Page 103 of Sands of Sirocco
Victoria choked out a cry.
Lord Helton guffawed.“Yes, yes I know.You were a fool to think there would be no consequences.”
“And that was it?”Noah shook his head.“And you really think Fisher will keep any part of his word to you?”
“I’ve rounded up nearly thirty men in the last two days.His intelligence has not only been accurate and reliable, but it has also saved countless British lives.You’re expendable, Benson.You always were.And your usefulness has run its course.”Helton stepped toward him.“Now release her.”
“No.”Noah’s hands tightened around Victoria’s waist.“You’ve only taught me just how valuable she is right now.”
He backed up, down the hallway, taking Victoria with him.“I’m leaving here with her.And if I’m followed, I promise you the next time you look at her she will be inside a wooden box.”
A tear splashed against the back of Noah’s hand.
Victoria’s.
Struggling to keep his composure, Noah dragged her along with him, backing up slowly so that he continued to face Lord Helton.
They reached an exit at the end of the hallway, and Noah pushed the door open.As they tumbled out into the moonlit night, Noah shut the door with his foot, his pulse pounding in his eardrums.
“Walk,” he ordered Victoria, still holding her in front of him.Who knew what else awaited him?
Victoria was silent, tears slipping onto her cheeks, glistening in pale silver light.“You can’t flee from him, Noah.You know you can’t.My father knows your every friend.Every contact.Every alias.He’ll find you.”
“Then what’s your suggestion?Turn myself over?I’ll be hung before the sun rises.”
Her breath was broken.“No—”
His grip tightened as they continued out of the grounds of the palace, toward a side street.“Did you know about this?Did you know he’d betrayed me?”
“No, I swear it.I didn’t.”Victoria’s hands trembled as she wiped her tears with the back of her gloves.
As they reached the safety of a row of buildings, Noah pulled her into an alleyway.He pushed her away from him, sickened by her touch.The gun remained in his fist, and he held it close to her, menacing her.
“Did you know Stephen was behind it all?”
“No.”Victoria swallowed hard, searching his gaze.“You must believe me, Noah.I didn’t know.But the man who kidnapped me was Jahi.He seemed to work mostly alone, but he had some locals who reported to him in the house where he took me.And there was also an Englishman …” She shuddered.
It must have been Osborne.
Noah released her slowly, stepping back from her.She shivered, holding her arms over her chest.“Please hide.Go and don’t come back.You know what he’ll do to you if you do.”
“Stephen?Or your father?”Noah raised a brow.
“Both.”Victoria’s voice broke, and she covered her mouth with one hand.“Noah—” She struggled for breath.“There’s one more thing I overheard.The Englishman knew I heard it.He beat me for eavesdropping.I should have told you before but I was selfish and afraid for my father.I wanted you to find him first.I should have told you everything I knew.And I was wrong, Noah—I’m sorry.I’m so sorry.You’ll hate me for it …”
White-hot fury shot through Noah’s spine.He’d had his doubts about Osborne, disliked him even.But the thought of him beating Victoria made him ill.
But he didn’t dare comfort her.They were beyond that part of their friendship now.And he had to leave.“What is it?”he asked, his voice raw.
“I know where Jack is.”
ChapterThirty-Three
Every light in her home appeared on as Ginger stepped onto the pavement in front of it.She paid the calishe driver, then turned to face the house.Her fingertips were numb, still wrapped around the gun Noah had given her, her shoulders knotted with tension.
The entire ride over from the palace she’d wanted to go back for Noah.But she didn’t dare.Not with Stephen on the prowl.
She had to get her family away from here.Away from him.
