Echoes of Agony

Chapter Nineteen

As AbdulJalal reached his destination, the sight of his men brought him some relief. However, the presence of Laminu's men made him even more anxious. He jumped out of his car and approached Adam, asking for Zaytun's whereabouts.

"In her car, Sir," Adam replied.

AbdulJalal quickly made his way to her car, and as he got closer, he saw Zaytun shaking silently inside. His heart sank, and he knew he had to do something to comfort her. He slowly tapped on the window, and she looked up at him, her eyes transitioning from fear to reassurance. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Zaytun looking at him with trust and hope. He had never thought of himself as her safe place, but it seemed she found solace in him. Without wasting any time, he opened the door and went straight for a hug.

He held her tightly against his chest, making sure he wasn't dreaming and that Zaytun wasn't hurt. At some point, he squeezed her so hard that he could feel her heart beating in synchrony with his. It was a moment of relief, comfort, and love.

Wait? Love?

As Zaytun sat there, trembling and helpless, her fear seemed to consume her. She felt cornered with no way out. But just as she was about to give up, she heard a tap on the window. She looked up and saw her husband standing there, a reassuring presence amidst the chaos. The men who had been tormenting her were now standing far away, unable to come any closer.

Overwhelmed with relief, she flung herself into his arms, clinging to him tightly as tears streamed down her face. It was as if she had been holding her breath for too long, and the mere sight of him had finally given her permission to let go.

As they walked through all those men, Zaytun's heart pounded in her chest at the sight of the menacing figures with guns. Her body froze with fear, but AbdulJalal quickly stepped in front of her, wrapping his strong arms around her in a protective embrace. He leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke in a soothing voice, "It's okay, no one is going to touch you or even come close to doing so. I'm here, okay?"

She felt a sense of relief wash over her, grateful for his calming presence. He planted a tender kiss on the top of her head, sending shivers down her spine.

Zaytun's eyes darted back to the menacing men, but AbdulJalal's firm grip on her and comforting words helped ease her anxiety. Once inside his car, she reached out to touch his face with her soft hands, feeling the warmth of his skin and the strength of his hold. With concern in her voice, she asked, "Abdul, are you alright?" He smiled reassuringly, his eyes filled with tenderness, and nodded, "I'm okay, Zaytun. Come, let me take you home." With that, he started driving.

After a while, she managed to compose herself enough to speak. Her voice was still shaky, but she knew she had to tell him what had happened. "Abdul," she said, her words choked with emotion. "Those men…they just appeared in front of me. I don't know how they got there."

AbdulJalal was devastated by the huge failure he had experienced. But what made him even angrier was the fact that he had involved Zaytun in this mess. She was so delicate that even a simple action film made her curl up in fear.

"The important part is that you are unharmed. But we need to discuss what happened," he said, his eyes on the road.

However, she remained silent and did not respond to his statement.

The car ride back was silent, with AbdulJalal's face still tight and his lips pressed into a thin line. Zaytun, on the other hand, was lost in her thoughts, trying to figure out how she was going to explain everything to him. She had not only read his messages without his consent but had also followed him. As the car pulled up at their house, her heart sank. She knew she was in for a long night.