My brows crease in perplexity and disbelief. "And you choose to do nothing!? Y-you just allow such horrible things to occur in your home?""Hazel you must-""An innocent man is continuously tortured right under your nose!" I bolt up from my seat furiously. "you refuse to help him!"Mister Mirza opens his eyes and looks up at me with complete guilt. "Hazel please sit down and listen to the reasons why I'm unable to help Khalil."I shake my head at him in disappointment and my body trembles with ire."Please?" He implores forlornly. I grit my teeth as regret fills me.why couldn't I have included Khalil in my escape?But Yasir had obstructed my way and it was risky.I sit back down reluctantly. "How do you know he's okay now?""I've just arrived from home, was my first stop before I got here. The gang must have dispersed as soon as you had escaped...they must have assumed you'd inform the police so they couldn't risk remaining there." He expounds. "Khalil is an illegal migrant, Hazel""S

HAZEL- A loud thud reverberates throughout the room. I'm jolted awake as I hear peals of lively laughter.Utterly miffed by the supposed ruckus emanating in from the corridor, I groan while shifting to find a more comfortable position in my bed-Wait! What?!Flashes of the events about last night, crash against me like a powerful tsunami wave.In a fraction of a second, I spring up into a seated position.Eying my surroundings, I recognize I'm in Rachael's guest bedroom.My escape from Yasir and Hamdard!The gunfight and violence!It was all real! Not a fragment of my imagination!My eyes nervously flicker towards the bedside table clock-12:15 pm!OH MY ALLAH!!I have missed my obligatory morning prayer. Another disappointed groan escapes my lips.I slide out of the comfy bed and plunge my aching feet into the soothing plush carpet.I can't help but wince from my soar muscles when I stand upright and lift a leg to walk.Exactly how much time did I spend running around last night?Oh ma

Abruptly the front door of the townhouse opens and the two guards strut forward toward us. "Miss Rachael, the situation is under control now, we've extinguished the fire!" The one named Harry states proudly."I need a word with you George! In private at once!" Rachael snaps at the other who promptly looks surprised at her severe expression. She hands Harry her car keys. "Harry please escort miss Kashani and the children to my car and have them wait there till I return."He ushers us ahead to an expensive navy blue jeep. I peer curiously over my shoulders at the retreating backs of Rachael and George disappearing into the townhouse.I slip into the back passenger seats with the children despite Harry's insistence that I sit in the front. I couldn't abandon them in the back, the kids came across as major mischief-makers in need of consistent surveillance.Within five minutes, we see Rachel returning with a grim expression set about her face. She yanks open the driver's seat of the vehicl

"I'm paying you for it, seventy dollars an hour!" Rachael beams and with persuasive ease she continues. "The food, travel, vacation, etc expenses are on me since we would be traveling everywhere together anyway."" w-what ?!" I sputter in astonishment. "Miss Rachael you're being more than generous, I-I can't accept that you pay for the rest of my expenses. If that is to be the case then I might as well be a nanny without the seventy-an-hour charge!""Refer to me as Rachael, and please I insist you accept some money for your work...My children are not easy to deal with, so many nannies have quit-" Her voice cracks.My Curiosity getting the best of me, I ask. "How exactly do they behave around others besides me and umm.. your brother ?"She leans in very close to me with a concerned expression and whispers "It's terrifying, I can't describe right now in their presence. Trust me on my words, they aren't easy to deal with. As much as I love them more than my own life, they drive me insane!

Rachael whirls around in rage. "You dare threaten to snatch my children from me!?"There is a very brief glint of amusement in Vladimir's eyes as he merely shrugs his broad shoulders. A slight knowing smirk almost tugs at the corner of his lips before it vanishes in less than a fraction of a second.He cups her chin with his free hand and gravely looks her in the eyes before answering firmly yet softly "I'd never dare threaten my older sister. Consider it a heartfelt warning since those children are one of the dearests to my heart."With that, he leans down and plants a soft kiss on her forehead. Rachael's lips set into a thin line as she stares at him with a mixture of helplessness, exasperation, and anger."Uncle Vladddy!!! I'm so happy we are going to the theme park!!"I whirl around to spot Arielle dashing down the steps excitedly, behind her an austere-looking Huxley carrying Charlie in one arm.As soon as Huxley's eyes land on mine, he sets Charlie down on to his feet and promptl