Page 81 of Sands of Sirocco
“But you said they threatened to kill me if anyone else was involved.Wouldn’t they do the same to him?”Victoria bristled.She grabbed his forearm, right over the spot where Masry’s men had branded him.He grimaced and did his best not to display the raw pain shooting through his arm.“Please, Noah, you promised.Not even five minutes ago.I’m begging you—wait until they try to contact me.Please.”
“I stayed to help your father because of how highly I regard you, Victoria.Don’t ask me to put yet another obstacle in front of going after Jack.”Noah grabbed a long canvas rucksack and packed it, adrenaline pumping through his veins.He needed to pay Stephen a visit.See what he could learn from him—and this time Lord Helton wouldn’t be there to restrain him.
Victoria stood, crossing her arms.“If she asked you to help her, you would do it.”Her dark eyes flashed.
Noah lifted his chin sharply.“You’re right, I probably would.Which is apparently what Stephen has been counting on.My weakness with her.That I love her like no other.”
She flinched.“Have you even told her who you really are or anything about your background?You think that won’t be an issue for her because you’re both blind with infatuation, but I know women like her and people like her family.They will always look at you like you’re less.Never accept you as one of them.And no matter what she says to you about wanting to leave her family behind, you know she’ll always be a part of them.”
She came closer to him and placed a hand on his chest.“You and I … we’re the same.We have Egypt in our blood.She doesn’t understand this land or its customs.”
Noah closed his eyes, his heart tightening at the hurt in her voice.“Victoria …”
She threw her arms around his neck, tears on her cheeks.“She doesn’t love you the way I do.She never has.She’s selfish—and, and—I heard her.She blames you for her brother’s death!Please, Noah … even if you don’t love me, help my father …” She dissolved into tears, her shoulders shaking, her words no longer coherent.
He’d never seen her lacking so much aplomb.She was always graceful, always composed.
He gathered her in his arms, holding her tightly as she wept.She’d probably be humiliated by this later, knowing her.After she’d calmed, he returned her to the bed and let her rest quietly while he packed the few belongings he wanted to take.His stomach felt sour, remembering how he and Jack had packed those bags in Jerusalem, only to have to abandon them on the street.
He’d been abandoning too much lately.
Alastair came for Victoria an hour later, and they parted without further incident.Thank goodness.
But Victoria’s pleas echoed in his mind.What if the Aleaqrabdidkill Helton because he went to the CID?
For all he knew, Helton could be dead.He may even have been shot.
One last visit to Masry might be a safer option before going to the CID.
Noah glanced at his reflection as he changed into the outfit he’d worn to the Aleaqrab meeting.Since Masry had Lord Helton, he’d have to continue to be Karim Sayed.At least his work in getting closer to the organization hadn’t been entirely a waste.
Once darkness had fallen and the dining rush was over, Noah left Shepheard’s and took the tram to Old Cairo.Much as he wanted to throttle Stephen Fisher, at least he had the assurance that he wasn’t going anywhere for a while.Masry might be a faster way of finding Lord Helton.
He found the squalid row of buildings within one of the poorest areas in the historic part of the city.Masry himself might have been wealthy, but he didn’t appear to want to bring his organization close to his home.After darting into an alleyway, Noah found the doorway.How he’d found his way back here without trouble was amazing, he’d been drunk and in blinding pain when he’d stumbled out of here the other night.
He tapped on the door and waited.
When the door opened a crack, he pulled down his sleeve, flashing the brand on his forearm.The door opened fully, and the man behind it gave him a nod.At least Noah would no longer have difficulty being admitted.
Noah’s eyes drifted over the decrepit interior of the home, little more than a hovel.In this section of Old Cairo, families of fifteen people sometimes squeezed into one or two rooms.“Is Al-Mashat here?”
The man pointed back to a room off the ground floor.In the affluent homes of Old Cairo—like the one where Masry lived—the room would be called theqa’aand was used to receive only male guests.Despite the lack of space here, Masry was a man of ritual.He likely kept some of his customs.
The disconnect was poignant.The men of the Aleaqrab had to know of Masry’s wealth because of his motorcar.Did they only know him as Al-Mashat?Or was the name just given to those who were new to protect Masry and his family?
Noah was admitted into the room.Five men were inside, including Masry, seated at a round table.Masry looked up at him with surprise, then rose.“Karim.”He greeted him warmly.The air was thick and laden with tobacco smoke, sweetly pungent.
Noah bowed his head.“As-salaam alykum.I want to be of service to you.”
“Our eager new recruit.”Masry grasped his forearm for a firm shake, then invited him to the table.“Come and join us, my friend.When we last saw you, I worried we might find you asleep on the street later.”Masry laughed, and Noah avoided looking him in the eye.Despite the success he’d had in avoiding Masry’s recognition, Noah worried Masry would suddenly realize who he was.
The men gathered around the table looked as though they were enjoying a late-night tea,shai, and smoking on theshishawater pipe on the table, not potentially planning a revolt.
He pushed hisgalabeyahback and sat at a rickety chair.The men at the table eyed him.Noah recognized only one of them: a large, thick man who had been the one to hold the hot iron to his arm.Masry introduced Noah and told them about the “problem” Noah had taken care of a few nights earlier.
Noah shifted in his seat.He didn’t enjoy being the center of attention under any circumstances, but this was particularly nerve-racking.No matter how many times he spent embedded with a group of militants or enemy soldiers, he preferred to keep a low profile, saying little that might arouse any sort of suspicion.
His silence seemed to benefit him.Within minutes, the men resumed their discussion.
