As Dark As Dusk( Dangerous Stranger Book 3)

Chapter 3

I shouted and pulled Dana behind me. In middle of the market, I knew it is our best way to escape rather than to draw my dagger I always keep with me. It will draw unnecessary attention on me and it was the last thing I want to happen now. 

Because in this world, women are supposed to be meek and fearful. Not brave and courageous. Mr. Rodriguez may have accepted me that way, but others will not and I do not wish to bring shame upon my sister or make her face the things I have.

The men closed in backing us up in the alley. I knew they wanted to harm us, or capture us. The reason was we look wealthy and I know they know exactly who I am. By the corner of my eyes I saw Ibrahim closing in. But before he can reach us someone else did. He was on horseback and I saw him with a whip which he skilfully wrapped around neck of the leader pulling him backwards until he fell to the ground.

The man unmounted from his horse and walked towards the bandit who was on the ground trying to breathe. But he pulled his whip towards him so fast it cut through the bandit's skin. I was suddenly very afraid of what he was about to do. Even if I had lived and breathed in company of many dangerous men specially Mr. Rodriguez, I still am very afraid. Then he begin hitting him as the man struggled to breathe, he looked at me with a sense of fear begging for mercy. "Please Sire, he will die, that is enough punishment for the man." I tried to intervene.

"Trust me my lady I am going easy on him. If it was one of my regular days, he wouldn't have any skin left on his body." I heard the bandit speak for mercy, he can barely speak and his fellow men had abandoned him, afraid to suffer the same fate as him. And then he pulled out his gun and shot the bandit right between the eyebrows. "I have given you mercy, it is because of the two ladies here, and ladies shouldn't be threatened like this."

I can feel Dana trembling behind me. "It is alright, I have a carriage, I can take you both wherever you wish to go. It is a gentleman's promise," The man said. "You killed him" Dana spoke finally. "Yes, I did, because if I didn't you both wouldn't have returned home tonight my ladies, and besides such filthy low lives doesn't deserve to exist at the same place as us." I beg to differ. He is a human too. And what you did was inhumane. Even Mr. Rodriguez doesn't do it. He never hit someone so badly just for sheer pleasure of it. He isn't a monster.

"My lady, are you alright?" Ibrahim asked looking at me and my sister. "I am fine Abe." "A slave? He is a fine one, I can see that your taste and mine matches up. But you should teach him some manner. He should not look you in the eye and converse this freely. Discipline is the key My lady, I can discipline him for you." He showed me the whip. Never.

"Ibrahim is not my slave, he is my friend and he chose to be with me, to protect me, not because I own him, because of the bond we share, so him being concerned is natural." I replied. "I understand you being generous, but they always slip up, remember loyalty is not always your saviour my lady." I nodded,

"thank you for your assistance, as you Can see my sister is very ill and we already have a carriage." I said. He took my hand and placed a kiss on back of my palm. "Until we meet again than My lady, I will look forward to change your opinion about me." Ibrahim almost unsheathed his sword. "My lady already is engaged to my Saheb," I placed my hand over Ibrahim's shoulder. "Even if that is the case, nothing is set on stone is it Lady?" With that said, he mounted his horse and rode off. "Who was he? And why do I feel like you know him Abe?" I asked.

"I do my lady, but he doesn't recognize me. He never saw me, I did. He is the un-proclaimed owner of Saheb's rival the Canary Company. The son of the current Owner of the establishment. And he also was involved with the Virginia Company few years back. I think he still is. You should be careful around him. He is not very trustworthy," Ibrahim warned me.