Honour

By Anietta Strong

Excerpt from Honour

Inside there was the bustle of a busy pub, the sounds of glasses being collected up, drinks being served but most of all the hum of conversation from those seated at tables throughout the long bar. Jack moved to the bar and waited while a customer before him was served, then the barman turned his attention to him, asking him what he would like to drink. Jack explained he was a guest of Jeera Khan who had a room booked. Jack noticed those within earshot looking his way as a famous name was mentioned. The barman asked him to go to the far end where he would meet him and take him to where lunch awaited him. He had hardly made it to halfway before a hubbub at the entrance caused him to turn and all eyes then focussed on two women, who had just arrived. One woman slightly older wore dark glasses and the same cap the unmistakeable Jeera Khan had worn when she visited Jack the previous evening. He instantly recognised Rashida Shakir trailing slightly behind. The room became hushed, word had obviously circulated that the celebrity Jack had mentioned on his arrival had indeed arrived and the living proof was now walking through the bar at that very moment in time.

‘I think you two have already met?’ Jeera made a backhanded introduction as they took their seats at the table and waited for a waiter to appear with menus.

‘Yes, this is my knight in shining armour I told you about, the man who saved my life. He was such a gentleman too, something I have found in short supply.’ Rashida answered her sister before Jack had a chance to reply.

‘Well, it’s not often you come across a beautiful lady being offered a lift in the boot of a car!’ Jack attempted to inject humour into a subject far too serious to joke about.

‘I hope you didn’t think it was me who set fire the car, not that he didn’t deserve it!’ Rashida replied in haste before being rebuked by her older sister.

‘Not even an arsehole like Azhar deserved that, Rashi!’ Rashida looked downcast and ashamed.

When a man returning home late from a party hears a scream, he feels he must investigate. What he discovers is shocking and sets in motion events which soon spiral out of control, eventually leading to the deaths of innocent people as events play out in the seedy, violent world of drugs and people trafficking. That single, selfless act, brings together two people from different cultures and explores arranged marriage through the eyes of a young woman who refuses to conform; an act of disobedience which puts her own life at risk and all those around her. A fast-moving story follows this young woman's attempts to escape and her love for an older man who saved her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anietta Strong
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005323103

Anietta Strong

Hi, I'm Anietta, I've always loved to write even before my teens. Like most people who built a career and led a busy life,I took up writing seriously when life calmed down, which for me was when my family grew up and left the nest. I love to write about difficult issues, not shying away from areas where some writers prefer to avoid. Yes, they are edgy, maybe sexy too, but that is life. I'm particularly interested in women's issues and my characters reflect my own personality. I hate political correctness, the airbrushing of history, our cancellation society, Woke culture, and speak and write without fear. I hope you enjoy my books.Please note. all characters depicted in my books are over 18 when features in appropriate scenes in each book

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copyright © 2012 Anietta Strong 2021

The right of Anietta Strong to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

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1

A late-night bus rumbled by along an almost deserted road, lit only by intermittent street lighting. Few were on board and it was likely to be the last bus that day, so anyone else seeking to reach their home would have to either walk or take a taxi. A man walking alone had a car, but he’d been to a meeting with friends and he’d consumed far too much alcohol to make the journey home or risk being stopped and found to be over the limit.

Jack Lomax looked over as the bus passed by, he preferred to walk rather than risk being on a bus with late night revellers. Times had changed dramatically since his teens and early twenties while today he felt people, especially men of that age seemed to invite trouble and with all too often dire consequences for anyone caught up in an argument with matters often settled at the sharp end of a knife. The evening had been fun, the first time he’d been out since the conclusion of a messy divorce. His friends, well aware of his situation, had invited a number of women to the gathering. Jack wasn’t stupid, he knew what they were up to, deciding his period of isolation and distancing from women needed to end. He socialised but rebuffed their good intentions.

He was halfway home now and another ten minutes would see him open his front door and get inside, climb the stairs and flop down onto his bed. He wasn’t drunk, just tired from a long day at work and looking forward to a relaxing weekend. A rustling sound in nearby undergrowth startled him, a rat shot out, almost running over his shoes. A sense of revulsion briefly woke him out of a state of over relaxation, bringing him immediately to his senses. There was a scream. This caused him to stop. Another scream. It was coming a little further ahead and to his right, possibly from a turning he was approaching. Jack was on full alert now, deciding to speed up and reach the junction so he could confirm his suspicions that something was wrong; that someone, a woman needed his help.

He reached the turning and looked down. There were the tail lights of a vehicle parked up, and while the lighting was as dim down this road as where he now stood, he could see the boot lid of the car was open and a struggle was taking place. The unmistakable sound of a woman’s voice screamed out words voiced in fear and panic.

‘Get off me, leave me alone!’ That was enough for Jack, while he was always reluctant to get involved in domestic disputes, this looked far more serious. An abduction seemed to be in progress. He started to run towards the scene, shouting himself now.

‘Get off her! Leave her be!’ Whatever was going on immediately stopped. The man, clearly Asian, with a beard now turned, still holding the woman captive but placing her in front as a form of shield. It was his turn to speak now.

‘Everything is fine mate; this has nothing to do with you. My advice is to walk away!’ Jack got even closer, the woman, also Asian wearing western clothes, was struggling to be free. Jack now addressed her.

‘Do you know this man; do you wish to go with him?’ Her reaction was immediate and noisy.

‘Yes, I know him and no, I most certainly do not wish to go with him, he’s trying to abduct me.’ Jack turned back to the man who stared back menacingly.

‘Everything is not fine and you’re not my mate. This certainly is my business, let her go!’ There was a stand-off, a period where the man seemed confused over his next action. He relaxed and when the woman struggled and became free, she moved away and stood behind Jack.

‘You’re going to regret not walking away!’ The man came alive and stepping to one side put his hand in his leather jacket and withdrew a knife which glinted in what limited light there was available.

‘Stand over the other side sweetheart, you’ll be safe there.’ Jack didn’t turn to look at the young woman, someone he suspected was in her early twenties. She moved back, leaving him to deal with a man who was crouched now and starting to move forward. Jack looked slightly to the man’s right and spoke with a calm relief in his voice.

‘Thank goodness you are here officer; you couldn’t have arrived at a better time.’ The attacker stopped and created a distraction by looking in the direction of Jack’s remark. It was just what he had intended and without a second’s delay he moved forward swiftly and delivered an upward kick which landed centrally into the Asian man’s face. He went down like a pack of cards, with the knife sliding across the smooth tarmac surfaced road. He lay still which gave Jack the opportunity to pick up the knife which he deposited in the boot of the car. He quickly walked to the driver’s door and withdrawing the keys threw them into nearby bushes. Finally, he moved over to the man, who he dragged roughly to his feet. He was coming round, which helped propel his momentum towards the open boot which then saw him tipped headfirst into its large empty void. With his legs lifted too Jack moved over to the man who was conscious now. Raising his fist Jack punched him several times, then leaning in he spoke quietly.

‘That mate isn’t for attacking a woman, that is for pulling a knife on me. Goodnight!’ Jack slammed the boot lid down hitting the man’s head in the process. He then looked over at the terrified girl and moved in her direction. ‘Time we were introduced, my name is Jack.’

2

‘My name is Rashida; I don’t know quite how to thank you.’ The woman replied. Jack wasn’t sure quite what he’d got himself involved in but he was pleased he’d intervened. Just then there was a sound of banging and the muffled voice of an angry man, demanding to be set free.

‘I think we need to move from here, if someone walks past, they might wonder why we aren’t helping whoever it is trapped in his car.’ He quickly added a question. ‘Who is he, you said you know him?’ Rashida looked over to where the sound was coming from.

‘I guess I should know him, he’s my half-brother, a total creep!’ Things were beginning to click and fall into place.

‘So, you’ve upset your family, am I right?’ The girl looked up rather fearfully.

‘You could say that. I am supposed to marry a man as part of some deal, my father arranged. I ran away but they traced me. I don’t know quite what I am going to do. I was staying with a friend but my father found out and he sent him to bring me home. I’ve got nowhere to go.’ The girl who was wearing a thin dress was shivering now. Jack stripped off his jacket which he then placed around her shoulders. He had a suggestion.

‘You could come back to mine; you’ll be safe there.’ He realised the predicament he now put her into and added. ‘I promise okay.’ The girl shrugged and Jack moved away back towards the main road on which he had been travelling, stopping briefly to check she was coming too.

‘Make yourself comfortable, I’ll put the kettle on. I’d offer you something stronger but I’ve had enough already and I’d hate you to get the wrong idea.’ Jack went to the kitchen, something had puzzled him throughout and it still bothered him now, it was the first thing he asked on his return.

‘I’m glad I was passing when I did, that must have been terrifying. What on earth were you doing out alone, you weren’t exactly dressed to be outdoors?’ The girl took the cup, she had shrugged off Jack’s coat which was lying neatly folded beside her. She looked up and replied softly.

‘I often walk at night; it gives me time to think. I don’t know how they found me, it’s been a while and I assumed they’d accepted that I wasn’t going to go through with the marriage.’ Jack accepted her explanation, he still found it odd she wore so little on what was a chilly night. He decided to to press the issue, the facts were clear, she was struggling with a man who was clearly intent on forcing her into the boot of his car, the boot he now occupied instead.

‘So, you couldn’t have lived too far away then?’ Jack now sensed slight irritation.

‘I’d sooner not talk about it, do you mind?’ She replied, nursing her cup in both hands and sipping its steaming contents. ‘Nice tea, thank you.’ Jack wondered what to talk about instead, he chose his own failed marriage.

‘That’s fine. I was walking home from a gathering of friends. They had decided it was time I re-joined society instead of moping around inside these four walls.’ The girl smiled.

‘Why would you do that. You seem to be a man who has a lot to offer a girl. You’re a fit, good-looking man, not like the fat slob I was being lined up to marry.’ Jack accepted the flirtatious comment and decided to explain.

‘I’ve just come out of a failed marriage. The divorce was messy and it’s cost me an arm and a leg to hang onto this.’ Jack waved an all-encompassing arm to make it clear he meant the house. ‘My friends had invited a number of unattached women along and they did their best to do some matchmaking.’ Rashida laughed. Her face which had sharp features when she was serious, softened totally when she smiled.

‘I take it you are still unattached; their efforts were in vain?’ Jack, now warming to her, smiled back.

‘Sadly, for them, yes. All that effort had no effect at all. It’s just too early.’ He paused and added. ‘I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a marriage arranged for me, so I guess it must have felt like that for you too?’ Jack reopened a conversation which placed the focus back in the direction of the woman listening intently to every word he spoke. He wondered if she’d deflect this too?

‘For someone like me it isn’t difficult to imagine at all. An arranged marriage is an expected outcome and as a good Muslim girl, hidden from view and untouched by male hands, it’s always a case of when not if. In my case I had known for some time and I knew who my husband was to be. It was meant to take place in Pakistan and travel arrangements had been put in place. I just left for work one morning and didn’t return.’ Jack was surprised by her openness.

‘Where did you go, if you don’t mind me asking?’ The girl placed the cup down on his saucer before she replied.

‘I have an aunt. She wasn’t welcome in the family because she too disagreed with arranged marriages. She was forced into marriage but she was divorced. She knew of my plans to escape and she helped me until I found my own place.’ Jack nodded, it sounded logical and at least she hadn’t pushed the subject away as she had earlier.

‘I can imagine your family weren’t best pleased?’ Jack then asked what was an absurdly obvious question.

‘My phone was red hot with voice and text messages. Telling me I had to return, the honour of the family was at stake. Most came from my mother, she tried a more conciliatory approach, but when that didn’t work the threats came. I heard I was to be killed unless I returned and caught that flight to Pakistan.’ Jack could see the critical importance of his timely arrival and the girl’s fate might already have been decided.

‘Where will you go, surely wherever you lived will now be known, otherwise your half-brother wouldn’t have known where you would have been walking late at night.’ It was a vital question and Jack was unsure what kind of answer, if any would result.

‘I’ll find somewhere. While I am grateful for your help tonight and heaven knows what would have happened to me if you hadn’t come along when you did, I can’t allow you to be involved any further. When they find Azhar, he will want revenge. If they ever find you, they will kill you. I can’t risk that happening.’ Jack could see that himself. He’d given the man a good working over but only because he himself had been threatened.

‘You’ll stay over, won’t you? It’s 1am, it’s already tomorrow. I have a room upstairs you can sleep in, it has a lock, so you’ll be quite safe, not that I’d even think of harming you in any way.’ The girl smiled, she was beautiful and Jack felt an unwanted feeling of attraction forming. He fought against it.

‘That is kind, let me rest my head for tonight and later in the morning I’ll make some calls and I’ll be gone. As for locking my door, I know that won’t be necessary.’ The girl stood, quickly followed by Jack. She moved smoothly past and stopped. She turned, walked back and standing in tip toes she kissed him gently on the lips. She moved back. ‘Thank you.’ She left the room and Jack watched as she mounted the stairs.

3

Jack felt warmth against his body. He always slept naked and whoever had just slid close up to him was naked too. A hand reached around, feeling for his growing erection and when contact was made, he felt a shudder which rippled through his whole body. Jack now reacted and turned, allowing the hand to remain over him, that same hand now gripping his buttocks. Hardly an inch away Rashida looked back at him in the darkness, what light that existed now reflected back from her eyes and her white teeth showing through her parted lips, which if he could have seen them were open with desire.

‘Rashida, what are you doing?’ Jack was amazed by his opening comment. He had assumed he’d have slipped enticingly into her bed. Instead, to his astonishment she had joined him.

‘I wanted to thank you for saving my life, but for you I’d be dead by now, or even worse being transported to Pakistan to marry a man I loathe which would be worse than death.’ She leaned closer and kissed him for the second time, her breath as sweet as a morning breeze.

‘I only did what any man would have done in the circumstances. You have nothing to thank me for, but I’m not sure you should be doing this?’ Her response now was to bring her hand back across his body and seek him again.

‘I want to thank you in the only way a grateful woman can when someone had saved her life, I want you inside me Jack.’ Her lips grazed his again and he felt his member harden further as a slim warm finger encircled its moist tip.

‘I can’t. You must be a virgin, I will remove something far too valuable to lose in a moment of high emotion, something you will regret having lost in the cold light of day.’ Rashida responded almost angrily.

‘My virginity is a curse, it becomes a commodity, something which places a value on my head. Something which will be removed in what amounts at an act of ritual once deals are made or money is paid. I become properly, something sold, or offered to another family member to keep what riches others own from falling into the hands of others. I want to decide who enters my body and when.’ Jack was stunned by the vehemence of her response. ‘Unless you don’t want to? Don’t you want this that I am holding to go inside me Jack.’ Her hands were working now, slowly and with thrilling purpose.

‘Yes, of course, what we are doing now was something I could only dream of doing when I saw you standing on the pavement shivering. How could you imagine for a second I would not?’ Rashida came alive, she kissed him again.

‘Then make love to me, kiss me, put your tongue in my mouth, then enter me and let my blood stain your sheets, do it Jack.’ He responded now, rolling over on top, grabbing both wrists and pinning them on the pillow either side of her head. He leaned down and kissed her for the first time, her mouth opening and their tongues meeting in an energetic union. He then sat up and looked down at Rashida Shakir, who looked back at him, with longing eyes set in a face which was framed by coal black hair which tumbled down over her shoulders to small breasts which needed his attention too. But Jack wanted more, his desire was growing still and he now had just one objective in mind. He moved down sliding between legs which opened in readiness. Both hands moved under each thigh and he lifted her using his thumbs now to peel her apart. His erection now came into line and he felt her moist heat and he knew he was at her opening.

‘Are you sure, this is it Rashida, no going back, just be sure you will not regret this.’ Jack murmured. Waiting for her reply before the final irreversible act of penetration.

‘Fuck me Jack, all the way!’ With that, Jack thrusted forward, Rashida’s nails dug into his shoulders as she cried out in pain!’ Jack jumped, his eyes opening, staring into the darkness. The dream had reached one climax while the wetness he felt was all too clear another climax of a different and more messy kind had just happened and it was that which had woken him. He rolled over, but there was nobody there. He felt the sheets where Rashida would have lain, but the bed was cold. She had never been there. He lay for several minutes, smiling at the futility of his sensual thoughts. It felt ironic that the woman he’d just made love to in a wet dream was lying less than a metre away in the room next to his. The bed in which she lay was just on the other side of its dividing wall.

He got up, first cleaning up his mess before it soaked through and left the mattress stained. He needed the toilet now. Normally he’d have walked naked to the bathroom at the far end of the landing. He was aware he had a guest who might get the wrong idea if she was returning to her bed from the same small room. With dressing gown tightly belted he padded in bare feet to the small room. As he passed, he noticed the door to the bedroom he’d offered Rashida was open. He found it reassuringly trusting. As he passed, he couldn’t resist peering round the door to see her sleeping form. He moved quietly in, making sure he avoided a creaking floorboard at the centre of the entrance. He looked and was stunned. The bed was empty, in fact it had never been slept in.

Jack quickly visited the toilet. After which he descended the stairs, assuming she had decided on the sofa instead. He looked and this was as unoccupied as the bed in his spare room had been. Rashida Shakir was gone. Jack was wide awake now, he went into the kitchen, noticing the two cups which had been used earlier. This now appeared to be the only proof she had ever entered his home, he reflected on the entire evening before wondering if it had all been some weird dream and that moment of climax inside her body was the real end to a night of erotic fantasy. The cup, with the slightest trace of lipstick told otherwise. He switched on the kettle and stood next to the working surface while its contents came to the boil. He then saw a note. He moved forward and read its short message.

"Thanks for everything, it’s best you are not involved. Rashi x"

Jack shook his head, there was so much that just didn’t add up. He still couldn’t understand why she was out so late at night wearing just flimsy indoor clothing. A dress more suited to a party than a moonlit walk along a lonely street. She was reluctant to discuss it too. He looked at the note again and nodded his head slowly. One thing that for sure was the truth in her final words. Not her shortened name or the kiss, even the real one before she fled up the stairs, but the other more telling words. It’s best you are not involved.

Jack made tea; it was approaching 6am. He had hoped for a weekend lie in but fate and recent events had removed that luxurious option. It felt like a normal weekday which would see him drink his early morning tea and take in the news. He reached over for the controller and pressing its power button he heard the click which indicted the television was warming up. The newscaster sat centrally in the screen. There was a headline which drilled attention into his brain. The image showed the car where the violent struggle had taken place late the previous evening, except now it was a burned-out hulk. He turned up the sound.

"Emergency services were called to a blazing