Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Falak blinked and move around the iron bed she is lying on. What is with her and lying on beds after been knocked out cold? Her hands immediately went to her stomach, when she felt the bulge and didn't feel any pain, she sighed in relief which was short lived when she raised her head to look around the room. Was she kidnapped again or did she really get into an accident which has her sleeping in people's bed again for the second time? This has to be something fishy and not so normal about the movies she's watched.

The room is so cold and has only one bed and a chair that is facing her which was empty. The bed she is lying on is metal and looks to be only closed with comfy bedsheets and no mattress so the person lying on it won't be all sour after waking up the next morning due to the soft fluffy bedsheets. But where on earth is she and why is the bed not really making sense to her. No, not only the bed, the whole ordeal doesn't sit well with her. She needs to find out why she is where she is with no one there to supervise her.

If she was kidnapped again, then this time she sure as hell know they are not nice people. For when her mother in-law kidnapped her, she was lying on a comfy old bed and the room isn't cold. Now that she is pregnant, she needs the warmth more than ever but she isn't getting one. Who is this person that kidnap her and is trying to endanger both her life and the baby's? This person knows her in and out, she is sure of that.

Who will dare step foot into the palace and kidnap her then leave unscathed? She knew that is not possible so it's either someone very close to them or she was still in the palace where no one could find her. She can't find any other option for this person to kidnap her without anyone noticing something is off with him or her. But who will want to kidnap a pregnant woman and risk their own life in the palace? This is very risky for anyone who even dares to do that.

She can't remember having enemies or ex lovers, well, except for Bilal. But how will Bilal get into the palace with the sun still up? She knew when she left their Chamber, the sun hasn't dropped and everyone could see her so how didn't the guards notice an intruder coming towards and even kidnapped her under their nose? Falak is furious only because her baby's life is in danger. Without much nutrition and hydration, she knew something wrong will definitely happen.

Praying silently in her head while holding onto her stomach like a life support, she looked around the cemented room for any source of light or window so she can see where she is, there is none. The room has no paint and even the floor isn't tiled, only cemented. The room looks like it hasn't been visited for so many years and she was the victim to take all the trouble lurking in the room. She is afraid to core but needs to stay strong for her baby and not stressed.

She heard a door jiggling open with what seems to be lots of keys. Shortly after, three bulky men walked in with Shaddad in their arms slumped and is sleeping. The men have masks closing their faces and they dropped Shaddad on the chair facing her then tied his arms behind him along with his legs. Her heart lurched to her throat looking at the scene unfold in front of her eyes. She feels like vomiting seeing the bruise forming on his cheeks and jaw. He has put up a fight before they manage to put chloroform and knock him out. That is the Shaddad she knows, he won't give up easily.

"Don't move or he dies." One of them rasp before they filed out if the room and lock it behind them just like they did before, with so many keys and locks to make sure they can't escape.

Falak kept quite and fix her eyes on Shaddad wanting to gauge a reaction from him but got nothing except for his slumped form. His head is dropped and she could only see his head and hear his soft breathings. She didn't even move a muscle thinking they might be looking at her from some camera and if she does move to where he is, he will be killed. She'd rather get killed at that moment than have someone take away Shaddad.

Several minutes later, she heard him grunt then he squeezed his eyes shut before looking up. He did a double take when he saw her sitting innocently in the middle of some metal bed. She looks so lost and helpless lying her head on her knees, she has moved them to her face. From the looks of it and if she is the Falak he knew, she is about to cry as her rouge lips quivered and she clutch onto the lace blouse she's been wearing since that morning.

"What are you doing here? Why are you sitting on the bed all alone and are you going to cry now?" He asked rapidly and try standing up but couldn't. That is when he notice that he has been tied up to the chair, Falak could move, however she didn't.

"I was kidnapped and you were brought here some minutes ago. They ask me not to move or they kill you." Tears started gushing down her face like a sluice waiting to be opened to start rushing out like waterfall.

"Who kidnapped us?" His brows are scrunched knowing the room they are in is in the palace but not everyone knew about the room. It's only his brothers, close family relatives and some trusted guards that know about the room underground.

"I couldn't see their faces as they were wearing masks. They didn't even stay here for a minute." She continue to cry while answering his question in between sobs.

His heart reach out for her while his eyes roam around her body wanting to see if she is in anyway wounded. He will turn the world upsidedown before he lets anything happen to his wife or his child. When he didn't find anything out of ordinary except her tears, he visibly relaxed and let his tensed shoulders roll back before the door opened behind him, the sound resonating across the cemented walls of the room.

Seeing Falak's reaction, he knew he will never like what he is about to see.

Falak rose her head aloft immediately to see the intruder but what she saw made her double take and look up again to confirm the person she is seeing in front of her. The sardonic smile adorning his lips, the way his eyes light up in adoration when his gaze settled on her, it made her sick in the stomach. She didn't know when she turned around and vomited all the contents in her stomach on the bedsheets. She couldn't keep her thoughts straight and the sense of betrayal churning her stomach won't let her have single drop of water in her.

Her intestines constricted when he walked further into the room and sat on the metal bed looking concerned. She would've happily told him she was okay if it wasn't for the fact that he is her kidnapper. Why will he kidnap her when he can get anything he wants in a heartbeat? And why will he even kidnap his brother and have some men beat him up? She felt sick and move away quickly from him, the look that passed his eyes made her squirm. He looks extremely angry, his eyes were filled with wrathfulness.

"Are you okay?" He asked in his usual soothing voice that once makes her feel loved and cared for but not at that moment when all she wants to do is remove his eyes from their sockets and shove it down his throat.

She nodded not wanting to further irritate him. She could see Shaddad's frozen figure from her peripheral vision and she begged him with her eyes to not do something that could risk their lives. The person right in front if them is not their brother but an enemy that is out to get blood, their blood. She is afraid her baby's life will be in great danger if they angered the beast in front of them. She visibly shuddered at the thought of something happening to her baby.

"Now, now, now! I know you all want to know why we are gathered here." He smiled mockingly at Shaddad who was far too shocked to talk and the men holding guns behind him are enough to shut him up so he won't let his son live fatherless because of his bruised ego. How dare he have men stand up on his head and challenge him with guns?

"Let me confess this first, I've always loved Falak you see. She has been the woman of my dreams ever since I first set my eyes on her but she fell in love with you instead. I thought it was just infatuation and she will get back to her head soon but no, she didn't. Then she got engaged to that deplorable excuse of a man. I was planning on having him kidnapped on their wedding day and make it look like he ran away but you helped." He tsked and shook his head from side to side, sitting upright to watch Shaddad with burning hatred and aggravated filled eyes.

"You got married to her and I didn't even know about it. When I found out about the marriage, I knew I had to take you out of the photo but you are my blood. I can't just kill you or wipe your existence from the earth, it'd be too suspicious. Now, I will make it very easy for you and it is your choice to make. Either do what I want you to do and I will let her give birth to that baby or you disobey me and I kill the baby." He pointed an accusing finger at Falak's stomach which she is badly trying to hide from his view.

She gasped and possessively close her stomach with the peplum of her blouse. She felt uncomfortable in that fitted skirt, she can't move to save her life in them. She watched him like a hawk as he stood up and made his way to where Shaddad is silently fuming. It is actually scary seeing someone who never shows emotions immerge anger that could burn the metal she is lying on.

"Divorce her right now and I will let her give birth to the baby before marrying her or not divorce her and I will kill the baby then take her away with me. The choice is yours." The Prince threatened right through gnashed teeth seeing his brother having the same stubbornness in his eyes.

"I won't and you won't also." Shaddad has veins popping from his forehead, arms and neck, he looks apoplectic and Falak could only hold onto her stomach.

"Don't act foolish because you are selfish, brother. While killing that baby, she might die and we both will lose her. You can just divorce her right now and right here, we can make up stories and have it all cleaned up. I will provide everything for the baby that he or she won't even think it has another father out there." He tried to coax but from his voice, you will know just how much he is restraining himself from doing something formidable and terrific.

"No." Came Shaddad's firm voice and the Prince got furious.

"Beat him up." He yelled wrathfully at the men and they sprang to action by taking their long guns and started hitting Shaddad chaotically like maniacs.

They beat him anywhere and everywhere they could get to place their hands on.

"No, don't do this please." Falak beseeched and the prince immediately turn around and move closer to her.

"He is selfish. If he truly loves you like you think, he would've divorced you and let me have you and the baby, it is that simple. He loves no one but himself, trust me I know." The Prince placed his hand on her shoulder making her flinch away from him as her shoulders rake in sobs and hiccups.

"Please don't do this to your brother." She continue to sob while clenching her eyes tightly not to see her husband beaten up all the while helplessly sitting on a chair by three men, not able to repel.

"He deserves it." The Prince sardonically whispered in her ear and she flinched again, he watch the scene unfold, Shaddad getting beaten up to pulp.

"Let him go for now." He stopped the men abruptly then he stood up from beside Falak and went to where Shaddad is sitting, "Are you ready to divorce her?" The Prince mockingly held on Shaddad's wounded, bloodied jaw and squeezed happily watching the pain emerge in his face but it vanished and is replaced by an unemotional look they are used to.

"No." Came his brusque reply, his eyes drifting to Falak's closed eyes.

She could still hear the haunting grunts he released when the men beat him that she didn't even want to hear anything or see anyone. The stench of the vomit beside her is making her stomach constrict and another set of vomit gathered in her mouth only that she can't throw anything up since her stomach is empty. Few minutes later, she lost consciousness worrying the Prince who immediately left Shaddad and ask them to continue to beat him while he ask someone to bring food for Falak.

He is not into pregnancy however he knows something is wrong. He doesn't like brother at that moment, he still don't want them to lose their baby. He will help raise the baby like he promised, if only his brother will agree to divorce her already. He loves Falak more than life itself and he won't regret what he did. He is just a man in love trying to fight for his heart before it further gets shattered.

He will get her by nook or by crook!

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you all? Hehehehe, I can't believe another Prince kidnapped Falak again. And this one wants her too, Ahh, what the heck!!! Who do you think is this?!! Check out my girls books, UNSCATHED AND KIMBERLEY! You won't regret it, I promise
RQ; Would you rather marry your crush's brother or your ex best friend's ex? Chai, I don't know. You?😹

Aishatu.