The Alliance

Chapter 11

My heart pounded as I walked into the unfortunately familiar mansion.

"Where is Sahar Gani?" I commanded the answer from one of the bodyguards that had a gun pulled out, aiming for my head.

The only response I got was the click of the safety being turned off. I grabbed a hold of his shirt, "Son of a-"

"Put the gun down." Imaan's voice boomed through the space. I turned to look at her, the fear in the bodyguard's eyes too prominent to miss as she took stalking steps towards his now startled figure.

"Were you really about to shoot your future Donna?" Imaan pulled out a gun of her own, a sleek metallic pistol with an incredulous look on her face. "How stupid could you possibly be?" She asked rhetorically, her tone condescending as she held the weapon to the man's head.

"I-"

"Shut up." She hushed him and a shiver crawled down my spine. "It'll be quick." The sound of a bullet being release from the gun echoed and before the now limp man could fall into her arms, she shoved him to the ground.

"Ima-"

She turned speedily, "What the fuck are you doing here?" Her voice interrupted me. A part of me couldn't help but fear the woman currently standing in front of me.

You could be next. My brain relentlessly taunted.

"I got word that one of my own were being held captive in this very mansion. Care to explain?" I bravely stepped up to her.

"Careful, now Ariah." She flashed the weapon in my face, "Don't forget who's holding the gun." She stalked closer to me.

A scoff escaped me. "What if I told you there was a sniper right outside with a bullet that has your name on it?" She turned to face the nearest window the red from the laser aiming directly into her eye.

Imaan closed her eyes as she breathed out a sigh. "Always one for dramatics." I shrugged.

"Only when they're called for." I closed in on her. "Now where is she?"

"Follow me." Imaan led the way. As soon as she'd turned her back, I pulled out a gun of my own.

"I can feel you contemplating whether or not to just pull the trigger." Imaan spoke, her back still towards me. "It's making me quite uncomfortable."

"You're not helping your case."

"I can't believe I just shot Adim for you." She mumbled underneath her breath. "We had a poker date tonight." It came out as a near whine.

"Well, I'm sure you can find someone else on Adim's calibre."

"Nope," Imaan sighed, running a tan hand through her dark hair. "He was shit at poker." I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The short laugh ended as soon as we reached the end of the dimly lit hallway and arrived at a lone door. Imaan reluctantly entered the code before the door automatically opened revealing an ammunitions room.

I pressed the gun to her back making her walk in. "This is so embarrassing." A smirk graced my face at her comment.

"Ah, Imaan..." Sahar greeted, before adding, "and Ariah Rmah. Just the person I was looking for." I took in the sight of Michigan tied to a chair a black rag in her mouth, muffling her words. Her hair was a wild nest of auburn and her blue eyes held not only fear in them- but regret.

I sighed disappointedly, the fight I thought I'd put up to retrieve her seemed far-fetched now. "I took care of your little rat problem for you." He spoke, "You're welcome." His hands jazzed as he walked towards me.

"I never said thank you." I tilted my head, "And if I remember correctly, it was written in fine print that the Scorpion House had made an alliance with the Phoenixes- so how dare you, hold a Phoenix hostage without informing us?"

"You'd really defend a Phoenix that betrayed her own house?"

"Let's just say we have different methods of going about these type of things Sahar. You-" I lazily pointed the gun at him, "- would torture a person to death then ponder on what information they could've been possibly selling out. Whereas I-," Sarcasm coated my chuckle, "Do the pondering first and the torturing later."

"Tell me, exactly what was she stealing from the Phoenix House?" I questioned him. He remained silent, once confident eyes losing their spark but maintaining steel tenacity. "You don't know. Yet, here she is; Tied up and beaten half to death. So what are your orders now Sahar Gani?"

"Let's question her." He ordered, his men stepped away from Michigan, pulling the rag out of her mouth.

"Brilliant idea." I applauded. I released Imaan and went to stand in front of the girl I once considered my friend. At the young age of eighteen she was five years my junior, yet she was one of the best coders we'd ever had on our family.

"Why, Michigan?" It was the first question that came to mind. We'd given her everything she'd never had in the system. The two words suddenly seemed so heavy that she couldn't formulate an answer without breaking down, waterfalls released from dull blue eyes.

I closed my eyes, scoffing. "Clean her up then question her." I commanded. "And don't you dare think about hurting her any further."

"We won't." Sahar said, but the faint upturn of his lips told me otherwise.

"You," I aimed the gun at Imaan, "Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." At least she had a few brain cells to work with.

I'd informed my father of the situation, he reported that he was on his way and that I should wait for him. That was nearly half an hour ago. During that time, I'd been rummaging my brain for answers.

I couldn't help but question. Where had I gone wrong with Michigan? And what had happened that it pushed her to betrayal?

The questions were left unanswered when the front door of the Gani mansion opened. But instead of my father- Ebrahim and Ayzal walked in.

"Ariah, what a surprise." Ayzal acknowledged me suspicion lacing her words. "What are you doing here?"

Ebrahim nudged her, "Not that you're not welcome."

I smiled, "A Phoenix had been taken captive, so I came to sort a few things out."

"What?" Ebrahim exclaimed. "By who?"

"Unfortunately, your brother Mr. Gani." I watched the old man as his face contorted into confusion, shock and finally anger.

"Sahar!" He roared, before leaving in search of his brother.

"I hope you're not here to cause trouble Ariah Rmah. Because if you are I have no problem with putting a bullet through your head." Ayzal in all her elegance spoke.

"I'm only here to set things straight."

"And I'm here to protect my family."

"Then you'll have no problem stepping aside so that I can protect mine." I walked past her to follow the direction Ebrahim had walked in. The clicking sound of her heels not too far behind told me that she was following.