Desert Sands. Barbara Jeffs

He paused then added with a touch of malicious pleasure. “Even you.”

      Everything that was good and tender swiveled up and died inside her at his harsh condemnation. He was quite right even she had her price, Tom’s freedom. She had sold her soul to the devil to save her brother’s life and she felt as much a Judas as Mrs Parr.

      “All right Kalim,” she said as she rose to her feet and placed the cup on to the tray. “I’ll meet you back here on Friday, and until then I don’t want to see or hear from you in any way and those are my terms.”

      “No!” He rose to his feet and his fingers curled around her arms digging painfully into her flesh. “You will remain here with me except to collect your belongings when I will accompany you.”

      She shook her head determined to leave. All she wanted at that moment was for this nightmare day to end. “Friday lunch time or not at all.”

      His grip on her arms tightened and she winced in pain, aware she would have bruises where he had touched her in the morning. “Aren’t you forgetting Bennett?”

      “I’m forgetting nothing. I’m going to get dressed and then I’m leaving. Yes or no Kalim. One way or the other.” She threw his own words back into his face as she jerked her arms free, then spun on her heel and marched into the bedroom not waiting for his answer not caring if he answered or not.