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2025-07-22 02:18:16“Wait here,” Khalid said, crouching low behind a pile of rusted barrels.
He disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone.
I wanted to run, to take my chances in the wilderness rather than place my fate in his hands.
But where would I go?
The mountains were vast and unforgiving, and the warlord’s men would hunt me down before I got far.
Khalid returned moments later, his expression grim.
“The path is clear, but we have to move fast.”
I didn’t respond, didn’t even look at him.
I followed because I had no choice, because the alternative was worse.
The sound of shouting behind us sent a jolt of panic through me.
“They’ve noticed,” Khalid said, his voice tense.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into a sprint.
The next moments blurred together—a chaotic mix of running, hiding, and the deafening crack of gunfire.
My ears rang, and my vision swam with tears and fear.
14
KHALID
We were close—so close I could taste the cool, untainted air of the forest beyond the camp.
But the guards were closing in, their shouts growing louder.
I turned, raising the pistol I had stolen days ago.
The weapon was heavy in my hand, but its weight was familiar.
I fired twice, the shots echoing in the night.
The men fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground, but there was no time to dwell on it.
I grabbed Noura and pushed her forward.
“Go!” I shouted.
She hesitated, her eyes darting between me and the bodies on the ground.
I could see the revulsion in her expression, the way she recoiled from the violence.
But she ran.
We reached the tree line, the dense foliage swallowing us whole.
I forced myself to slow down, listening for the sounds of pursuit.
The night was quiet again, but it was a fragile silence, ready to shatter at any moment.
Noura collapsed onto the ground, her body trembling.
“Are you hurt?” I asked, kneeling beside her.
She didn’t answer, didn’t even look at me.
15
NOURA
I couldn’t stop shaking.
The images replayed in my mind—the flash of the gun, the sickening thud of bodies hitting the ground.
Khalid had killed them without hesitation, his movements precise and cold.
Who was this man?
He knelt in front of me, his face unreadable.
“We’re safe for now, but we need to keep moving.”
“Safe?” I spat, my voice trembling with anger and fear. “You killed them.”
“They would have killed us,” he said simply.
I wanted to argue, to scream at him, but the words caught in my throat.
He was right, wasn’t he?
Those men wouldn’t have spared me.
But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why risk your life for someone you don’t even know?”
He hesitated, his eyes searching mine.
“Because your father asked me to. And because no one else would.”
It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but it was the only one he gave.
“I believe Allah sent me here to save you. I couldn’t watch a fellow sister in Islam get sold off. Living a life in a war-torn country is already hard enough.”
16
NOURA
The darkness clung to me, heavier than the worn fabric of my scarf, smothering any breath of hope.
Khalid’s whispered orders pushed me forward, his hand on my arm firm and unyielding.
Each step we took away from the crumbling ruins of the camp felt like walking deeper into a labyrinth of uncertainty.
I didn’t trust him.
How could I?
“You’ll be safe if we keep moving,” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crunch of gravel underfoot.
Safe.
A word so foreign it felt like a lie.
We reached the edge of the treeline, the faint hum of distant engines making my pulse quicken.
I dug my heels into the earth, wrenching my arm from his grasp.
“Why are you doing this?”
My voice wavered, barely stronger than the breeze.
He turned, his expression unreadable in the dim moonlight.
“Your father begged me to find you. Said he’d give anything if I could bring you back alive.”
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Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 8
“Stay close.”His voice was strained, his usual composure fraying at the edges.I wanted to scream, to cry out for someone—anyone—to answer.But the silence pressed down on me like a shroud, suffocating any sound.Khalid led me through the carnage, his hand never leaving the knife at his side.My legs felt like lead, each step heavier than the last.“They did this,” he muttered, his gaze sweeping the destruction.“Who?”“The men hunting us.”My stomach churned.The thought of being dragged back into their clutches made my skin crawl.“We can’t stay here,” he said, his voice firm.“But—”“No.”He cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument.“There’s nothing left.”I wanted to hate him for his coldness, for his refusal to grieve for these people.But maybe he was right.Maybe survival meant leaving the dead behind.As we left the village, I glanced back one last time, the weight of their silent screams settling on my shoulders.For the first time, I wondered if Khalid’s protection
Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 7
The mention of my father hit me like a blow.Memories of his voice, his laugh, and his steady presence fought their way to the surface, battling the image of his lifeless body.I wanted to believe Khalid, but the knot of mistrust in my chest refused to loosen.“Maybe you’re lying,” I said, stepping back.“Think what you want,” he said flatly, his hand twitching toward the knife strapped to his thigh. “But if we stay here, they’ll find us.”There was something unnerving about his calmness, his ability to calculate even as death chased us.I hated the way he seemed invincible when I felt so weak.17KHALIDShe didn’t trust me.That much was clear.The way her wide eyes darted toward every shadow, her fingers clenched around the torn hem of her dress, ready to run at the first sign of danger—I recognized the look.I’d seen it in women before.They always expected a betrayal.But I wasn’t their enemy.The way she looked at me, like I was no different from the men we’d left behind, sparked
Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 6
“Wait here,” Khalid said, crouching low behind a pile of rusted barrels.He disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone.I wanted to run, to take my chances in the wilderness rather than place my fate in his hands.But where would I go?The mountains were vast and unforgiving, and the warlord’s men would hunt me down before I got far.Khalid returned moments later, his expression grim.“The path is clear, but we have to move fast.”I didn’t respond, didn’t even look at him.I followed because I had no choice, because the alternative was worse.The sound of shouting behind us sent a jolt of panic through me.“They’ve noticed,” Khalid said, his voice tense.He grabbed my arm and pulled me into a sprint.The next moments blurred together—a chaotic mix of running, hiding, and the deafening crack of gunfire.My ears rang, and my vision swam with tears and fear.14KHALIDWe were close—so close I could taste the cool, untainted air of the forest beyond the camp.But the guards were clos
Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 5
“You’re lying,” I said.“I’m not,” he replied. “But if we don’t leave now, it won’t matter. Do you want to die here?”His words hit me like a slap.Did I want to die here?The truth was, I didn’t know anymore.But the thought of the warlord’s hands on me, of being bound to him for the rest of my life, made the choice clear.“Fine,” I said, my voice trembling. “But if you’re lying, I’ll kill you myself.”A ghost of a smile flickered across his face.“Fair enough.”10KHALIDHer defiance was a spark in the darkness, a reminder of why I had come.As I helped her to her feet, I could see the mistrust in her eyes, the way she flinched at every sound.She didn’t believe me yet.But she would.I led her out of the tent, my heart pounding as we slipped past the guards.The camp was a minefield of danger, every shadow a potential threat.As we moved, I couldn’t help but glance at her, taking in the details—the way her hair fell over her shoulders like a raven’s wing, the way her hands shook as
Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 4
I stared at the flickering lantern hanging outside my tent, the faint light casting twisted shadows that danced like ghosts.This was my reality now—a captive bride-to-be for a monster.I closed my eyes, desperate to escape, if only in my mind.I thought back to when I was a little girl, sitting at Baba’s feet as he told me stories of grand love.He always spoke of how he’d dreamed of seeing me in a white dress, glowing with happiness, standing beside a man who adored me.But deep down, I knew love was a luxury people like us couldn’t afford.My family had lived on the edges of ruin for as long as I could remember.Our village, nestled in the shadow of the mountains, was a place where death lingered in the corners, waiting to pounce.The sounds of distant gunfire and the echo of bombs were constants in my childhood, lulling me to sleep like a twisted lullaby.I had always known my life could end at any moment, but I never imagined it would come to this—sold like cattle to a warlord.I
Shattered Veil: A Muslim Romantic Thriller 3
He leaned forward, gripping my chin between his thick fingers.His touch was cold and rough, his nails digging into my skin.“Good. I like my wives with fire. It makes breaking them all the more satisfying.”I felt bile rise in my throat, but I swallowed it down.“I am not your wife,” I spat, my voice trembling but defiant.The room fell silent.For a moment, I thought I had gone too far.Then he laughed—a deep, cruel sound that sent shivers down my spine.“You are now,” he said simply. “The ceremony is tomorrow. You will wear white. And if you try to run, I’ll make you watch as my men slaughter the rest of your village. Do you understand?”I didn’t answer.I couldn’t.He leaned closer, his breath hot and foul against my face.“Do you understand?” he repeated, his voice a deadly whisper.“Yes,” I choked out, my voice barely audible.Satisfied, he released me, motioning for the guards to take me away.As they dragged me out of the tent, I felt the first tear slide down my cheek.I want
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