Page 62 of Kismet

The question knocked the breath out of him as if Shaftsbury had hit him with a left jab. Frozen where he stood, he simply stared at his relative, only the man he saw in front of him was his brother. James faced him, berating him for being so stubborn and unwilling to grant a dying man his last wish.

“What do you know of my brother?” he rasped deep and low as he turned away from his cousin’s probing gaze.

“I know that you idolized James,” Shaftsbury said quietly. “I used to envy you having James for a brother. He looked out for you.”

“And my brother is dead because of me,” he choked out. “I was the catalyst that drove my brother to pull the trigger.”

“I don’t believe that.” Shaftsbury shook his head. “James had a choice, and he made the wrong one. Blaming yourself accomplishes nothing.”

“Think what you like.” He rolled his shoulders in a dismissive shrug. “But the only thing you need to concern yourself with is getting Allegra to Othmane before the midday train.”

“Allegra!”

He didn’t need to hear his cousin’s exclamation to know she was behind him. There was something about her that always told him she was nearby, even when he couldn’t see her. When he turned around, he saw Shaftsbury embrace Allegra in a close hug. The sight of her in another man’s arms made his muscles grow taut. Instinct demanded he take back what was his, but he couldn’t. Her life was in jeopardy and he’d forfeit his happiness, even his life to save her.

“What the hell happened to your hair?” Shaftsbury pushed her back slightly, one hand going to her head. Clearly confused by his presence, Allegra remained mute as she looked at him then back at his cousin’s angry expression.

“Did you cut her hair?” Shaftsbury didn’t let Allegra go as he turned his head to glare at him.

“No, Nassar is responsible for that.” Regaining her voice along with her composure, she shook her head as she defended him. She pushed herself out of Shaftsbury’s arms as her lovely gaze flew to meet his. The questions darkening her green eyes made him look away from her. The confusion and fear in her expression were too much for him to bear. Just as he’d destroyed his brother, he was about to destroy her, and he despised himself for it.

“I don’t understand.” She pressed her fingertips into her forehead as if she were struggling to concentrate. “How did you find me? How did you get here?”

“My cousin sent for me.” Shaftsbury nodded in his direction. “He explained everything, Now that I’ve delivered my message, I can go home. And Robert says I’m to take you with me.”

“Robert?” Confused she looked at Shaftsbury with a blank expression.

“Shaheen is my cousin Robert. The man I came to Morocco to find,” his cousin said. “He’s asked me to take you home.”

“Home?” her confusion slowly ebbed away as comprehension dawned on her face.

“But of course, my dear.” Shaftsbury squeezed her hand and smiled at her. “I’m taking you back to England.”

The fiery, obstinate determination that sparked in her beautiful eyes ripped through his heart. He had no choice now. She was about to force his hand, and the thought of what was to come made him close off his expression. He couldn’t let her find one crack in his resolve, and that meant destroying her.