Dimitri’s stark relief that Emma was indeed safe warred with his outrage at the thought of her being within the pasha’s harem.
“You brought her to the citadel?”
“Do not hold me accountable.” Rajih shook his head. “She refused to remain at the palace and threatened to come on her own if I did not allow her to accompany me.”
“Ah.” Despite his annoyance, Dimitri smiled at the man’s obvious frustration. “You have my sympathy.”
“I should no doubt have chained her to her bed, but I feared yet another of your enemies might be lurking about to snatch her while I was gone.”
Dimitri refused to react to the deliberate taunt. Soon enough he would be whisking Emma back to St. Petersburg, and his newly constructed town house, where she belonged.
“My supposed enemies will be fleeing Cairo like rats from a sinking ship.”
“Do not be so certain.”
Dimitri tensed, not missing the edge of warning in the man’s voice.
“What do you mean?”
“Despite my preference that you remain conveniently locked behind these walls, Emma was quite insistent I make a personal plea for your release.”
Dimitri grinned. “She must have been quite persuasive.”
“She is aware that I would do whatever necessary to please her.”
“And what pleases her is my release? That must be a painful disappointment for you.”
Rajih waved a dismissive hand. “Emma has a tender heart and she blames herself for your situation. She will eventually see the error of her ways and accept that I offer far more than a Russian criminal can, no matter how great his wealth.”
There was enough truth in the caliph’s accusation to send an unwelcome chill down Dimitri’s spine.
He took pride in what he had accomplished over the years. Why not? How often did a ragged beggar boy actually manage to create his own empire?
But for all his accomplishments, there was no denying that he was the bastard son of a whore and worse, a ruthless criminal who was, for all his fine estates and vast fortune, no better than a common serf.
What woman with the least amount of sense would not prefer a handsome caliph who could not only offer her wealth, but an opportunity to mingle among the finest of society?
Then, squaring his shoulder, he dismissed his unnerving doubt.
Most women would indeed leap at the opportunity to become Rajih’s bride, but not Emma.
She desired many things; a family, a sense of independence, a home, but never wealth and certainly never social standing.
Those were the things that he could offer.
“She will never be yours,” he grated, his hands clenched as he stepped toward the damned intruder.
“Tipova, perhaps you can postpone your urge to challenge the man who is here to plea for our release?” Josef stepped between them, poking Dimitri in the chest. “At least until we are away from this place? There are few prisons I cannot escape from, but this is a fortress.”
Dimitri growled low in his throat, his predatory nature fully aroused. Unfortunately, he could not dismiss Josef’s warning.
For the moment, he had to swallow his pride and accept whatever assistance Rajih was willing to offer.
“Have you spoken with the pasha?” he asked between gritted teeth.
The Egyptian smiled. “I have.”
“You explained that Valik was in this country to auction young girls?”