Captive- Veiled Desires Read Online Free Page A

pulling her chin up. “Yes, I took some pictures at Dal Lake. And I took a couple of shots of that man you’re referring to. But they came out dark and I deleted them.” Her lips quivered. If she told him that she had uploaded it to her online database, she would surely be dead and no one would know what happened to her. If she had to die, then at least the photographs might give a clue to people looking for reasons to her sudden disappearance. She gave a silent prayer to Amy. Find me, Amy. Please, find me.
    He stepped threateningly towards her.
    “I swear,” she cried. “The sun was behind him and the picture came out dark. I’m a photographer. It would have been no use to me so I deleted it.”
    “Is that the truth?”
    “Y-y- yes.” She shivered. “I didn’t even get a good look at his face. I wouldn’t be able to pick him out in a crowd. Is that why I’m here?”
    He moved towards her. “But now you have seen my face. What do we do about that?”
    “I’ll never tell a soul. I promise.” She shook with fear.
    He let out a mocking laugh. “Too bad I don’t trust promises.”
    She fell to the floor, cowering to her knees. She had quickly learned that she could cushion much of the blows if she doubled her body.
    The door swung open again, catching them both by surprise. A man strode in, giving her a sharp glance as he walked by and towards Mateen. His face was masked with his scarf, revealing only his gray steely eyes. He was similarly garbed to Mateen, except he wore a turban on his head and not a [5] pakol like Mateen’s.
    He tugged Mateen by the collar and pushed him into the wall, threatening him in a language she didn’t recognize. Freba rushed inside the prison and over to her.
    “Are you okay?” the woman asked her. “Did he hit you again?”
    “No. Not yet.” Nora shuddered at the mere thought of it. Her body trembled visibly and Freba clutched her hands, trying to calm her down.
    “Don’t worry,” Freba whispered. “I told you help was coming.”
    The woman smiled at her and nodded at the man strangling Mateen against the wall.
    “ That is help?” Nora asked with disbelief. Her disappointment clouded her face. Help was one Afghan terrorist who might treat her better than another Afghan psychopath? She covered her face with her hands and wept silently, the bitter fact that she might never be rescued washing over her.
    “Sshh,” Freba said. “It will be all okay now.”

HAPTER 3
     
     
     
     
     
    He had first seen her in Dal Lake. He hadn’t realized she was taking pictures, attracted first by her long hair fluttering in the breeze.
    Her boat passed by and he immediately tensed. He glanced behind him and discovered that Mateen and his two companions had noticed the incident.
    He strolled casually as he could up to them, hoping that his nonchalance towards it would ease them down as well and perhaps dismiss it altogether. “The guns are in the lake as promised.” He informed them, wiping the droplets of water with the back of his hand. “It’s in a bag attached to a pole in the pier, probably right below where we’re standing.”
    “I’ll get Merzad to retrieve it in the night,” said Mateen. “We have a shipment going into Paktika tomorrow.  Might as well, send it then. We’ve paid good money to border officials this time. We don’t want to lose the opportunity.”
    “Okay.” He nodded. “I’ll be in Kabul the next few days. Some things have popped up with Jahandar. I’ll need to sort it out with him.”
    “Why don’t you let us pop the guy and not the issue?” Mateen grumbled.  “Jahandar is nothing but a hindrance.”
    “If it were only that easy. Everything can’t be solved with killing, Mateen.” He turned to walk away. “I’ll see you in a few days.”
    “Adam.” Mateen stopped him. “Don’t you think you’re forgetting to solve one more issue?”
    He raised his brow. “What is it?”
    “What about the girl? She definitely took pictures of