Page 64 of Death and Desire

Chapter Seventeen

As Violet stepped outof the car, Club Cairo loomed before her. The shimmering lights flickered above the entrance, enticing those who passed to pause and admire the allure of music pulsing through the stone and drifting out into the night.

Violet lingered by the car as Dina paid the driver. Once the fare was taken care of, her friend linked their arms.

“Do you think this is wise?” Violet murmured as they approached the club.

“You mustn’t worry. I know this place.” Dina’s dark eyes shimmered with confidence. “The owner is a good friend of mine.”

“But what if...” Violet couldn’t bring herself to voice the concern nagging her conscience. She hadn’t told Dina about the confrontation in the underground chamber. Of James’s betrayal. The heated clash between Anubis and Seth. The truth of Khalid’s identity.

“The beauty of this place is its hidden security,” Dina said, her voice low. “Guards are positioned throughout the club. The only outward sign is a small crimson flower on their lapels.”

Violet nodded, her fears soothed for the moment. There was nothing to do for the small voice in the back of her mind telling her she should return to the hotel. Nothing about this trip had gone to plan. Disappointment ran rampant at every disastrous turn.

“Would you rather I’d invited your brother and David?” Dina asked, flashing a smile at the doorman.

Do I want my brother and his best friend seeing me in such a state?Absolutely not. She shook her head.

“Come then, let’s enjoy ourselves tonight.”

Clinging tight to her friend, Violet stepped into the club. If anything, this would prove a worthy distraction, a way to redirect the ache in her chest at the betrayal she’d suffered. This was her chance to break free, to live uninhibited, to enjoy the city and her friend’s company. A reprieve from the disappointing reality surrounding her. The soothing beat of music encompassed her, and the chaos inside her mind slowly faded into the background.

Dim lights cast a soft glow around the room. When her eyes adjusted, she gasped at the wonderland before her. A large wooden bar ran the length of the room with mirrors and glasses of varying sizes and shapes lining the wall behind the bustling bartenders.

Matching tables and chairs littered the large room, some tucked into shadowed corners, with booths hidden beside gilded walls covered with velvet and silk. The mix of modern and old world blended in a unique visual exploration.

Dina led her deeper into the throng of revelers. The enticing tarab beat emanating from the band on a raised platform at the far end of the room made her body sway. They wove around dancing and drinking patrons until they reached the oversized dance floor. The crush of dancers moved like a living beast, undulating and spinning in flashes of color and vibrancy.

Violet smoothed a hand over her black gown, wondering if she’d been hasty in selecting such a revealing garment. The drape of the fabric dipped low on her spine, teasing with every brush of silk against skin. A slit stopped midthigh, revealing glimpses of leg as she moved. The curves she once detested were on display, earning her approving glances from the men she passed.

Perhaps this was what she needed. A night out, away from her father and brother. Away from Khalid. At first, Dina’s suggestion left her anxious, but she deserved to enjoy Cairo’s nightlife. Every other adventure on this trip had been a complete disaster. She could only hope tonight would be the exception.

Dina leaned close. “Let’s get a drink first and find a table.”

Violet nodded and followed close behind her friend as she scanned the crowd around them. There were patrons of all ages and ethnicities in the club, their bodies moving in sync with the steady thrum of music.

The dulcet voice of a woman drifted from the speakers, her song weaving a spell as the tempo shifted. A sultry, seductive drumbeat filled the room.

Curious, Violet turned to see the dancers had parted to make room for a belly dancer. Finding a nearby platform with an empty table, Violet stepped up to get a better view of the dance floor. From this vantage, she watched the dancer move, clad in gold and silk, her bare midriff painted, her face half-covered with a gilded veil.

Mesmerized, Violet appreciated every sinuous movement, every sway of her hips, perfectly aligned to the song. Heat flooded her cheeks. Her heart pounded in tandem with the drum.

It was sinfully elegant without being ostentatious. Erotic and tasteful in its artistry. Violet stood captivated by the dancer’s performance, her eyes fixed on the woman. When the song reached its conclusion, the dancer bowed to the crowd before vanishing behind a velvet curtain.

A lively song picked up, dispersing the spell she’d cast. The crowd filled the space once more.

“Here. Drink this.” Dina nudged her, offering a frosted glass with an opaque liquid.

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