Free The Music Trilogy by Denise Kahn

Greek. Ali shuddered. His eyes were dark and menacing. His nose was distorted as if it had been broken several times, and he had a scar from his cheek to his chin. He was short and stocky; his pace quick and purposeful. Ali felt a chill run down his spine and dropped the box of desserts when the man suddenly pulled out a pistol from under his jacket. Ivan and Sela were kissing. They didn’t see the man until he jumped on the carriage step and aimed his weapon at the groom.
    “ Oomerit! Die! All Royals must die!” The assassin shouted at Ivan in Russian. Ali ran toward the man. Simeon stared, not quite understanding or believing the scene in front of him. A woman, from among the guests, screamed. Ali lunged for the man but the bullet had already left the gun. It hit Ivan in the chest. The assassin turned the gun toward Sela and was ready to pull the trigger but Ali made contact and he and the man fell off the carriage and rolled to the ground. They struggled for the weapon as another shot went off. Ali flew off the man and landed like a discarded rag, blood covering his upper torso.
    It was pandemonium. Women screamed. Men shouted. Many scurried in all directions. Several of the men, now understanding the scene they just witnessed, grabbed the scarred assassin and his gun and subdued him.
    Ivan’s white uniform had turned an ugly crimson. His blood was splattered on Sela’s wedding dress. She held him, crying, screaming: “Ivan, Ivan, don’t leave me, please don’t leave me!” She wailed.
    “You will always be the music of my soul,” he whispered. “Kiss me, my love,” he said, struggling to speak.
    Sela gently kissed his mouth, cradling and rocking him in her arms, until she felt his last breath leave his body and her lips.
     
    ♫

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 10
     
    “I’m leaving Egypt,” Sela announced.
    “You know this could have happened anywhere, in any city of the world,” Simeon said, trying to reason with her.
    “Yes, I know, but I need to do this and right now. I have to get away.”
    “I understand, but where will you go? You were born here; you’ve spent most of your life here.”
    “Yes, and I have loved it,” she said, with a finality that Simeon knew wouldn’t budge.
    “Yes, my darling,” he sighed. He knew he could not change her mind and he feared for her. “Just be sure you are doing the right thing, for the right reasons, and please be careful.” Simeon knew she was a strong and fiercely independent woman. She had been that way since she was a child, but how strong could she be now? “I only want your happiness.” He hugged her. He had tears in his eyes and looked exhausted. Simeon seemed to have aged ten years in the last few horrific days.
    “Yes, Father, thank you. I will come visit as often as I can, and you will come visit me as well.”
    “Of course.”
    Sela looked at her father. To her, he was the epitome of strength and gentleness. He had always been a superb role model and she was grateful for all the love and the wonderful life he had given her. She had never known her mother but Simeon talked about her often. It was the closest she would ever get to the woman who brought her into the world, and Sela had come to love her too in her own way. Simeon had adored and worshipped his wife, but Sela also knew that he would never love another woman as he had her mother. She knew that it would be the same for her. She would never be able to love another man as she had Ivan. She looked at her father. The man was devastated. She was sure the tragedy had brought back many painful memories.
    “Does it get any better, Daddy?”
    Simeon looked at the young woman he adored. His eyes welled up with tears but he held them back. He swore at himself, furious that he could not have prevented the catastrophic events. Furious that he had promised his wife on her death bed that he would always protect their little girl, that she would only have the best of everything and never