Anaya turned her head to her right and then to her left, finishing her Fajr prayer. she had woke up early so she could go to work beforehand.

So she quickly pulled the scarf off and folded the prayer mat. She had to pick out her outfit and apply some makeup so she didn't look like she hadn't slept for the past twenty years.

She wore a white t-shirt and black tights and on top of it, she wore a navy blue abaya- that was adorned with beautiful red and yellow roses on the shoulder.

She applied some BB cream, powder, and waterproof mascara, and then she set her face with a finishing spray. When you knew you were going to work with small kids all day, you had to make sure your makeup was bulletproof. Then she wore her short beige box heels and, then pinned her hijab.

Today was early dismissal, and Anaya couldn't wait to get the day over with. She wanted to come back and help Amee cook, and spend some time with her, or more specifically discuss with her what she had seen in her father's room yesterday.

She went down the stairs and saw that Jameela hadn't woke up yet, probably because Anaya was up before her usual time. So she took a sticky note from the drawers and told Amee that she will be back early.

She grabbed a packaged muffin and ate it while she made her coffee. The coffee machine made it's steaming noise and it poured the hot black liquid into the mug. She added her milk and a splash of creamer and added a bunch of ice, transferring the goodness to a to-go cup.

She threw her muffin wrapper away and left the house sipping her coffee.

She got into her white Camry and drove to her school which was ten minutes away. She put on her favorite naat as she drove, quietly singing along to the words as she pulled into the parking lot which only consisted of three cars.

She switched off the audio and pulled out the keys, grabbing her handbag from the passenger seat.

Getting out, she locked the car and put the keys into her purse, wearing it across so she didn't drop it. As she was about to walk towards the building, she heard a shuffle.

Anaya turned around to see what it was, and there was nothing or no one there, but before she could turn around and leave, someone grabbed her mouth and she felt a sharp sting in her neck, the person held her tightly for a few seconds as she screamed vigorously and tried to kick him.

Not a minute later, Anaya's head felt senseless and her body felt paralyzed. Her mind screaming but her mouth not being able to deliver the noise. A fearful tear dropped out her eye.

Oh my god, I am getting kidnapped. What is happening, and what did I do? She thought. She tried to scream and thrust away from the man who carried her on his shoulder, but she couldn't.

Ya Allah, please save me, she prayed.

The man threw her in a car, covering her mouth with duct tape and tying her hands with a zip-tie immediately. Anaya cried fat tears continuously and soundlessly, trembling out of fear. She prayed over and over again, with the little consciousness she had left, but as time went by she felt herself falling asleep.

What just happened to her?

Who were these people, and what did they want?

What will they do to her?

Anaya's heart pounded so hard she thought it was going to break through her chest, her throat closed up and breathing became harder. She had never been so scared, her eyes closed. And whatever they had injected her with took over her body entirely.

But this wasn't even the beginning of Anaya's horror.

- - - - - - - - -

"Boss, Lorenzo got her. He is bringing her back." Romano informed Ali.

"Good. Take her to the vault when she comes. Try to get her to tell us Abdul's location as soon as she wakes up. I have to somewhere to be." Ali said, on the phone.

Ali was in his car, all suited up for his dinner with Erika.

He made a sharp left turn, and he arrived at her apartment building. So he gave her a call, to come down and not a few minutes later he saw her coming out of her apartment.

He got out of the car and took a glance at her, as her spaghetti strap red dress put her flawless figure on display.

"You look handsome," She said, grabbing the hand he put out for her to hold and giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"You look good too." He said, curtly. Opening the door for her to sit, and closing it when she settled in.

Ali got back into the driver's seat and began to drive to the fancy restaurant he had reserved.

"How was New York?" He asked.

"It wasn't all that bad, I thought I would have to encounter the disgusting homeless people and rats all over the streets but my tour was very high-class. I stayed at this beautiful hotel, and the meetings went perfectly, I got three new investors." She said, very proudly.

"Great work," Ali replied.

Erika scoffed.

"That's all you have to say? THREE, did you not hear me?" She said,

"What do you want me to say?" He asked.

"Ali! You could say you're proud of me, or that is it was really brave of me to go and do such exceptional work." She said.

"Hmm," He replied.

The rest of the drive, Erika shared bits and pieces from her New York trip and Ali replied with "Uh-huh's" and "Hmm's" Here and there. Soon enough, they finally arrived at the restaurant, so Ali got out and opened the door for her as she slid her arm into his, going inside.

They really looked like the perfect power couple, with Ali's towering and broad-shouldered figure covered in a flawless black suit and tie, and Erika's slim and tall body that she showed off perfectly in her thin dress.

"Reservation for Ali Ahmed," Ali said,

"Yes, right this way sir." The waitress said, leading them to their isolated table by the windows. A waiter and waitress pulled out their seats as they sat down and ordered.

"I'll have a medium-rare steak, with the 2005 Chateau Petrus," Ali said, ordering his steak and wine.

"I'll have your walnut salad, with your finest white wine," Erika said.

As the waiter left, they both stared at each other for a quick minute before Erika struck up a conversation.

"So I heard, Abdul Qadeer is back," Erika said,

"Yes, he is. But not for long." Ali said smugly.

"Oh really. What did you do?" She asked.

"His daughter should be in my basement, in about-" He looked at his watch.

"Five minutes." He said,

"That oughta bring him out," Erika said.

A couple of minutes later, the waiter arrived with their food, so they ate and Erika chatted a bit more, and before they knew it the food was finished, and the glasses were empty. Getting ready to leave, he paid the bill, and they headed back to his car.

Erika was quiet, as the wine had settled in her and she was a bit tipsy. So when Ali parked his car by her Apartment building, she didn't budge.

"We're here," Ali said,

"Take me inside," Erika whispered, huskily.

Ali got out of the car and took her arm in his, and instead, she put both her arms around his neck, making him carry her inside. Ali took her up the stairs and punched in the password on her digital lock door.

When they came inside, he kicked the door shut. And as soon as the door locked into place, Erika caught Ali's lips with hers, Ali kissed her back walking to her room without breaking contact, and then put her on the bed. Erika pulled his tie, kissing him harder, so Ali slid off her dress from its straps.

Erika sat up straight, to take off his jacket and loosen his tie. As she straddled him and kissed his neck. Ali loved that about Erika, she took control when she wanted to and got what she wanted whether it was in business or in sex.

The two of them frantically undressed each other, and Ali kissed her rather hard, as he quickly got in between her legs, the heat in between them only enhancing. Ali showed her no mercy, groaning a little bit, as Erika moaned and screamed rather loudly scratching his exposed skin with her nails.

As they both came down from their high, Ali ducked down- breathing laboriously into her ear.

"God damn, I missed you," Erika said, in between her labored breathing.

"Can't say I didn't miss this," Ali replied in his rough voice, giving her one last kiss before getting up.

"Where are you going?" Erika asked.

"I need to go check up on that chick," Ali said.

"No! Just spend the night with me. You can let her rot there overnight in fear, and go see her tomorrow morning, she'll talk much faster." Erika said, raising her brows suggestively.

Ali dropped down his shirt that he was holding and walked back towards the bed.

"Round two?" Ali asked, smirking as he got back on top of her.

Erika laughed as she pulled his face into her neck.