
"Avni, wake up"
She groaned and tugged onto him tighter "But im so comfy"
Neil chuckled, pushing her hair out of her face "habibi I have to go"
Avni shot up quickly "Oh I, sorry" she blushed and moved away from him, "ill just go get ready"

Avni got up, running to the bathroom and threw cold water on her face, resting her hands on the sink she sighed heavily
She really needed to focus on the task at hand and not the man who looked at her like she was something special
Neil knocked on the bathroom "Breakfast"
"Coming" she squeaked, before cleaning her teeth quickly and grabbing some clothes to change into

Avni looked over at Neil who was doing his tie with one hand while being on the phone
She told herself the reason she walked over to help him was because she wanted to get on his good side
Neil looked down at Avni's hands on his tie and offered her a smile
"Yes I agree, but I dont agree that we shut down the schools to make this building"
Avni frowned looking up at Neil
"You know what ill call you back soon"
"Are you okay" he asked softly

"Shut down a school" she asked
"Theres this new project that we're working on, we need to build a place for my men to train, they want to shut the school down and I said no"
Avni nodded, all of her files said there was a new weapon being built, so why was he talking about a training ground
So much didnt make sense
"Are you planning on fighting someone" she enquired innocently
"There are people that want to take over my role, so we are getting prepared"

Avni looked down worried about what would happen if she didnt get this information back to her work
Neil cupped her face "Dont worry about me habibi, I will be okay"
Avni nodded anxiously, she felt sick, a part of her did worry about this strange man, but the bigger part of her knew that she was on a mission
"Today we are planning to go and see the other Sheikh, we want to infiltrate them, before they infiltrate us"

Neil kissed Avni's forehead "I have to go"
"But breakfast"
"Ill have it later"
She couldnt help the horrible feeling in her stomach at him leaving
"Inta hayati" he whispered, stroking her cheek
"What does that mean"
Neil looked her in the eye and smiled "You are my life"
Avni swallowed thickly, unable to reply as he walked away

She waited for the door to slam before grabbing her phone
"Jonathon, Neil is going to infiltrate the other Sheikh, I assume from the south, hes left now, he also spoke about plans to build a training fort but not at the sake of the schools being shut down"
"Okay we will ensure that doesnt happen"
Avni bit into her bottom lip "He wont get hurt will he"
"You havent come to care for him, have you"?
"No, of course not"

------------------------

Avni had been worried all evening, her head was spinning
She finally heard the door open and rushed over to a cut and bruised Neil
Neil turned to the men behind him
"Can I have some time with my zawja" (wife)
The men left, shutting the door and Neil pulled Avni into his embrace
"I knew I had to come back, it was the thought of you that made me stay alive"
"You came back for me" she reiterated
"I couldnt leave my wife alone now could I"

Avni couldnt help herself, she reached up cupping his cheek and he flinched
"What happened" her eyes searched his
"Someone got hold of the information and told the Sheikh, they were waiting for us already prepared"
Neil called his men back in and Avni tried to move away from him, but he looked down at her and shook his head, his arm wound tightly around her waist
"Sir, I hate to say this, but are you sure your wife didnt tell anyone, she was at home all day alone"

She felt his muscles tense in anger and closed her eyes ready for his onslaught of anger, "Its not even a question that crosses my mind, I trust my wife and you should to or you can say goodbye to this job"
Avni looked up at Neil, he trusted her, he didnt even doubt her slightly when really it was all her fault
"I should break your neck for even insinuating that"
Avni pulled Neil away "I need to clean your injuries"
His eyes softened and he nodded, telling his men to leave

Avni sat Neil down, cleaning his injuries slowly, she blew air onto his cheek before dabbing it again and he flinched
"My back as well"
Avni slid Neil's shirt off and sat behind him on the sofa
She gasped, unable to talk at the whip marks on his back
Without realising tears made their way down her face
"Avni, whats taking you so long"
He turned to face Avni

"Avni, why are you crying"
She raised her hand to her cheek and looked at the tears on her fingers
"Who did this to you"
"Oh, you're worried for me, honestly im okay, please dont cry"
He wiped her tears and she looked up at him sadly
"Let me sort them out"
Neil nodded turning around, Avni dabbed his back and he tried not to flinch so she wouldnt be upsett

Finally cleaning the cuts up and bandaging them she turned him around
"You need to eat"
Avni had made food earlier in her boredom and quickly brought it over to Neil after heating it up
She held the spoon out to him and he ate slowly, she gulped as his eyes met hers
"Thank you, its amazing"
"Do you know who would have done this"
Neil shook his head "I dont know but I will find out"

Neil stood up and went to the kitchen and Avni realised how terrible she felt
She had a duty to the people and her country and had to stop Neil at any cost
But when he looked at her like she was his world, it was hard to see him as anything but the man who treated her as she had always dreamt of being treated