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to get you back?”
    A deep voice boomed across the room and made her head hurt.  “That is enough !  You dare to speak to your daughter , in this way?  She could have been killed.  Can you not pretend to be a mother for one moment?  Get out of this room at once.”
    “Don’t you talk to me like that…”
    “Get out of here, Victoria,” her father said sharply.
    “Pritchard…”
    “You have zero emotion.  Leave the presence of those who do.”  Marci remembered it as the one time her father had stood up to Victoria in such a way that put fear on her mother’s face. 
    Salid sat in the chair beside the bed and said, “You are a strong young woman.  My grandsons said you are a fierce warrior.” 
    She didn’t know she’d started to cry until he reached out with a piece of soft cloth to wipe her face. 
    “You must rest.  Let the world circle the sun and heal your mind and body.  It will be better in a day, better still in a month, and in a decade, you will have forgotten much of what happened today.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Why are you sorry?”
    “For her .”  She swallowed hard.  “Thank you.”
    “There is no need to thank me.  Sleep now, little one.”
    Marci had and it seemed, looking back, that she’d slept away the majority of several months.  When she woke up, she stepped back into her life and put the entire ordeal out of her mind. 
    * * * * *
    In the middle of a high-end club in New York City, Marci allowed everything to click into place. 
    “I never thanked you.” 
    Nuri brushed a strand of her hair over her shoulder.  “After you left, we spoke to dozens of witnesses who talked about your clear thinking and refusal to put anyone else in danger.”
    “You are something of an urban legend to our people, Marci,” Fahad told her with a smile. 
    She stared between them.  “How long are you in New York?” 
    “We have a house outside the city.  A friend mentioned your name in regards to the club and we hoped to see you for the first time in a less severe environment.” 
    “You live in the States?”  The thought made her heart slam almost painfully in her chest.
    “We do.”  Nuri winked.  “You are in the middle of a corporate restructuring and you will be working seven days a week for months.  When you take breaks, we wish to see you.”
    “Entirely at your convenience, Marci.  There is no pressure to change your schedule to fit us into it.”  Fahad glanced at his watch.  “It is almost two in the morning.  Allow us to take you home.  We can meet for lunch or drinks tomorrow if you have time.”
    They stood and held out their hands.  She placed hers in them and they lifted her to her feet.  The three of them stood very close.  She didn’t understand the smiles they gave her. 
    Escorting her back to the group, Marci made introductions.  The men stood, shook hands, and sat back down. 
    All of them with exception to Hudson Winters.  Taller and thicker than the cousins, he held their hands for slightly longer than propriety decreed. 
    Fahad said, “It is an honor to meet a man we have known only by reputation.” 
    Nuri added, “A reputation that is well-deserved and respected in our circles.” 
    Marci moved to step around him and Hudson put his arm across her shoulders.  “Miss Canfield is a personal friend.”  He allowed the words to hang between them and there was no misunderstanding the message.  “Should you remove her from this club and anything was to happen to her, it would distress me.”  His smile was tight.  “I would go so far as to say it would enrage me.”
    The cousins nodded.  “She will always be safe with us, Mr. Winters.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.”  Glancing down at Marci, he said, “You will call tomorrow.”  It wasn’t a request and his will was something Marci had always respected and understood.  She nodded with a small smile.  “Excellent.  It was wonderful to see you.  Enjoy the rest of your