Cairo

Cane had always thought he had an above average ability to see people's real personality with only having met them for a short period of time. In fact, it was one of the few things he prided himself on. But as his arm was grasped so tightly he thought he'd lose blood circulation through it and he was pulled into a small space between two aging houses, he really considered rethinking that notion as he stared up at the face of the woman who'd sneaked into his bedroom only days ago.

She was a ways away from the definition of beautiful, but at the same time, the desperate spark in her eyes and the way that her sweat-soaked hair slightly stuck to the sides of her face, stole the breath from Cane's mouth. When she moved closer, Cane froze in his place. He was easily turned around in a matter of seconds. Her hand snaked over his mouth, her breath tickling the hairs on his neck as she whispered for him to keep quiet.

A rumble of thumping feet vibrated the sides of the houses Cane was held in between. Holding his breath, he shifted his gaze to the ground, watching the mass of feet rush past where he was held captive. When they started to die down and reach the end of the crowd, he shifted his eyes back to the woman holding him tightly in front of her.

"What was that for?" Cane asked, stepping back once she loosened her grip.

"'What was that for?'" Houri's mouth slid into a frown, her face scrunching together. "I don't know if you know about manners, but usually when someone saves you, you thank them, not question what went through their mind when they did."

"Well, I don't trust you."

Houri shrugged. Her face looked bored like his accusations were the least of her worries. "Last time I checked, you didn't trust the Government; I'm not part of it if you haven't noticed."

"You broke into my house—into my room!" Cane yelled. A part of him wanted to thrash his hands about in protest, but the more rational part of his mind reminded him he was in a very narrow gap. "Why the hell should I trust you?"

Again Houri shrugged. "Listen, you can stand here yelling and shouting as much as you want in hopes that maybe my men will actually hear you and come running, but I'd rather not get caught helping you. I'm in enough trouble as it is, so if you're content doing that, you'll soon find my presence somewhere else."

"Why take that risk then."

"Some risks are worth taking."

"Then you've bet wrong."

"Have I?"

The question caught Cane off guard. He took a step back as his eyes washed over the woman in front of him. She looked just about as impatient as she sounded, but it was the way that her eyes darted back and forth that really stood out. She was paranoid. At this point, she was no better than a deer caught in the headlights, about ready to bolt at any second like a skittish cat. He gritted his teeth knowing that she'd played him right into her ploy.

"What do you want?"

His voice was quiet, but it didn't take long for the defeated tone to register in Houri's eyes. "To save you. If Titus and my men got a hold of you, you'd be dead. Xi doesn't wait to get rid of anything in his way, and since you're traveling with Cairo, you're now officially part of what's 'in his way.' But he doesn't actually know yet."

"Know what?"

"That you're our Little Birdie, which is why I'm saving you. Besides that,"—Houri wrapped her arms around herself, shuffling on her feet—"I have something else to discuss with you."

"Couldn't you have done it in a more opportune setting?" Cane asked, looking at her like she was crazy.

All he got in response was a half smirk and another shrug. "No better time than the present, and in the present, this is the best you're gonna get."