Death and Desire (Love in Cairo #1)

Chapter Ten

O ne call to the hotel concierge gave her the opportunity she needed. Wearing a simple blue dress and wide-brimmed hat, Violet opened her door and peered down the hallway. Empty. Bless the stars.

She slipped from her room and darted in the opposite direction of the lobby. The back entrance of the hotel bustled with servants, but none spared her a glance as she wove through the chaos.

By the time she reached the alley behind the hotel, Violet could breathe freely. She’d managed to slip free from her father’s hold and Khalid’s knowing watch.

A hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her into the shadows. Violet gasped.

“It’s me.” Dina laughed, her dark eyes sparkling.

“I can see that.” Violet straightened, attempting to regain a steady heartbeat.

“Did you think I was that handsome bodyguard of yours?” Dina winked as she took Violet by the arm and steered her toward the sunlight.

Guilt prickled along her arms and warmed her cheeks. She shoved it aside. There was no reason for anyone to worry about her. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, should it come to that. She clutched her bag a little tighter, savoring the weight of the small derringer hidden within it.

“Where is he anyway?” Dina glanced over her shoulder. “And better yet, why are we giving him the slip?”

“He’s insufferable.” Violet tried to sound casual, but her tone came out harsher than intended.

“Has he tried to take liberties with you?” Dina’s smile widened. “A man that gorgeous could take all the liberties he wanted with me.”

“Dina!” Violet nudged her with feigned surprise. “How can you say such a thing? You barely know him.”

Inside her mind, memories of her conversation with Khalid replayed, rolling over like gemstones in the light, refracting truth and tempting her to linger.

“He saved your life, Violet. Besides, he’s lovely to look at. Perhaps having him around wouldn’t be a terrible waste.”

“With his brooding, sullen silence?” Violet scoffed. “I’d rather take my chances alone to enjoy the scenery without him casting a hulking shadow over it.”

“As you wish.” Dina pouted.

Together, they stepped into the afternoon sunlight.

“What would you like to explore today?”

“The markets.” Excitement bubbled inside Violet at the thought. “My mother told me about the bazaar with its vibrant colors and exotic spices. I’ve always wanted to see it for myself.”

“You’re in luck.” Dina steered her to the far side of the street, moving them further from the hotel.

As they rounded the corner, Violet pulled to a stop, nearly causing Dina to stumble.

“And where are you two off to on this fine afternoon?”

David and Isaac stood before them, blocking their progress. David’s question stalled her brain, and she gaped for a long moment as she gathered her wits. Humor glittered in David’s eyes, and Isaac shifted uncomfortably.

“Does Father know you’re roaming around Cairo?” Isaac glanced behind her. “Where’s your stalwart shadow today?”

“I promised Violet a tour of the bazaar,” Dina said in her defense. “Would you care to join us?”

Violet nearly jabbed her friend in the ribs. The last thing she desired on this little excursion was the company of her brother and his best friend. But if she didn’t at least attempt to be cordial, they would tell Father, even though they’d promised not to tell him. After the fiasco on the river, she doubted they would uphold their end of the bargain. It was far more likely they would accidentally relay her whereabouts, and in turn, Father would send Khalid to oversee their safety. Her safety, in particular.

“Yes, it’s a lovely day. I’m sure you’ll find something to pique your interest at the market.” Violet forced a smile.

David scoffed and Isaac arched a curious brow. It was no use. They knew her too well to be fooled.

“Please don’t tell Father,” Violet pleaded. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Just...I cannot stand being smothered.”

The two men exchanged a long-suffering look. David shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against a stone building. Isaac turned to her.

“Sister dearest,” he said with a grin. “We’d be delighted to escort you both to the market.”

Violet crossed her arms. “What do you want?”

“Let’s just leave that open for now.” Isaac laughed.

“Oh no. I learned that lesson years ago.” She shifted her weight, jabbing a finger at her brother’s chest. “Tell me what you want in exchange, or the deal is off.”

Isaac glanced at David, who shrugged one shoulder. “There’s a club. We’re going there tonight, but Father wants me to attend some dinner...”

“You want me to cover for you?” she asked with a sigh.

“Yes.” Isaac nodded, his hands fidgeting with his cane.

“Fine.” She held out her right hand. He took it, shaking on the agreement. “But keep your distance at the bazaar...both of you. I want to enjoy my afternoon.”

“As you command, sister dearest.”

At Isaac’s mock bow, Violet rolled her eyes.

“Come along then.” She tugged Dina into motion, skirting around the two men who were determined to ruin her trip at every opportunity.

True to their word, her brother and David maintained their distance. Dina fell into step beside her and squeezed her hand.

“Are they always so persistent?” Dina pushed a lock of dark hair away from her face.

“Yes. It’s exhausting,” Violet confessed. “Fortunately, we have an understanding.”

“It must be nice to have someone who cares so deeply about your well-being.”

Violet’s heart twisted at Dina’s observation. “I am blessed, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.”

“Would you rather have Khalid in their stead?”

Her teasing question lingered in Violet’s mind far longer than it should have.

“I take your silence as dislike at the proposition.”

“I don’t dislike him...” Violet shrugged, unable to reconcile the weight of her thoughts with the reality of the situation. No one would believe her if she revealed the truth...if it was truth? She couldn’t begin to untangle reality from illusion. “There’s just something about him I can’t quite unravel.”

“He is mysterious, to be sure.” Dina turned to her, her excitement making her skin glow. “But that makes him all the more enticing.”

“Then you should pursue him.” The moment the words left her tongue, Violet resented them. Khalid trusted her with his secret. Their bond, while strange and not wholly welcome, was unique, and the knowledge of this gift gave her a smidgen of satisfaction.

“My father would rather see me with someone influential, someone who could expand his business holdings.” Dina shrugged. “What and who I want is immaterial.”

Violet’s heart softened toward her friend. She understood the pain of such an arrangement and wished there were some way to help.

“Perhaps you should marry my brother.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Dina’s eyes sparkled. “At least I’d gain a sister.”

“You will always have me, regardless.”

Their laughter faded as the sweet, cloying scent of spices touched her nose.

“Welcome to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.” Dina gestured with a flourish when they stepped onto the busy, colorful street.

The scent of fresh baked pastries and bread hit her first, followed by an exotic blend of spices and simmering delicacies being fried behind vendor stands. Any similarities to markets she’d been to in the past were overshadowed by vibrant colors and gathering crowds. The market stretched as far as she could see in either direction. Stalls bedecked with fabrics and garments, others laden with brass trinkets and carved metals for decoration and everyday use. Booths overburdened with fresh fruits and vegetables. Mouthwatering roasted meats filled the air with delicious temptation. The warm aromas drifted together in a unique blend, capturing her imagination and stirring her hunger.

As they joined the crowd, chatter in multiple languages floated around her, a tapestry of cultures, trapping her in the melodic lilt. English, French, Arabic, Italian. She closed her eyes and savored the sounds, the scents, and basked in this moment of uninhibited freedom.

It was the most beautiful place in the world, bursting with life.

Ignoring the grumbles of her brother several paces behind her, Violet linked arms with Dina and ventured down the crowded street. She paused at an open vendor with large barrels of spices. Dina translated the signs, indicating each in turn.

“Cumin, nutmeg, cardamom...” Dina pointed to a bin full of seeds. “Oh, this one is fenugreek.”

“That’s cinnamon.” Violet grinned at being able to recognize the familiar spice, but curiosity pulsed through her. “What’s that?”

“Shatta,” Dina replied. “It’s an extremely hot pepper powder.”

“Sounds delightful.” She leaned closer to smell it but drew back quickly, sneezing as the potent spice assailed her senses. It stung her eyes and made them water.

Dina laughed. “It is. In moderation. Shatta can be overpowering if you’re not used to it.” She nudged Violet toward the next stall, laden with brass and silver jewelry.

The bracelet on her wrist warmed. She covered the jewel with her hand at the vendor’s curious stare. The simple gem always garnered attention. Violet attempted to hide it, but it was useless. Perhaps she could forego wearing it, but as it was the last lingering tie to her mother, she couldn’t bring herself to lock it away.

They moved further into the bazaar, and Violet enjoyed every moment of it.

When they reached a large stand with varying fruits, David and Isaac joined them. Dina stood off to the side, explaining how to peel a pomegranate. Violet watched with delight and curiosity—savoring the sweet and tart burst of juice as she popped a handful of the seeds in her mouth. While she adored sampling the new fare and local delicacies, Isaac was not as adventurous when it came to food, aside from pastries. He would be perfectly content with apples plucked from the trees on their estate in England.

A soft brush of warm fur tickled her calf. Violet looked down to see a black cat weave around her legs. It briefly turned its golden eyes up to her before wandering off with a limp. She’d always had a soft spot for stray and orphaned animals. As a child, she would bring home bedraggled kittens and caught hell from her father when he found them tucked in a basket in her bedroom. It never deterred her kind heart and compassion for unfortunate creatures.

“Come back here, little one.” Violet followed the cat. “At least let me see if you’re injured.”

The cat trotted between two booths and down a narrow alley. Violet glanced over her shoulder. Dina stood between David and Isaac by the fruit stand. She shook her head and squeezed through the narrow opening.

A flash of black fur glinted in the sunlight ahead. She wandered deeper into the maze of buildings.

“Where are you taking me?” she muttered beneath her breath as the cat turned right and passed a block of quiet homes.

The cat paused at the mouth of another dark street. It sat on its haunches, staring at her with unblinking gold eyes. Violet stooped down to run her fingers over the cat’s head. Soft, like fine velvet. A tentative mew reached her ears, and with that, the cat departed, venturing down the dark alley as though the limp had never existed.

Violet stood, straightening her skirts. “Right. Now...how to get back to...” She twisted around in a circle, her sense of direction suddenly confused. “That way.” She pointed to the right. “Or was it there?”

Biting her lip, Violet frowned. She knew better than to venture off like this. She would never hear the end of it from her brother or her father. What an idiotic thing to do. There was no use in chastising herself now. With a deep breath, she took in her surroundings and attempted to find her bearings. She’d gotten out of worse scrapes than this before...and without her brother’s assistance.

“Are you lost, little one?” A deep voice echoed behind her, speaking in broken English.

Damn and blast. Her bag nearly dropped from her hands, but she gripped it tightly and turned to face the intruder. “Lost?” She scoffed. “Not at all.”

A tall burly man with shaggy dark hair stood in the middle of the street and grinned. The shadows behind him unfolded to reveal two more men wearing similar expressions of delight. Behind her, the street was empty. The windows and doors on the buildings around her all closed tight.

“Come now, precious. Just give us your valuables, and we’ll be on our way.”

Her hand flew to the locket at her throat. She would rather die than let these thieves take her jewelry...the only items she possessed to tie her mother to her.

Fear permeated the air. Gone was the sweet aroma of baked goods and spices, replaced by the dark stench of unwashed bodies and wicked intentions.

“Please. I don’t have anything of value,” she lied.

His gaze drifted to her bracelet before gliding down her length with a lecherous leer. “I beg to differ.”

“Come here,” one of the shorter men said, his words thick with an unfamiliar accent. “I promise, we won’t hurt you.”

Snorts escaped the other two men.

Panic gripped her. She hadn’t worn proper shoes for running, and even if she tried to escape, they would easily overpower her. The only thing she had was the derringer in her purse...with two bullets. Damn it all. A revolver would have been better.

There was nothing for it. It was the only way out.

“Don’t hurt me. Please.” She fumbled with the clasp of her bag. “Take my money, but please spare me.”

The men stilled, greed shining in their dark eyes. Twisted grins lingered on their lips as she fumbled through the bag. When her fingers brushed the derringer, she inhaled deeply and clasped it in her palm. Its familiar weight bolstered her courage.

She withdrew the gun, aiming the barrel directly at the largest man’s heart. “Take another step, and I’ll put a hole straight through you.”

The three men paused, their eyes wide with surprise. It quickly faded into laughter.

“What are you going to do with a paperweight?” The big man scoffed. “Put it away before you hurt yourself.”

Violet pulled the trigger. A plume of smoke rose from the small gun. She seized the distraction and turned, bolting into the alley where the cat had vanished. Air burned her lungs as she disappeared in the darkness.

Behind her, shouts rang out. She glanced over her shoulder, spying dark figures racing into the alley behind her. Damn and blast! Violet hadn’t verified whether the shot hit its intended target. She’d known it would only give her a window to escape.

Her foot caught on the uneven path, and she pitched forward, colliding with cold stone. The derringer clattered to the ground in the shadows. She couldn’t stop to find it.

Mustering every ounce of self-preservation within her, she pulled herself to her feet and ran. She wove deeper and deeper into the maze of buildings until she collided with a solid wall of stone.

A dead end.

Heart pounding, Violet turned in time to see the three thieves enter the narrow alley. Her gaze raked over the walls, searching for an escape.

There was nothing.

Trapped. She cursed her stubborn impetuousness, wishing she’d remained with Isaac, David, and Dina. She would die here. at the hands of these thieves, and for what? Her own foolish pride.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” The burly thief stepped into a glittering shaft of sunlight. It warped his face into extreme contrasts, making him more sinister. “Good thing we’re getting paid whether you’re dead or alive.”

Violet inhaled, bracing herself for the oncoming attack. Anubis, help me.