Page 102 of Sands of Sirocco
How many people would testify that they’d seen Colonel Noah Benson take a palace guard hostage?
He’d been found with a briefcase of dynamite, condemning him.
After beating a British officer.
After stealing weapons.
After committing the crime of being born the son of an Egyptian woman and Irish man.
He heard running footsteps approaching down the hallway.His heart pounded as his brain scrambled to catch up.“I’ve only done what I was ordered to do by Lord Helton,” Noah said through gritted teeth as a soldier bent over him, restraints in hand.
“Father!”Victoria’s voice broke through the noise, echoing in the hallway.
Victoria.
Noah snapped his gaze up at Helton.“Was it for her?Did you decide to become a traitor to your country for your daughter’s safety?Or before that?How far back in this plan do you go?”
Victoria pushed past the police, then gasped when she saw Noah on the ground.
“What are you doing?Release him!”Victoria dashed to Noah’s side, dropping beside him.
“Victoria, get away from him!”Lord Helton sprang toward her.
Victoria was his only chance.
Noah caught the legs of the man about to restrain him between his own, sending him tumbling toward the ground.Snatching Victoria by the arm, Noah pulled her against him.They’d worked together how many years now?He knew her well.
Knew that she kept a gun strapped to her thigh whenever she was likely to be out on the streets after dark.
He found the gun and pulled it from its holster.Cocking it, he held it to her temple.Victoria froze.
“We’re going to stand.And then we’re going to leave, understood, Helton?”Noah got to his feet, dragging Victoria up with him.Several guns traced his movements.Any man with confidence enough in their shot might attempt something.Noah crouched lower, using as much of Victoria’s body as possible to shield his own.
Helton’s mouth twitched under his moustache, his face reddening.“You would never actually shoot her.”
“Wouldn’t I?”Noah dug the barrel of the gun deeper.Even if he’s right, you can’t let him know that.He hardened his face to a mask.“I don’t love her.Don’t give a damn what happens to her.”
Victoria’s eyes brimmed with tears, her breath was coming in short gulps.
“Stand down,” Lord Helton managed at last.As the guns lowered, Noah heard the exhales that accompanied them, the loss of tension.
Three hostages in one brief span.
He was only racking up the potential charges against him.
“Tell your men to go,” Noah ordered.“Take the bomb with you for God’s sake.”
Lord Helton gave a nod and the men left, dragging Masry away with them.
Victoria didn’t struggle, didn’t hardly move.And as much as Noah wanted to let her go, he couldn’t.Helton wouldn’t make the mistake twice of allowing her near him.
When the soldiers were gone, Noah straightened, the gun still pointed at Victoria.“Why?”he demanded of Lord Helton.“Why are you doing this?You’re allowing all of Stephen’s crimes to be placed on my shoulders.”
Victoria gave her father a bewildered look.“Father, no!You can’t—”
“I had a choice.My daughter’s freedom, and every contact Fisher had in Cairo, or you.Frankly, it was a straightforward decision.You’ve deliberately disobeyed me, lost your head over that Whitman whore.”
“Mywife,” Noah said through gritted teeth.
