by Anne Herries
‘I’m going to have you arrested,’ he replied. ‘The prince will have you tried and executed—and that’s what you deserve. Shooting is too good for you, Ahmad. After what you did to Lysette and Chloe…’
Ahmad sneered at him. ‘Haven’t got the guts to pull that trigger, have you? You’ve gone soft, lost your edge.’
‘I’ll watch you executed with the greatest of pleasure,’ Pasha replied, a slight smile on his mouth. ‘Chloe was right. You aren’t worth soiling my hands on. I’m going to render you unconscious, then I’ll tie you up and deliver you to some friends of the prince’s. I dare say they may not be quite as gentle with you, and you may suffer at their hands, but that’s their business, not mine.’
‘Coward!’ Ahmad jeered. He was feeling sick as he thought about what would happen to him if Pasha carried out his threat. He would be beaten and tortured to make him confess, to give up the names of any fellow conspirators, and then he would be beheaded. ‘Give me a quick death, Pasha.’
‘And have your death on my conscience?’ Pasha asked. ‘Turn round, Ahmad. I’ll make this as quick as possible.’
‘No! Please. We can work something out…’ Ahmad was beginning to plead. His head turned to one side as someone else came into the room, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. ‘Sashimi! Get help for me. He’s going to—’ He broke off as he saw that she too was holding a tiny pistol in her hand. ‘Kill him.’
‘Oh, no,’ she said. ‘It isn’t Pasha I am going to kill.’ And then without a moment’s hesitation, she raised her arm, aimed directly at Ahmad’s heart and pressed the trigger.
Ahmad’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he clutched at his chest, his knees buckling as he sank to the floor and then fell forward on his face.
‘Is he dead?’ Sashimi asked coolly as Pasha went to bend over him.
Pasha got to his feet and looked at her. ‘What did you think you were doing? I was going to knock him unconscious and hand him over to the prince’s men.’
‘I know that,’ she said. ‘I heard everything you were saying. It wasn’t enough, Pasha. I had to be sure that he couldn’t get away from you.’
‘Give me the gun,’ Pasha said. He had laid his own down, and was holding out his hand. She hesitated, seeming unsure what to do and he frowned. ‘Give it to me, unless you want to be arrested for the murder of your husband?’
Sashimi’s face went white. She passed him the gun, her own hand beginning to tremble. ‘Are you going to hand me over to the English police?’
‘It is what I ought to do,’ he said. ‘But no, I’m not that cruel, Sashimi. Go back to the car now. Chloe should be waiting there for you. Drive back to London. Go directly to my apartment and wait for me to come before you do anything.’
‘What…are you going to do?’
‘Take care of things here,’ Pasha said. ‘You are not to breathe one word of this to Chloe—do you understand me? I will not have her endangered by being involved in this. If you do as I tell you, I shall see that you are looked after. Otherwise…’
Sashimi looked into his cold eyes and shivered. ‘Yes,’ she said submissively. ‘I’m sorry. Not for what I did—he deserved to die—but for causing you trouble.’
‘His driver is out cold in the kitchen. We’ll see what the power of money can achieve, but I have friends who will tie up any loose ends necessary.’
‘Thank you.’ Sashimi turned away as he began to move about the room, smashing lamps and china. It was obvious that he was making it look as if there had been a fierce struggle here.
She left him to it and went out, meeting Chloe on her way back to the house.
‘Pasha wants us to leave quickly,’ she told her. ‘I’ve got to drive you back to London and stay with you until he gets home.’
‘Pasha told you that?’ Chloe stared at her. ‘I heard a shot…’
‘It was nothing,’ Sashimi said, remembering Pasha’s promises and his threats. ‘Please, I can’t tell you any more.’
‘No, I don’t suppose you can,’ Chloe said and the sickness stirred in her stomach. A part of her wanted to go back into the house and demand to know what was going on. Instead she was tamely allowing herself to be sent off with Sashimi as if she were a parcel. She must be mad to trust either of them! Yet somehow she didn’t have the will to fight. At the moment she didn’t particularly care what happened to her; she just felt drained and empty, her heart heavy.
Oh, why hadn’t Pasha listened to her? Why had he killed Ahmad? It wasn’t that his cousin didn’t deserve to die, of course he did for all the evil things he had either done or tried to do, but now Pasha had blood on his hands.
‘We’d better go then—if it is what Pasha wants.’
Chloe was thoughtful as she went back to the car with Sashimi. At the moment she was still too shocked to feel the pain she knew would come later.
She got into the front seat beside Sashimi, allowing her to drive because it seemed as if that was what she wanted, staring at the road as the other woman steered them out of the isolated country lane and began to make her way back towards the main highway.
What was she going to do now? Chloe was conscious of a kind of despair seeping through her. She had come to terms with the fact that Pasha had been prepared to order the execution of his father’s assassin, and that he had killed him in the struggle to protect his uncle—but this, this was too cold-blooded for her to accept.
Pasha had come prepared to kill his cousin, and he had done so. It was too horrific for her to contemplate, and she could only cope by pushing it to the back of her mind.
She wouldn’t think about it yet or she would go to pieces, and she had to be calm to face Pasha when he came back. She had to be able to talk to him in a reasonable manner, and tell him why she was leaving him.
It was useful to have friends in high places, Pasha thought as he was flown back to London in a light aircraft. He hadn’t told Forbes the truth of course. His own gun had been wiped clean of his fingerprints and was now in Ahmad’s hands, complete with his own prints and Forbes’s men were on the scene, clearing up the mess. Soon it would appear that nothing had happened in that house.
Pasha grimaced as he recalled the half-lies he had told to cover what Sashimi had done. He would have much preferred to carry out his own plans, but Sashimi had had other ideas—and he couldn’t allow her to pay for her folly.
Ahmad must have been a brute to her for her to do that, Pasha reflected. He had given her his word to protect her, and he would do it to the best of his ability. She would be given a new identity, which he would arrange for her and enough money to live life as she pleased—and he had a good idea what she would choose to do.
It wasn’t his affair. Pasha shrugged. Once this was over, he didn’t care if he never saw her again. All he wanted from now on was a quiet life with Chloe. But how was she going to feel about that?
He would simply have to persuade her that things would be better in future, tell her of his plans to make sure there were changes.
Pasha frowned. He wondered if Sashimi had kept her word not to tell Chloe anything of what had happened in that house. It was much better if she did not know. He did not want her involved in this nastiness any more than she had been already.
His face was grim as he recalled the scene he had interrupted. Had Sashimi not helped him to find her…he had little doubt in his mind that his cousin would have raped her. Ahmad had clearly enjoyed humiliating women.
For a moment Pasha’s thoughts went to Lysette. He had been on completely the wrong track there, blaming that film director for what had happened to his half-sister. Now he knew that it was Ahmad, and he tasted bitter gall in his mouth, as he understood exactly why she had been used in that way.
Ahmad had wanted to humiliate him. He had not cared that he was hurting an innocent girl in the process. So Lysette had died because she loved him, Pasha.
She had been afraid of seeing disgust or perhaps disappointment in his eyes, and he knew that had she told
him he might not have been able to disguise the way he felt. When he’d had time to come to terms with it, he would of course have done everything he could to help her—he might even have forced Ahmad to marry her. What a disaster that would have been!
Pasha’s brow wrinkled as he realised he must have been at fault in his past behaviour towards Lysette. If she had chosen to die rather than tell him the truth…
Was he such an ogre? Was that why Chloe was so desperate to leave him—because he frightened her?
Pasha’s thoughts were blacker than the heavens as the storm began just as they touched down at the airport in London. He ran towards the waiting car, thinking with irony that it was his relationship with the prince that had given him these privileges…privileges that had to be paid for. Sometimes the price was very high, perhaps too high.
Pasha had never used those special privileges for himself before, but he had been forced to do so this time and he found that they left a bad taste in his mouth.
Was this really the kind of life he wanted to live?
Ahmad was dead, but that didn’t mean it was all over. There were others who would not balk at using him or Chloe to get their own way, and it would go on.
He couldn’t allow that to happen! Pasha’s expression darkened as he remembered what had so nearly occurred. Next time he might not arrive in time.
Chloe had to be safeguarded in future. He wasn’t sure how he was going to make certain that she wouldn’t have to go through the same thing again, but he would find a way. Even if it meant…
Pasha’s thoughts veered away from that avenue. He couldn’t give her up…he couldn’t. And yet he might have to.
The hours passed so slowly. Since they’d arrived back at the apartment, Sashimi appeared to have gone into a kind of trance. Chloe wasn’t sure how the other woman had managed to drive them back to London, but having done so she appeared to have abandoned all responsibility. She was just sitting in one of the armchairs, staring into space, not even answering when Chloe spoke to her.
Chloe made coffee. It was hot and strong, and she placed a cup on the little table beside Sashimi, but she ignored it.
‘What are we going to do?’ Chloe asked. ‘Did Pasha say how long he would be?’
Sashimi shook her head. It was as if she were beyond speech, in a state of shock—as well she might be if she had seen her husband shot down in front of her.
‘I’m sorry about what happened,’ she began.
‘I’m not,’ Sashimi said. ‘I’m glad he’s dead.’
She got to her feet as if Chloe’s words had brought her to her senses. ‘I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me.’
Chloe watched as she walked away. She drank some of her own coffee, but couldn’t relax, and got up to pace about the room. Where was Pasha? What was he doing? Would he be in trouble with the police for what he had done?
Chloe felt her stomach clench with nerves. Pasha might be able to get away with this sort of thing abroad, but in England things were different, weren’t they?
Supposing he was arrested for murder? Would they hang him?
She felt a pain around her heart and clutched at herself fearfully, wrapping her arms about her chest protectively. She couldn’t bear it if that happened. She loved him…and yet what he had done filled her with horror.
She couldn’t bear to think about it. How long before…? Oh, God, she couldn’t stand this. She wished that she had refused to leave when Pasha bid her. She couldn’t stay here a moment longer. Surely there was something she could do? She stiffened as she heard a key in the lock and then Pasha came in. He was soaked through, and for the first time she realised it was raining heavily outside.
‘You are wet,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t realised…’
‘The storm broke just as we landed,’ he replied, looking at her. She was unnaturally calm, and he thought she must still be in shock. ‘I am very sorry for what happened, Chloe. It was my fault for leaving you unprotected like that.’
‘You couldn’t have known,’ Chloe said, licking her lips nervously. She wanted to run to him, to throw herself into his arms and be kissed, but something held her back. Perhaps it was a look in his eyes, or it might have been her own thoughts…the picture of a man lying bleeding, shot in cold blood, that kept coming into her head even though she was trying desperately to block it out. ‘Besides, I ought to have been more careful. Justine warned me about Ahmad. I thought it was just her imagination, but she was right.’
‘It’s thanks to Justine that I caught Sashimi before she left,’ Pasha said. He walked across to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of spirits. It was very seldom that he drank anything stronger than wine, but this was a case of need. He was glad to see that his hand did not shake as he poured some of the amber liquid into a glass and sipped it, then tossed the contents back in one go. ‘Had I wasted the night wondering where you had gone…’
‘I suppose they made it look as if I had left you,’ Chloe said. ‘Did Sashimi agree to help you or did you—?’ She broke off as she saw the blaze in his eyes. ‘I mean…’
‘I know exactly what you mean,’ Pasha said, and a little nerve flicked in his cheek. ‘As it happens bribery was enough, but I dare say I might have used force if it was necessary.’
‘Oh.’ Chloe turned away from him. Why was he looking at her like that, as if she were the one who had something to answer? ‘I thought she might have been willing. I believe Ahmad was violent towards her.’
‘She showed me the bruises to prove it,’ Pasha said. ‘I had no idea. If she had told me…’
‘Did she tell you about Lysette?’
Pasha inclined his head. ‘Yes. Did she tell you or was it…?’
‘He told me when I began to realise that he wasn’t taking me to the airport. He tricked me, Pasha. He told me that you were dying. I practically begged him to abduct me like the fool I was.’
‘How could you have guessed what he was planning?’ Pasha frowned at her. Did this mean that she had wanted to see him when she thought he was at death’s door? Hope flickered somewhere deep within him.
‘I didn’t even think twice,’ Chloe said. ‘I was desperate to see you, to tell you…’ The words died on her lips. She had wanted to tell him that she loved him, that she would live with him as his wife again—but how could she say that now?
‘What did you want to tell me?’ Pasha’s eyes narrowed as she shook her head. ‘What is the matter, Chloe? Are you thinking that you can’t live with a murderer? Because that’s what you believe I am, isn’t it?’
‘I know you had good reason to kill him,’ Chloe said slowly, her mouth dry and her stomach tying itself in knots as she stared at him. ‘But why wouldn’t you listen to me? Why couldn’t you just have handed him over to the police?’
‘Would that have made a difference?’ he asked, wondering why he didn’t just tell her the truth. Yet something inside him refused to yield. ‘You had already made up your mind about me, hadn’t you?’
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ Chloe begged. ‘I know that I said terrible things to you—but it was such a shock. It took me a while to come to terms with what you had done—’
‘Planned to do,’ Pasha told her, his face hard. ‘Abdullah got away from my men and went to Paris as I told you. He tried to assassinate the prince but I was mingling with the crowd and he didn’t see me. I wrestled with him, Chloe, and the gun went off. He was killed almost instantly.’ His eyes flickered with some emotion she could not fathom. ‘So I must be a murderer in your eyes already. What difference does one more death make?’
‘That was an accident…self-defence,’ Chloe cried, her voice rising. ‘It makes a world of difference, you must see that, Pasha? What you did was brave and saved your uncle’s life. I could never condemn you for that!’
He bowed his head to her, a sneer on his mouth. ‘I thank you for those kind words, Chloe. How nice that you are prepared to accept that kind of killing…and what a pity that Ahmad’s death cannot
be put down to self-defence. Although it will be, of course. Ahmad, it may surprise you to know, was killed by political terrorists, unknown persons whom the English authorities will never be able to trace.’
‘Is that why you stayed behind—to arrange it?’ Chloe stared at him, feeling relief as well as disappointment. She was glad he was not in danger and yet somehow what he had done seemed to make it even worse. ‘Well, at least I shan’t have to worry that they will hang you.’
‘Oh, no, I don’t think you have to bother about that,’ Pasha replied, his voice as cold as ice. ‘As far as the British are concerned I’ve simply got rid of one more problem, one more fanatic who would have made trouble for them in the future.’
‘Is that how things work?’ Chloe was horrified. ‘I suppose I should be glad that you have friends in high places.’
‘They come in useful at times.’
There was a glint in his eyes that told Chloe he was goading her. Why? Why was he trying to make things worse between them? If he had shown some remorse perhaps…but, no, it was his pride again. His pride had made him fling the truth at her once before, and now it was making him taunt her.
She didn’t know him in this mood at all, and she felt a desperate urge to be free of him. ‘You know I’m going to leave you after this, don’t you?’ she said. ‘Henry wants me to stay with him, and I think I shall—at least until after the baby is born.’
‘Yes, I think that is a very good idea,’ Pasha said. ‘You will be as safe there as anywhere while I make certain arrangements. This isn’t quite over yet, Chloe. Ahmad wasn’t the only one who would like to see the prince pulled down.’
‘You are agreeing to my staying with Henry?’ Chloe was puzzled as she stared at him. Why was he giving in so tamely? ‘For a few months—or are you agreeing to let me go?’
‘I think it’s probably best we part,’ Pasha said, his expression telling her nothing. ‘Given the way you feel about me, there is really little point in my trying to keep you with me.’
