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Chapter Text

The speakeasy was lively. Patrons were sitting, or dancing, or standing. The jazz band was in full swing with Amos Kane in the middle of a solo. And yet Zia didn't know what she was doing there. Yes, she knew her mission: Figure out the owners of the speakeasy, find evidence of illegal alcohol, and return to Desjardins to let him take care of the rest. What she didn't expect was to see was a man like no others she's seen before. But that's not what's important, she had to stay focused.

She knew Amos had a connection to the owners, apparently being their uncle. She made her way over to the stage, waiting for the band to lull. She took a drink from her whiskey highball, much preferring the lemon notes of the drink over the fruiter drinks that filled the rest of the menu. Yes, she was supposed to be helping crack down on illegal alcohol but that doesn't mean she can't use it to blend in, Menshikov be damned. And thankfully, now was her moment to strike.

"Ah, Sir, my name's Zia Rashid, I quite like your music, it's quite ritzy. Might I know what your name is?" She held out her hand like any lady with half a mind would, smiling as Amos dips down to place a soft kiss to the back of her gloved hands. His voice was a smooth as a good bourbon, almost as deep as his bari sax in tone. "Amos Kane, pleasure to make your acquaintance this fine evening, Mrs. Rashid." Zia laughed, amused that he assumed she was married. "Miss Rashid, not Mrs."

Amos seemed taken back, but he smiled, "That's surprising, a tomato like yourself surely has a man waiting on her, no?" Zia smile curtly, "No sir, I fear not." "Ah, I see, I see. Well, if you're interested I have a nephew who's in need of a dame." That piqued Zia's interest, this could be the lead she needed. " A nephew you say? Is he here tonight?" Amos shook his head softly, "No, he's out on business, but his sister is. Little Miss Sadie over there, the one with the braids. Talk to her, she knows her brother's schedule better than I do." Zia nodded, "Thank you, sir, I suppose I will go pay her some mind. It was nice speaking to you." "Likewise."

And like that he was back on stage getting ready for his next set. Zia finished off her drink and made her way over to the young girl Amos had pointed at. "Are you Miss Sadie Kane?" Zia spoke softly, thinking of how to beat get her information. The sandstone skinned girl turned on her heels and smiled at Zia. "Why yes I am, and you are?" "Zia, Zia Rashid. It's nice to make your acquaintance this evening. I was wondering when your brother will be back." Sadie looked perplexed, blinking a few times. "He should be back within the week, why?" Zia smiled, "Well, your uncle, Mr. Amos over there, implied he wanted to set me up with your brother and told me to speak with you."

Sadie snorted then began to laugh, tears pooling in her cerulean eyes. "Oh that's hilarious! Uncle Amos truly has a sense of humor!" Sadie continued to laugh until she noticed Zia had an eyebrow raised. "He was being serious?" Zia nodded, "I would only imagine he was, why wouldn't he be?" Sadie held back a laugh before responding, "Oh… It's because my brother is not someone you'd wanna date. A sister as beautiful as you would make my idiot of a brother trip over himself." Zia's eyes sparkles in amusement at that, a small smile spreading across her face.

"And why would that be? If I may ask, since you're so knowledgeable about your brother." Sadie took a deep breath in like she was going to go on a tangent, "First, he's nothing special. Second, he's a giant nerd and would bore you to dead. Third, he is straight up a loser and has not a single clue about wooing a woman. Fourth, he focuses more on his work than anything else so you'd barely get any time with him. Finally, you're far too much of a catch to be dating someone like my brother."

"Oh? You think I'm keen?" Zia covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled a little. Sadie blushed lightly, nodding. "Yes, I do, is that a problem?" She seemed to get a little defensive, making Zia laugh harder. "No, no, I'm… How do you say… Bisexual as Charles Gilbert Chaddock called it." Sadie's mouth formed into an 'O', as if she had caught on. "I see, me too, that's swell. Well, if you really are interested in my brother than I suppose I can see what I can do… Though I'm almost certain you won't be. Even then, you never know. He'll be back in two days. Until then… I supposed you can do some work around here." "Oh? I supposed I could… What would I be doing?" Sadie thought for a moment before responding, "Can you sing?"

Zia smiled, "Yes, I can. Though I don't know if I can sing how is needed, I sing mostly in Arabic, folk songs from my home country." "Oh, where are you from?" "The Kingdom of Egypt." Sadie just nodded her head, "Ah, British rule, right?" Zia nodded. "Yeah, my mom's British so I spent some of my early years around my grandparents while my parents did their work." "Ah, I see." Zia replied, smiling thoughtfully at the girl. "Well, I can at least try to sing how is needed, I'm assuming it's a jazz style and that I'll need to practice with the band?" Sadie nodded, a grin spreading across her face, "Yeah, I'll talk to Amos about and see what he thinks about it, in the mean time you can just stay here or grab a drink or dance a little. Up to you."

Sadie then began walking away, waving with a mischievous grin Zia supposed she was going to get used to quickly. Zia looked over the crowd of people, noting that it seemed as though there were people from all over in the speakeasy. There was a small group of white people in one corner and others scattered about, but the majority of patrons were from all different cultures, Latinos, African Americans, Asians, Arabs, and much more. Zia could see herself actually enjoying the environment of this place, if it wasn't her job to shut it down that is.

Chapter Text

It was a casual night at The Jazzy Canary. Not as many people as usual considering it was a weeknight. But there was a certain air to the night that Sadie couldn’t quite place. It was the day before her brother got home, things had been running smoothly, but nothing interesting had happened that night. Even on their slow nights, The Jazzy Canary has something happen. Weather its gossip being spread or problems with the cops, Sadie always deals with something. But it had been drab today. Not even her day job had been interesting. Well, your job can only be so interesting as a mortician. And yet somehow, not a single intriguing thing had happened. And boy did it make Sadie completely bored. There was no music being played other than a record, after all there were certain hours the band played.

And yet, the universe decided to give her something interesting to do. She didn’t notice him at first, to busy with trying to find something to do with her down time. A man in his mid-to-late twenties, polished-looking, and definitely within her tastes. His suit was definitely tailor made and hand pressed. Although Sadie had grown up with money and still has a lot, it was obvious this man had a lot more money than most people. She had heard about him merely in whispers. “Death follows him.” “I heard he got all his money from shady off market deals.” “His father was a royal of some kingdom in the east.” “He’s friends with politicians.” “He’s a fallen off actor.” She had never really paid attention all too well if any of them had been true, wasn’t her business after all. Her father was a famous archeologist and her mother was a model. All famous people had made up stories about them, why would he be any different? All she really knew was that he lived in The Great Neck, had some posh mansion, and his name? Anubis Nabil.

“Well, what’s a dame like yourself doing in a joint like this?” His voice was smooth, in the middle of low and high. Something akin to cashmere or silk perhaps. Expensive sounding but not sharp. “Well I run this place, if that’s what you want to know.” She replied, giving him a sideways look. If this man really had his wits about him then he’d know not to just flirt with any woman he sees, but Sadie did suppose with that much money someone would have some screws loose. “Oh, my apologies Ms. Kane. You see, I’m here to discuss some things with your brother. Is he in by any chance?” Anubis leaned against the bar, earning a slight glare from Jaz. Sadie took a sip of her drink, tilted her head to the side, and gave out a small laugh. “Wouldn’t you like to know? He’s currently out on business, but he should be back later this evening. If you need to speak about the business, you can speak to me. Otherwise, I can’t help you.” Despite her best efforts, she knew her tone came out as a little cold and sarcastic. Especially considering the look on Mr. Nabil’s face. He was a looker, that’s for sure, but he certainly wasn't the smartest.

He stood there for a few long moments, opening and closing his mouth a few times. “Well- I-” Sadie put her hand up. “Oh I get it, you think because I’m a woman I’m not as competent as him? Is that it?” She crossed her arms, giving him a look of curiosity. “By no means did I mean that, Ms. Kane. I just, Carter never really mentioned that you help run this nifty place.” That earned an amused smile from Sadie. “He never really does. It’s fine though. What would you like to dicuss Mr. Nabil?” She spoke calmly, her demeanor changing quick enough that it probably gave Anubis whiplash.

“Oh uh, I was meant to talk to your brother about ways I could support this fine joint. I don’t want people of your trade to end up in the big house, considering you’re keeping us all afloat and all.” Anubis spoke clearly, his original demeanor coming back. “Well I don’t assume we need your types doing such a thing. We make enough money to do all that ourselves.” It wasn't a suprise to Sadie. There was a new man here every month trying to “support them financially” but Sadie saw through them all. Well, Anubis seemed to be genuine at least. The rest were flatfoots.

“Oh well I wasn’t expecting that your bother-” “I know what my brother says. He’s an overparanoid man. I know my way around all of this. Although I wouldn’t be opposed to other types of business in the future, money is not a thing I accept here. Creates tensions.” To Sadie, it was a clear option. Getting money from someone causes you to be indebted to them. and there was no way she was letting that happen to them. “I see. Well, I’ll take my leave then.” Anubis nodded curtly. “Why not stay for a drink? It would be useful to know the other owner of this place after all.” Those words made Sadie kick herself internally. Sure, she thought he was a keen guy, but it just made her sound desperate. “I don’t see why not. Have no place to be for a few hours after all.”

A drink turned into around five. Simple chatting, getting to know each other. Sure, he was being mysterious but nothing Sadie minded. She had dated guys with more guarded pasts then a vault in a national bank so this was nothing new. Only thing she found odd was his tendency to look over his shoulder. It wasn’t obvious at first but he did it every 10 minutes. He was certainly odd, but Sadie never minded an odd man. After all, her uncle was perhaps the most confusing man she had ever met. Despite that, things were going well and the conversation was engaging.

Suddenly, Carter came running through the door looking a little out of breath. “I asked out Zia.” “You did what now?” Sadie gave him a sideways look. Her nerdy, annoying brother somehow landed a looker like Zia? Must be a horrific joke. “You must be pulling my leg.” “I am not.” Well that was certainly a surprise. “Well, I’m not letting you embarass me so I insist on helping you get ready. I will not have you running our name through the mud by being terrible with women and fashion.”

Chapter Text

Zia didn't exactly know what she was thinking when she said yes to Carter asking her on a date. But she wasn't hating it, at least. He's a gentleman, something that is hard to come by these days. She had assumed Sadie was exaggerating when speaking about him, and she was. But he was, surprisingly, the exact type of man Iskandar had told her to find before he died. Considerate, attentive, empathetic, mature, and everything else she had dreamed of since she was young. He was perfect… too perfect. She wondered when she'd find out what was wrong with him.

"Yeah, I have a degree in archeology and Egyptology, following in my parents' footsteps." Carter said with a bright smile before continuing, "I'm actually descended from Narmer on my dad's side and from Ramses II on my mom's, isn't that cool?" Zia nodded, a smile on her face that had been there so long her face was starting to hurt. "Yeah, it is. If you follow my maternal line up far enough through the generations of only daughters you'll find one of Nefertiti's daughters." Carter seemed a little shocked, his smile wavering for a second before he smiled again.

"That explains why you're so dazzling, just as she was. I see a lot of similar features between her bust and your face." That made Zia blush lightly, she had never been complimented like that. Well, she never had friends growing up because after her parents gave her away-since they couldn't take care of her-she hadn't been around people her age until they moved to Brooklyn when she was eighteen. They had moved when the revolution started partly for safety and partly because Iskandar was a business partner to Desjardins and Menshikov and their business needed more stability with them running the French and USSR branches and no one to run the American one.

"Why thank you, Carter, your sister made you out to be much worse than you actually are." Zia laugh gently. Carter rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, that's what happens when you have a little sister. Do you have any family?" Zia paused, her smile disappearing for a second before returning, "My biological parents live in Egypt and my adoptive father lives here in New York with me. He's a bit older in his years so I take care of him when he needs it. Other than that I have no siblings. I have paternal aunts, uncles, and cousins but I'm not close with them or really any of my family in Egypt." Carter seemed to pick up on the longing in her voice, softly placing a hand on hers before speaking, "Maybe one day we can visit Egypt and see your parents."

Zia looked at him incredulously, blinking a few times. "Are you sure?" "Absolutely I am, why?" A small smile bloomed on Zia's lips after a moment, "I'm not sure you'll like it, it's a very small town by the Nile. It's very sandy and hot." Carter just laughed, "Well that sounds just about like home, considering I plan on mostly working in Egypt." "Are you sure? Its not very pleasant for those not from there." Carter nods, smiling. " Yeah, I'd love to see the village that such a dish came from."

"Wow… Well, it's called Makan al-Ramal al-Hamrah, or the place of red sands in English. It's as it sounds, very sandy. My father was Islamic and my mother was kemetic. They were, from what little I remember, great. Interesting, sure, but they wanted me to know I had a choice in life even if I lived in an area that women had a very specific path in life." Carter just nodded, soaking in her words with a smile. Since they were trading stories anyway he decided to tell her his story.

"I see… Well, I'm sure it's beautiful. I grew up in California with my parents until my parents decided to focus a little more on their work. Since I was old enough I traveled with them but Sadie was left with our grandparents. Then, when I was fourteen, my parents decided I needed to get a formal education and took Sadie and I to our uncle's place here in Brooklyn." Zia was intrigued, he really was more well traveled than most. She smiled softly, wanting to get to know him more.

"What languages do you speak? I speak English, Arabic, some French and some Russian." Carter lit up a little at that, seemingly excited to speak about the languages he speaks. "English, of course, but I also understand conversational Arabic and a few words here and there in a bunch of other languages. My father and mother spent a lot of time in Egypt since my mother is an egyptologist and my father focuses on Egyptian archeology." Zia smiles, taking a sip of her drink that the waiter had just brought.

"Interesting… What about you? What's your career path?" "Same as my pops, archeology. Though right now I'm building up some money to do it. Yeah, my parents are rich, but I won't have access to their money until they pass so I have to build my own wealth. Ergo, the speakeasy. People pay a pretty penny to dip the bill in these days." Zia decided not to say anything in reply, simply sipping her drink.

They continued for the next few hours like this, talking, sharing their lives, Zia trying not to give herself away, and Carter defusing her with smiles and witty remarks. She had to admit, he was attractive and stupidly smart. But she had a mission to do, and that was a non-negotiable. So, she had to stay closed off, had to keep herself from falling for him. But damn was it harder than she thought it was. If it was so hard now, how hard would it be a few months down the line after she had collected her evidence? She didn't want to think about it.

Chapter Text

With Carter on a date, it left Sadie in charge on their busiest night of the week. Friday nights were always busy at the Jazzy Canary but this one was more than that. It was so packed that Amos and his band had to play a little louder than normal so their sound would carry over all the chattering bodies. But money is money, even if it meant Sadie backing up Jaz at the bar. Jaz had been chatting to her all night about how a friend of hers was meant to come a visit and all Sadie could do was think about Anubis and how charming he was. Sure, Carter would probably not agree with her pursuing him so he was absolutely off the table, despite her desire.

It had been three years since Sadie had dated. Three years since the speakeasy had picked up and needed her to dedicate more of her time to it. Sure, she mourned her love life and what it had been but it had been for the best. After all most of the men she had been meeting really weren't attractive and were quite boring anyways. Well, all the men except Anubis. She really had to get him out of her head before it became a problem. Which would likely be hard considering he insisted on being involved in The Jazzy Canary in some form.

Either way, in the middle of making a drink, someone caught her eye. A man around her brothers age, dressed in a white button up, brightly patterned vest, and matching pants. There was a light smile on his face, one not entirely noticeable to just anyone. But Sadie wasn’t just anyone, she had a keen eye, especially when it came to attractive men. He made his way to the bar, squeezing through people with a certain elegance, until he was right in front of Sadie. She had just finished serving the patron their drink, an aviation(her signature drink), when he spoke.

“May I trouble you for a drink Miss?” His voice was a tad husky, though sweet like honey. It sent a small shiver down Sadie's spine. “What would you like Sir?” She gathered herself, making sure her tone was level. “A Martinez if you will.” With a nod, Sadie began to make it. It was simple enough, gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, a bit of angostura bitter and an orange peel to garnish. It sweet and easy to sip, good for a long night out. A good choice in Sadie's opinion. “Here you go.” She said, handing it to him with a smile. Oh god, she smiled at him. She never did that with customers. He set a $0.50 on the counter.

“So, what’s a dame such as yourself doing working at a place like this?” He asked, taking a slow sip of his drink. “I own this place with my brother. I’m just behind here since the night is so busy.” Sadie had zero clue why he continued to speak to her, but it wasn’t terrible. Maybe she could get to know him. “The name’s Sadie, Sadie Kane.” She extended her hand to shake his. He took it, responding with, “Walt Stone.” He had a simple but lovely name. Maybe her brain could replace Anubis with him. That sounded like the easier option.

“It’s not usually this busy on Friday night. It’s busy, sure, but never completely packed. I assume people heard about our new singer. She’s not here tonight though. On a date.” Small talk was probably her best option, considering her brain was barely working with how he was looking at her. Slightly intense, very obviously intrigued by her words. Walt let out a light hum. “I haven’t been here in a few months. I was wondering what had made my favorite joint was hitting on all eight. You all must be making a lot of dough.” He replied, slightly amused. “We sure are.” “Well, I outta leave you be. Nice meeting you, Ms. Kane.” A small bit of disappointment ran through Sadie. “I suppose so. Nice meeting you as well. Have a nice night.”

He disappeared off into the crowd, leaving Sadie to make drinks once again.

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At the end of the night, while cleaning up, Sadie started talking to Jaz about Walt. “And what’s his name?” “Walt Stone.” “Sister, there is no way.” Jaz replied, earning a confused look from Sadie. “What do you mean?” Jaz let out a laugh, looking directly at her. “I’m friends with him. I did not see him.” “I definitely met him. He said that was his name, I have no reason to believe he’d lie to me.” Sadie crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at Jaz. “Alright, describe him to me then.” “Well, he was tall. Had mahogany skin, onyx eyes, and raven black hair. His voice was gruff and sweet like honey. And he was very charming.” Jaz’s skeptical look melted quickly. “Well maybe you did. Huh.”

They stayed silent for a few moments before Sadie spoke up again. “I’m thinking about asking him on a date next time I see him. I know I’m busy with this place but I’m sure he could handle it.” Jaz burst into laughter, doubling over. Sadie hit her lightly. “What’s so funny?” Jaz took a moment to collect herself, small giggles coming out between deep breaths. “We it’s just that he’s dating Mr. Anubis Nabil. Your business partner.” The look of shock on Sadie’s face caused Jaz to begin to laugh again.

“Please tell me you’re pulling my leg.” “I am not. Walt and I have been friends for a few years now. Sure it’s a little taboo but when has our circle ever been ones to abide by societies rules?” That part is true. Sure, being mixed wasn’t illegal but life was certainly harder. Let alone that Sadie was a bisexual woman. And she had a penchant for breaking rules anyway. “Obviously I don’t have a problem with that Jasmine. My problem is that neither of the men I fancy are available!” Sadie said, slightly exasperated.

“Well, I will tell you one thing. As your best friend and ex-girlfriend of course. They’ve never been opposed to a third. You’d have a chance if Carter wasn’t so against mixing business and pleasure. Oh wait, isn’t he currently on a date with Zia?” Well that was true. It was extremely hypocritical of him but he’d always been that way with Sadie anyway. Extremely protective. It’s not that Sadie wasn’t glad for it, considering she had dated some real interesting men and women in the past. But it didn’t mean she had terrible taste. Jaz, Walt, and Anubis were proof enough of that.

They finished cleaning in relatively comfortable silence, making little jokes here and there until they turned in for the night. Slipping into her two piece pajamas when she got home, Sadie did her nightly routine. Nothing fancy but it was to her liking. Falling asleep was certainly a bit more difficult with two extremely attractive and interesting men on her mind.

Chapter Text

Zia sat on her bed, looking at a gorgeous deep blue dress that she was supposed to wear for her father's annual mayoral gala but she couldn't bring herself to put it on. She heard a knock on her door before it opened, Iskandar coming into the room. "Zia, habibi, what's wrong?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and she leaned into his touch. She took a deep breath, wondering how much she should tell him.

"Baba… What do you do when someone is telling you to do something you don't want to do?" Iskandar paused, turning her to face him. "Well, it depends. If your heart isn't in it then it's not worth it." He smiles softly at her, cupping her cheeks with his hands and swiping his thumbs across them. "And if Vlad and Michael are telling you to do something then know that you can come talk to me about it and I'll talk to them. You may not be little anymore but that doesn't mean you don't need me, my Zia." A smile bloomed on Zia's lips at her words, feeling comforted.

"I know Baba… I'm going to get dressed now, I'll be out in a few minutes." Iskandar smiled and stepped away, "Okay, I'll be waiting for you." He turned before exiting the room, leaving Zia alone once more. She took in a deep breath, slipping out of her casual wear and getting into the dress. It was beautiful, that much was clear, but she couldn't help but let her mind wonder. Mainly to a certain charming man.

After that particularly boring party, Zia decided it was only smart to go to the speakeasy to continue her work. She decided to stay in her dress, wondering the reaction it will have on her "boyfriend". They were technically dating after their first date but Zia wasn't actually in love with him, this was just for information. And yet she couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her. It was… interesting, she had never been looked at like that in her entire life. Sure, men had looked at her, but never like this.

He looked at her as though she were something precious, something to be worshiped and revered. Most men just looked at her as if she was created only to serve them, but never Carter. He always seemed interested in whatever she had to say and respected her wishes, no matter what they were. She couldn't help but wonder if the other men in his family were similar in their respect. She knew that his uncle was, she spent plenty of time with him when she practiced with the band. But she wondered if his father was like that, if his grandfathers were like that.

It was an interesting concept to her, how men could be this respectful when the only man in her life that had been like that in recent memory was Iskandar. He respected her opinions and her spaces, while Desjardins and Menshikov acted as if she was still a child. Other men in her life were just as disrespectful, but not Carter, never Carter. She appreciated that about him and it meant that if she had to get married to him to get the right information that she wouldn't be with the worst person in the world.

She entered the speakeasy and walked over to Carter's office, knocking on the door lightly before entering the room. Carter immediately stood up from his chair, a smile on his face as he carefully wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her close to him. "Zia, it's been too long since I saw you." Zia laughed, relaxing into his touch like it was second nature. "It's been not even 24 hours, Carter." He simply smiled wider, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It felt like a fortnight, is that so wrong?"

Zia giggled softly, deciding to indulge him even if they weren't actually dating. If she had to indulge him a little to get the info she wanted, who said she can't have fun with it? "Yes, it is. You're acting as if I left the country for five months when I was gone for 12 hours." Carter just laughed, pressing another kiss to her forehead. "So? Either way, you have to go up on that stage to sing your little heart out my canary."

He placed one last kiss to her forehead before leading her out of the door and guiding her over to the stage. Amos moved over and allowed her to take her place at the mic, doing one of the signals for the songs to her and the rest of the band. Zia smiles, introducing the song to the crowd before beginning to sing along to the band. The people of the speakeasy seemed to have taken a liking to her since she began to sing with the band, many people even complimenting her on her voice.

But no one's compliments meant more to her than Amos', mostly considering he was one of the best musicians she knew and they seemed to fall in perfect harmony with each other. It was always interesting, how Amos would follow when Zia decided to do something fun with the song and vice versa, to the point that Sadie was getting jealous of their bond. "He's my uncle Zia, not yours. I'm his favorite!" She would say as if it would change anything, only causing Amos to laugh softly as he explained that he didn't have a favorite.

Zia was also getting closer to Sadie, the two becoming close friends. And, much to Zia's amusement, she had met a man Zia was more than familiar with. Anubis. Sadie would go on and on about him and Zia could only laugh, not allowed to let her know that they knew each other. And yet Zia only got more and more endeared towards this family. Her job was getting hard, and it was happening far too quickly for her liking. Something was bound to mess everything up.

Chapter Text

The one night Sadie affords herself every two weeks to care for herself and she’s invited to a party. There goes a night of candle lit baths and gothic literature. No matter, it was a party hosted by Anubis. And well, from what Sadie had heard, they were quite a riot. Long nights of dancing, drinking, and food as far as the eye could see. It was truly a testament to nouveau riche culture. Sadie didn’t quite understand it, coming from a relatively old money family, but that didn't mean she didn’t enjoy it. A loud party was her type of place. After all, The Jazzy Canary had been her idea in the first place. A place where girls like her can get wild without a worry of societal expectations.

Either way, her hair and makeup were done. Now it was just time to choose an outfit. One of her nicer outfits, but not the nicest. A little ritzy and glamorous, sure, but not super flashy. Red in color to match her lipstick. It also drew attention to her, something she enjoyed. Especially at large parties. There so intimate, at small parties there’s no privacy after all. Either way, she was dressed and ready. And, ready to pick up Zia. After all, her and Anubis knew each other so she was also invited.

Sadie hadn’t really anticipated being invited but she supposed it make sense. The music was decently loud and certainly interesting, nothing unusual for a new money party. The drinks were decent, nothing flashy like at the Canary but not bad. The champaign was probably the most drinkable though. The rest were………. well………. there were truly no words to describe the odd flavor combinations. Overall, not exactly the best first impression for a party. But that didn’t mean it was terrible. There was still the promise of seeing either of the two men she was interesting in and the night was young a free. Truly anything could happen at a party hosted by Anubis. Or well, that is what she had been told.

It wasn’t long before she bumped into someone she knew. Michel Desjardins. One of the worst people to meet as someone running a speakeasy. He and Menshikov were the main leaders of the prohibition in New York and the ones to close down countless speakeasy’s. But Sadie wasn’t afraid of him. She had dealt with far scarier man than fairy who insisted on wearing fur every where he goes. “Mr. Desjardins. What brings you to a party like this?” She kept her tone light and curt, despite wanting to absolutely tear him a new one. “Oh, just ensuring everything is in order. You know how big parties can be, Ms. Kane. Great places for illegal activity.” He voice was akin to putting your ears through a cheese grater and then listening to nails on a chalk board. Absolutely horrendous. A little haughty, and definitely annoying.

“Well I assure you I won’t be up to any of the sort. I’m a good girl. Clean record and good family.” That was a lie. Her uncle had to convince the last mayor to expunge her record. It wasn’t anything truly bad, but she had a tendency to ignore laws she found annoying or useless. Like not being allowed to shop alone or not being able to wear pants. Hell, even the time she openly flirted with a man in public. Simple stupid laws that make no sense to her. But he didn’t have to know that. No one really did except her family and the police department workers who were assigned her cases.

“Well, I suppose I should tell you to have a good night then.” He gave her a curt nod before being engulfed by the sea of people. The rest of the night was spent with a drink in hand, chatting with Zia, and enjoying her time. There were a few times where she flirted with some guys or chatted up girls, but nothing to serious. Just a small form of entertainment while looking around for Walt or Anubis. And she finally did.

No Anubis, but Walt. She quickly made her way over to him, almost tripping over her own feet due to a mix of alcohol and rushing. “Walt! Hi!” She greeted, making it to him. He was talking to a younger woman, someone around 20 or 21. “Walt, who’s this?” “Oh, she is someone Anubis works with. Sadie Kane. Sadie, this is my younger sister Nadine.” Well that was a surprise, but nothing terrible. “It’s nice to meet you” Sadie said, sticking out her hand for Nadine to shake it. Nadine took it, her grip a little scared but firm. They shook hands for a few moments, Nadine letting go before Sadie. Sadie had always been taught to leave a handshake last. It was important to ensure respect.

“Well I’m sure it was nice meet her, Ms. Kane, but your brother requests that you get home.” That was a voice she hadn’t heard in a while. Bes, her families chauffer and closest confidant. If anything, he was similar to a Consiliearge except minus the whole Mob thing. “Can you tell him to stop breathing down my neck on the days I choose to have off? I’m getting sick of him sending you early into a night of revelry.” Bes let out a half annoyed, half endeared noise. “It’s not my job to be the message man, I’m just meant to drive you around and listen to your worries that aren’t family related.”

“I suppose I must go. It was nice meeting you Nadine. And nice seeing you again Walt.” Sadie said, a small smile on her face while looking at Walt. And he smiled back. Oh, he smiled back. That certainly wasn’t going to play in her head for the nexxt few days on a loop. Bes, as if knowing she was down bad for him, decided to pull her away before she could dig herself and early grave. He got Zia and then dropped them off at their respective homes. Sadie couldn’t get it out of her mind.

He had smiled at her. Smiled. Him. At her. If that wasn’t the best thing that had happened that month besides meeting and Anubis she had no clue what could ever top it.

Chapter Text

What Zia wasn't expecting for a day with Sadie was going to one of Anubis' parties. She was in one of her fancier dresses, spending time with her best friend while she gushed about the host. "Sadie, I'm gonna stop you right there, he's not that hot." Sadie scoffed, looking offended. "What do you MEAN? He's literally my dream guy." Zia just laughed, taking a sip of her drink. "He's nothing special, just a rich guy who throws parties." "EXACTLY!" That made Zia laugh more.

"Sadie, sweetie, you'll learn with time what life is really about." "But you're literally only a year older than me." "And even then I understand certain things about life that you and your brother lack. Face it, you have more to learn. Besides, behind every rich man is a family with secrets and scandal." Sadie seemed to think about that for a second, taking a sip of her own drink. "I guess… But still!"

Zia smiled, taking Sadie's hand in her own. "Sadie. Think about it, you could have a monster of a mother in law, do you really want that?" "No…" "Then take my advice, get closer to him, truly close, and then do as much research as you can on his family and get close to them. You'll thank me later." Sadie simply nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "Okay… Well, I'm gonna go dance and socialize." She said as she finished her drink in one sip and got up. Zia simply waved, leisurely sipping on her own drink still. What she didn't expect was for Menshikov to approach her,

Her posture went rigid and she looked at him with a fiery gaze. "Menshikov, lovely to see you here. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He held up his hand, "Away with the formalities Zia, you know why I'm here. How goes the operation?" Zia sighed, "I'm dating the older of the two and am getting close to the younger and their uncle. I think I have to get closer to get more info, perhaps even marry him." Menshikov nodded, a smirk spreading across his face.

"Then marriage will happen. And remember, a peep about this to Iskandar and Desjardins and I won't hesitate to spill everything, got it?" Zia simply nodded, looking to the ground until he walked away. She finished her drink and got up quickly to get another, hoping to get enough of a buzz to enjoy the rest of her evening.

But as she made her way over to the table, a man approached her. "Hello Miss, you are quite a looker, aren't you?" His creepy smile sealed the deal. "I have a boyfriend, sir." She said as politely as she could muster. "Well he's not here, is he?" Luckily, a man Zia knew all too well appeared next to her, "Yes, I am sir. Walt Stone, nice to meet you." Walt held out his hand for a second until the man quickly went away before falling into a fit of laughter with Zia.

"Thank you for that, I appreciate it." Walt smiled, "Anything for my best friend." In gratitude, Zia handed Walt a drink. "Well still, thank you, that creep was getting too close for my liking." Walt graciously took the drink and hummed as he took a drink from it. "I could see that. I had to save a girl the other night from him, she was quite a looker too. She had beautiful dyed hair and an attitude." Walt chuckled, seemingly remembering a moment he had with her.

"What was her name?" "Sadie Kane." Zia paused, looking at him as if he had just told her that people of color got the right to vote. "Walt… That's my boyfriend's little sister." "Oh… OH." Walt almost spit out his drink at the realization. "Yeah… She and I have become close because I work at their speakeasy. And please, don't ask for details. I don't want to get in trouble with Menshikov or Desjardins." Walt nodded, understanding her situation.

"Just take care of yourself, okay? I gotta get back to my boyfriend but know that if you get uncomfortable that I'll be here all night. Come and find me if you need me." Zia smiled, "I will." He waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone. She really hoped she wouldn't need to find him later, but you never know. She grabbed another drink and went back to the table she and Sadie had claimed as their own, sipping on the drink leisurely.

Zia couldn't help but have her mind wonder, thinking over what the future could hold. She often did this, a way to cope with the uncertainty of life. Maybe if she planned hard enough she could avoid negative outcomes, maybe she could get out of this safe. Then, an odd man approached Zia. He was on the shorter side and had very little clothing on. Zia paused, setting her drink down and looking at him.

"Hello… Who are you?" The man grinned, holding out a hand. "I'm Bes, the head of security at the Jazzy Canary. I heard the boss got a girlfriend and decided to meet her." Zia shook his hand gently. "Well, it's very nice to meet you sir." "Likewise. Now how'd a pretty thing like you decide to date Carter?" Zia couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.

"What can I say? He's a real charmer." Bes laughed at that, "Sure, sure. Either way, it's very nice to meet you. I've been asked by your lover boy to drive you and Miss Sadie back to the residence when you're ready to leave, for safety's sake." "Ah, I see. Well, I'll seek you out when I believe Sadie should be done for the night." Bes nodded before leaving with a grin, disappearing into the crowd as if he were never there.

After an hour or two, Zia dragged Sadie through the house and to the front lawn to get her into the car, trying to make sure she was safe. "But Ziaaaaaaa, I'm not done yet." "Yes, you are Sadie. We gotta go home." "Nooooooooooo." Zia could only smile as Sadie continued to whine and Bes began to drive. About half way to the house, Sadie fell asleep, ending off the night near perfectly. If only things kept going good for them. If only…

Chapter Text

Yet another party Sadie was invited to. It was almost back to back it seemed. Except this one more polished. A party hosted by the mayor of New York, Iskander. Now, Sadie had never had a bad experience with him. He was kind to her and never seemed to have a problem with the business her and her brother were running. No, he really didn’t care for the laws against it since he personally enjoyed the fact it helped bolster their economy and kept crime rates in general down. It was Menshikov and Desjardins who has a problem. Always sticklers for order and law.

Either way, Sadie knew that this was just an excuse to see her parents and act like she actually cared about rich people gossip that she could laugh about with Jaz later. Dressed in her best, she set out to find something interesting to do. Passing by the people who seemed more concerned with their wealth than the people suffering, she made her way to her parents. She spent a few moments catching up with them, and then quickly directed them to where Carter was so they could bother him about his love life instead of her. After all, there really wasn’t much to note. She’d fallen for two boys who seemed sort of interested in her but no one made any moves. It was frustrating.

The night was still young though and supposedly Anubis and his parents were meant to be there. Minutes passed as Sadie did her best to search for him in the crowd but she kept drawing blanks. I mean how hard is it to find a mysterious, reclusive, attractive, tall man with a wild fashion sense? Well that was until she bumped into the exact person she was looking for. Anubis Nabil himself. Accompanied by Walt, of course, and two other people. “Oh, Sadie, I heard you were going to be here.” He tone was similar to when they first met, yet a little more respectful. And yet charming all the same. No, Sadie wasn’t swooning, that was entirely absurd.

“Yes, lovely to see you too. Walt.” She gave them both courteous nods. And perhaps a quick up an down look. They looked……… nice. Certainly more eccentric than the other people at the party but that is what drew her in. “Sadie, I’d like you to meet my parents. Nephthys and -” “Set. Yes I am aware of who he is.” Well, that certainly made things a bit akward. Sadie knew Set because her uncle and him had a fling of sorts. She never really knew if they broke off what they had. “Sadie! How is your uncle? I haven’t quite had the chance to speak to him in a few months.” Set said, his words being followed up by boisterous laughter.

“He’s quite fine. He is actually here. But please do keep physical contact to a minimal, we are at a formal event after all.” She quipped back. It left him a little shocked, but of course it was all in good fun. Their relationship had always consisted of witty remarks to each other. “You two know each other?” Nephthys asked lightly. “Yes, she’s Amos’ niece. He’s the one fella I was telling you about that’s the cats pajamas.” Sadie was then pulled to the side lightly as Set went on to talk about how hot her uncle is by Anubis. “My parents are no longer together, although they are quite close. They just agreed that marriage and being full time lovers wasn’t quite their style.”

“I see. Well that makes sense now.” Sadie let out a small laugh, before her eye caught on Iskander seemingly starting her down. Turning her attention back to Anubis’ parents, she spoke “Well, it was lovely meeting you and seeing you again Set. But I fear I must take my leave and talk with others.” Then, she made her way to Iskander. He of course had Desjardins and Menshikov nearby, giving her a nasty look. She kept her head held high though, ensuring they didn’t think she was afraid of them. Because she wasn’t. She had her brother, her friends, her parents, her uncle, and hell even Iskander’s approval of her life, she didn’t need theirs.

“Iskander, it’s lovely to see you. Thank you so much for the invite. This party is lovely just as it is every year.” She took his outstretched hand a shook it gently, shaking lightly. “Ah yes, thank you very much Ms. Kane. I see you have met Mr. Nabil and Mr. Stone. Such kind and interesting young men. You will have a bright future with them.” That made her laugh. “Sadie, it’s quite obvious to anyone that you three have feelings for each other.” “Well thank you.” Keeping their interaction short, as Iskander usually prefers, he left. That left Sadie in front of her two worst enemies.

“Ms. Kane. How is your business going?” Menshikovs Russian accent cut clear through the tension in the air. “I haven’t a clue what you mean Vladimir. If you are referring to my mortuary practice then it’s going well. Of course there is never shortage of bodies in this city, with so many people in it after all.” Sadie easily matched his energy, after all she had already warmed up with Set. He was the one who taught her to be so mouthy after all. She even gave a small glance over to Set to make sure he was watching her mastery. He was. With a grin on his face.

“Are you sure of that? There have been a few rumors of you and your brother running a business that isn’t to the standards of this city. Or the law for that matter.” Desjardins interjected. “Well I’m not quite sure what you mean Michel. We only run legal operations as a family. Is it so wrong for people to enjoy themselves without alcohol without you acting like they are partaking in illegal activity? You have zero proof of anything illegal. And so I will say goodbye to you both and enjoy the rest of my night.”

Walking away was a lot easier said than done. She was slightly terrified of those two but she not only had her parents and uncle to come to her aid, but also Set and the two men she fancied. That was perhaps the perk of being well networked. Having a team of people to back you up and help you lie to the johns.

Chapter Text

Zia was tired, and that was to be expected. But she didn't want to be tired like this. The longer this went on, the longer she struggled. She could feel herself beginning to grow endeared towards the Kanes, but she couldn't, not when her safety was at hand. She couldn't deny it, if Iskander died and Menshikov and Desjardins knew Zia didn't want to keep doing their bidding she wasn't going to keep her immunity. And that terrified Zia, truthfully.

She didn't want to know what would happen, but she could tell Iskandar's health was declining. She had to spend more time with him, making sure he was caring for himself. She knew others could do it, but that's not the girl she was raised to be by her parents. She was taught to care for her family no matter what. So she started going outside less, only doing so when he was, sticking by his side like it was the only thing she could fathom.

One night, while Iskandar was getting ready for bed with her help, he leaned over, "Zia, my dear, you know that I must leave. Please, protect the city from those fools. I have someone in mind that you should support winning the election for mayor, Amos Kane." Zia gasped lightly, looking at him softly. "Desjardins and Menshikov hate him, Baba, they'll ruin him and his family." "Precisely. That's why I need you to support him. The people love you, Habibi, use that to your full advantage."

They continued in silence, Zia running over her thoughts and his words. She gently helped him into bed, made sure he was comfortable, and sat in a nearby chair. "What would you like me to read you tonight? Perhaps something in French?" Iskandar shook his head softly, "No, read me Plato's Republic." Zia nodded, pulling the well loved copy off of the nearby shelf and read to him until he fell asleep before going to sleep herself.

That morning, a violent sob awoke the house. And it came from Iskandar's room. Menshikov and Desjardins rushed into the room, seeing Zia on her knees next to the bed, head resting on the bed as she sobbed into her arms. Iskandar was dead. And there was no question about it. He had passed peacefully, that much was clear through his expression. He had a soft smile on his face, the same one he had when he had "fallen asleep" the night before.

Zia realized that he had passed as she was reading to him, another sob ripping through her. Desjardins tried to pull Zia away from the bed but she fought back, returning to the bedside quickly. She held Iskandar's cold hand, looking at his face with tear filled eyes. "Baba, I promise." Desjardins and Menshikov didn't know what the promise was, and they didn't need to. Zia stood, wiping her tears before turning to them, putting on a brave face. "I will plan his funeral. I will be away for a month in Egypt to do so and to have the funeral. Until then, you will plan for a new election. Any decisions go through me, am I clear?"

The men scowled, almost glaring at her. "I said am I clear?" They grumbled something in response, perhaps a yes or a no. "If I hear of anything from others you will both be investigated. Another thing, you will arrange my father's trip back to Egypt for his funeral. And I will be receiving the written will before I leave. No action will be taken until I return." They grumbled another response Zia didn't even try to hear, instead walking away to her room to pack. She didn't need to pack much, they still had a residence in Egypt that had some of her belongings, but she did pack a few of Iskandar's favorite things to bury with him.

On her way to the airport to get a flight to Egypt, she stopped by the Jazzy Canary. She went down into the beautiful speakeasy and knocked on the door of Carter's office. She knew this was often the time that the Kanes would have a meeting to discuss things so she figured now would be a good time to discuss what was happening. A voice came through the door, "Come in!", and it was clearly Sadie's. Despite Zia's sorrow, Sadie's voice cheered her up a little. She stepped inside the room, standing just in front of the door.

"My father has passed… I will be returning to Egypt to bury him among his family and will be staying with my biological family while I grieve. I will be gone for a month." Carter immediately stood up, wrapping her in a hug. She took a deep breath, burying her face in his chest. After he pulled away Sadie pulled her into a tight hug, whispering a bunch of silly things in her ear that made her feel just a tiny bit better. And then Amos, giving her comforting words, similar to ones Iskandar would be saying.

She steeled her resolve and pulled back, hands folded over one another and down in front of her. "Thank you, all of you. I appreciate it." They nod silently before Carter speaks again, "Would you like me to come with you?" Zia looked at him for a second before remembering that it's not very safe in her home country to walk around without a man, which still held very true for the streets of New York, just less so. She sucked in a breath, weighing her options.

It would be smart, yes, but he has a business to run and she was only pretending to date him. If she brought him home and her family loved him there would be no question that her father would press him to marry her. Again, she wasn't against it but it's the fact that her family would love him is what is the worst. "Okay… Pack for the warm weather. Light clothing." Carter smiled, nodding and bringing her into another hug. And her affection for him grew so much more.

Chapter Text

When Sadie heard of Iskander’s death, her first corse of action was to ensure a day was set aside before Zia left to have a girls day. Sadie of course invited Jaz, Cleo, and Alyssa as they were quite fun to be around, especially after dealing with loss. The plan was to do some shopping, window or otherwise, have brunch, enjoy a walk in Central Park, and then have dinner with Carter, Walt, and Anubis to wish her farewell. It was a lovely plan in Sadie’s opinion. Now all there was left to do was pick up Zia and have a good time.

Using the spare key Sadie found under the doormat, she opened Zia’s front door. She knew other people lived there, it being such a large house and all, but she definitely wasn’t expecting servants. Either way she greeted a few of them, telling them she was there to see Zia, and made her way upstairs. Waking up Zia was going to be a task. After all she had stayed late in the night to help clean up after a particularly busy night, but Sadie knew a few tricks. With a plan in mind, she walked into Zia’s room.

It really was simple. Open her blinds, play her favorite track, and prep her a bath. All those things combined were sure to work considering they were a part of Zia’s morning routine. First Sadie stared with the curtains. They were made of a fine material, perhaps silk or velvet, and a dark blue in color. With one fluid motion they were open, the sun shining bright into the room. The sunrise was quite beautiful from this view. The colors expanding across the horizon with the crashing of waves on the coastline was gorgeous.

Then, the music. A nice jazz album Sadie assumed Amos has introduced Zia to. It was his favorite band after all. It was slow in tempo and a nice ease into the day ahead. Then, she drew Zia a bath. Warm, almost hot, water. A few oils and salts, mainly of the caalming variety such as lavender. And then of course she set out a few candles and lit them. It wasn’t long after Sadie had bung preparing Zia’s bath that she had woken up. When Sadie stepped out of the bathroom, she saw Zia sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “Well good morning to you.” Sadie said, sitting lightly at the edge of Zia’s bed.

“What are you doing here? What are you planning?” Zia asked, her voice marked by sleep still. “Well I was thinking I could have the last day you are spending here for a while with you. I have everything planned out to your tastes so all you have to do is relax and have fun. After all you lost someone close to you and it would be awful of me not to find a way to provide solace, despite it being in a very me way.” Zia let out a small hum before slipping out of bed. “So tell me, what do you have planned?” Zia walked behind her partition and undressed herself. Sadie, respecting her privacy looked away.

“I invited some of my friends, ones you know of course to spend the day. A girls day if you will. We will go shopping then have brunch. Then I was thinking a nice walk in Central Park where we enjoy the sunshine. And then of course a goodbye dinner with my brother, Walt, and Anubis, just so we can all see you off before you are gone for a few weeks.” Sadie listed off the things, providing as little details as Zia would likely permit as to not spoil all the fun. “I see. Well, I don’t mind this. I was planning on lounging around the house all day and making sure all my things were in order before leaving. But I think this is a better way to spend my time.”

“Well it’s set then! You take your bath and I’ll call around to make sure everyone is aware that our plans are on.” Sadie said cheerfully, clasping her hands together. The next hour or so was spent on ensuring Zia had all her stuff together and was properly dressed for the day ahead. Obviously they would go home for dinner to get into something more dressy. Either way, they set off for the day around 8 A.M. The ensuing hours were spent shopping up until around 12 P.M. when they began to make their way to brunch. It was lively and entirely enjoyable as it would be with Sadie around. She made it a point to ensure Zia had a good day and that she smiled at least once an hour.

After all, she lost someone dear to her and Sadie knew fully well how grief could effect someone. She worked in the business of what happens to people after life after all. A few tips were shared with Zia to ensure she had a good idea of the process of funerary dealings. But of course Sadie shifted the topic to something more light hearted after her wisdom was shared to avoid Zia from dwelling to long on it.

The walk in the park was simple and enjoyable, the sun being a reasonable temperature and intensity. It was overall a very pleasant experience. Then, dinner. A nice, ritzy restaurant with a mix of influences from different cultures. Sadie picked it out specifically since it had Egyptian cuisine but also something everyone else invited could enjoy. The conversations were light, enjoying each others company. Until Zia had to leave. “I am going to miss you so much.” Sadie said, hugging Zia tightly. “I’m going to miss you too.” “I’ll do my best to write to you at least once while you are there. Just to make sure I don’t accidentally forget everything that happened while you were gone when you come back.”

“I’d expect nothing less from you Sadie.” Zia let go of Sadie and went on to say her goodbyes to the others. And yet there was an off vibe Sadie just couldn’t quite shake since she stepped foot into Zia’s house.

Chapter Text

It was still hard to believe that he was gone, but he was. And just as his funeral wrapped, Zia disappeared into the comfort of her home. She hadn't even unpacked from the trip, too focused on the preparations of it all. The only good part about this all was that she was getting closer to Carter, closer to getting more evidence. Of course she didn't want to continue this work, but her safety depended on it. So far, she had been doing very well with not falling for him, but it was getting harder and harder as he comforted her through Iskandar's death.

And worst of all he was getting along wonderfully with her parents and family in Red Sands. He was perfect, too perfect, there had to be something horrible about him. Yet, time after time she couldn't find anything. Every conversation showed they were on the same page, marriage before 30, two kids, stability. It was infuriating, she was supposed to hate him. And yet the way he cared for her younger cousins melted her heart. She was glaring at him, analyzing every movement and expression he made before he did something so cute she couldn't help but smile widely, her glare disappearing.

The action? Speaking Arabic. She didn't know he knew the language, her language. And that was a non-negotiable for her future husband. By the end of the day, all of the older members of her family were practically begging Carter to marry her. Zia was helping put her younger cousins to bed before going back to the main room of the home and overhearing their conversation. "Please, you would be the perfect son in law and we know you'll treat our Zia well." It was the voice of her mother and then her father. "And I have saved up plenty of money to give to you as her dowry." Carter simply laughed, a smile on his face. "No money is necessary, thank you though. Please, keep it and use it for your family, that is all I ask."

Zia made her presence known, clearing her throat before walking over to Carter and looping an arm around his. "Mama, Baba, Carter." She greeted each of them carefully. "What are you talking about?" Zia knew already, but they didn't need to know that. "Your marriage, Habibi, to Mr. Kane." Zia simply nodded, looking at Carter for a second. "Okay… But can we wait until I've properly mourned Iskandar?" Her father nodded, understanding how important he was to her. "Of course my little scarab, whatever you wish." That was one thing Zia loved most about her father, he always asked for her opinion on things and valued it. She knew she was more than lucky to have a father like him.

Either way, it was late, and Zia decided to go to bed for the night. As she was finishing up her nightly routine, Carter entered her room. "Zia… How are you holding up?" He carefully wrapped his arms around her and she let herself relax into him. "Fine… Just thinking." Carter hummed at that, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Would you like me to stay with you tonight?" He mumbles into her ear, making her suck in a breath. "Yeah… Thank you…" She replies in a whisper, turning to face him. "Why do you ask?" He smiles at her softly, "Just don't want to leave you alone, especially since you're mourning."

"Thank you… That actually means a lot to me…" She felt herself relax into him more, burying her face into his chest and taking a deep breathe. But no, she wasn't supposed to fall for him. She took a deep breath before stepping away from him. "Actually, now that I think about it, it probably wouldn't be for the best, my family might freak out…" "Oh… Yeah, that makes since…" Carter stepped away from her a little, giving her space. Zia felt her chest tighten, he looked upset but like he was trying to hold it back. She wanted to say something but he left the room, leaving her with words on her tongue that would go unsaid until months later.

She sighed, turning to her bed and slipping into it, letting the cool sheets calm her from rising panic in her chest. Was she in love with him? She couldn't be, she hadn't fallen in love before… But that just points to it being more possible, since she didn't know what it felt like. But that wasn't what was important, what was important is that she kept to her job, that was more important than ever now. So, she waited until she was sure he was asleep before getting out of her bed. She tiptoed into his room and silently opened his brief case. She just felt like some piece of evidence was in there that would help her.

She carefully went through the papers, looking for anything to do with illicit activities. Yet she found nothing. She frowned, getting off the floor and leaving the room as quietly as she entered. That was strange, he kept all his important papers in there. Either way, she knew it had to be somewhere. Maybe it was back in his office? She'd have to check when they returned to New York. She slipped back into bed and decided she needed to sleep, she had been crying throughout the day and that was entirely exhausting. She closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.

She dreamed of Carter, Sadie, and Amos. They were happy. Very happy. Sadie was dressed in a beautiful blue dress that made her eyes shine brightly, Amos was dressed in a red suit that was entirely more fancy than anything he wore at the speakeasy, and Carter was dressed in a nice black tux. They were surrounded by friends and family in a beautiful area decorated in flowers. It was beautiful. Only when Zia woke up did she realize what she had dreamed about. A wedding. This was getting out of hand.

Chapter Text

The morning started like any other. Sadie did her hair and makeup, ensuring it wasn’t too pearl clutching for her job as a mortician. It was a bit annoying but necessary. Although that feeling had continued to follow her. Lurking in the corners of her mind whenever Zia was brought up. Was it Zia herself or something else? Sadie wasn’t quite sure, but it irked her. Something just felt really off. And Sadie was one to trust her gut feelings, even if they seemed silly at the time. The day dragged on, time itself moreso. The feeling kept nagging at her, daring her to think about it.

Zia had just come back from her trip and here Sadie was going down a spiral of what ifs. It felt like her brain was going to never cease in its questioning of Zia’s loyalty to their family. She loved Carter, at least Sadie thought she did. But the lingering feeling made her doubt that. Well, Sadie still couldn’t quite pinpoint why exactly her heart dropped to her stomach at the mention of Zia. There was nothing wrong about Zia, well perhaps other than her slight tendency to disappear for a few hours every once in a while but that wasn’t suspicious.

Well, maybe it was. Something about it had always irked her. No one was able to reach her during those times and it was always around dinner or lunch. It was odd in perhaps the worst way possible. Sadie had chalked it up to spending time with Iskandar but the more time passed, the less it was likely. Was Zia cheating on her brother? No. That was a preposterous thought. She was too kind and liked their family to much. How was it even possible for her to do that when majority of her day was spent with them anyway?

Maybe she was just spending time with Walt. That made sense as they were friends. And Walt always talked fondly of her when brought up. It was just a coninsdense. Speaking of Walt, Sadie had been seeing him and Anubis around the speakeasy more frequently. Well, and at parties. Sadie couldn't deny the fact that she fancied those two. They were simply charming and kind to her, moreso than most men around. They respected her, listened to her speak with keen ears and attentive eyes. It was something so refreshing to have after years of Carter seemingly being annoyed every time she so much as breathed about her interests.

Carter seemed to be doing fine. He and Zia were reunited after everything that had happened and were happy enough. Obviously they were recovering from being a part after a tragedy occured but in time they will return to their former energy. Or at least Sadie hoped so. Her brother was so enamored with Zia, so much so he had begun to keep a necklace of hers on him at all times. In his pocket more than anything, but he kept it close. It was almost sickeningly sweet, but it was nice to see her brother so enamored with someone as nice as Zia.

Although…….. now that she thought about it, Sadie had seen Carter giving Zia slightly suspicious looks. Perhaps that’s why Sadie was so paranoid. They must’ve had a fight or something and Carter’s energy was rubbing off on her. It was simply getting out of hand in her opinion. Zia would never betray them or insult their intelligence. Would she? Well perhaps.

A leaisurely stroll home from dinner with some friends showed Sadie all she needed to know. Passing by a nicer restaurant in Brooklyn, there she saw Zia. With Desjardins and Menshikov. Sadie obviously knew Zia was at the very least well aquainted with them because of Iskandar, but why would she willingly go to dinner with them? What were they speaking about? It stopped her dead in her tracks. She stood there for a moment, practically staring at the trio through the slightly tinted windows of the restaurant.

None of them noticed, at least until Desjardins did. He was obviously taking a note of everything in the restaurant. Until his eyes fell unpon Sadie. He seemingly excused himself from their table and made his way outside. “Ms. Kane, how intriguing it is to see you here.” “Mr. Desjardins,” She gave a curt nod before continuing, “I’m simply making my way home after work. I thought it was a lovely day to walk to and from instead of driving. Don’t you agree?” He gave a light hum. “Yes well I hope you aren’t to baffled to see Ms. Rashid with me and Vladimir. We are merely friends you see. Moreso coworkers. We were the right hand men of her adoptive father after all.”

That made the sinking feeling in Sadie’s gut even worse. There is no way they were just that judging by the slightly terrified look Zia had in her eyes everytime she made eye contact with one of them. “Speaking of, I heard your uncle is running for the seat. I encourage you to advise him to drop out of the race if he knows what’s good for him.” That immediately changed her train of thought. “Excuse me? Are you threatening me and my family?” “Oh nothing of the sort! I’m simply telling you he has zero chance of winning.” Sadies visage turned to a glare at him. “My uncle is very capable of winning against you and your accomplis. Especially considering there’s rumors of our dearly departed Iskandar supporting my uncle.”

Desjardin’s light smile dropped to one of surprise. “Why does Zia fear you anyway? You are powerless against what is coming for you.” “Don’t go asking questions that would turn your world upside down.” He warned lowly. And with that, he went back inside. What was he talking about? Was Zia working with him? What was going on?

Chapter Text

Now that they were back in New York, Zia needed to shift all her focus onto her investigation. During a break in her singing, she rushed to Carter's office. She knew he was in a meeting in another part of the speakeasy and she knew she only had ten minutes to look through his stuff before he returned. Luckily, she had a timer with her. A kitchen timer, yes, but a timer nonetheless. It was all she had. She set it for eight minutes, wanting to make sure she had enough time to turn it off, fix everything, and leave before he got back.

She began to look for anything, records, letters, whatever could prove they were going against the law. Their bar wasn't enough, she needed records. Her instructions were clear: "Just because they have giggle juice isn't enough to persecute them, we need written record." She carefully looked over everything. Nope, nope, nope. She was finding nothing. She knew Carter wasn't stupid, but she couldn't even find a safe where he could have it hidden. It was more than frustrating.

But eventually she found it. A safe, three to be exact. One was definitely for money, another for his priceless objects from his parents, and finally one for any record of their illegal activities. She couldn't be sure what the combinations were. So she began to quickly work through possibilities. Birthdays, important dates, anything. One of them finally opened at 13/32/33, whatever significance it had was lost on Zia. But it contained the important objects to Carter. She groaned, frowning at the lack of evidence.

But right in the middle was a small velvet box. She felt drawn to it. And opened it. It had a beautiful ring within the inside. Clearly not new, possibly an heirloom from their family. And worst of all? It was clearly a well preserved ring possibly dating back to the reign of Ramesses II, somehow. I mean it made sense. She had talked to Amos plenty of time to know that Carter was allegedly the descendant of Narmer and Ramesses II. It dawned on Zia that I could've even been the ring of his queen, Nefertari. It was likely passed down through the generations on Carter's mom's side. Over 2,000 years of history was connected to this ring.

And he was probably going to propose to her with this. She dropped the box, dumbfounded. Did he really love her that much? Then the timer went off. She quickly turned it off and closed the small box, putting it back and putting the lock back into the place where it had been. She quickly fixed everything and put the timer back into her bag right as Carter re-entered the office. She stood up quickly, smiling at him. He paused at he door before smiling and going up to her. "What are you doing in here, Baby?" He placed a kiss to her temple and wrapped his arms around her.

"Oh nothing, just waiting for you." She felt bad about lying but she had to. Carter smiled before it dropped. "What were you doing?" Zia froze slightly, "What do you mean?" Carter pulled away from her lightly, "There are things out of place. I'm going to ask you again, what were you doing?" He held eye contact with her. She took a deep breath. And then remember a previous conversation with Amos.

"Oh, right, Amos asked me to find something but I couldn't find it, sorry." He softened again and smiled. "What were you looking for?" Zia felt herself smile too. "I can't remember, you make every thought leave my mind." She wasn't lying, not exactly. Her mind sort of panicked whenever she saw him. She didn't know why. Carter simply laughed, pressing another kiss to her temple. "Okay. Well, I have some business to attend to and you have some singing to do. Dazzle them as you always do, my love." Zia nodded, moving towards the door. "I will."

She left and returned to the stage, taking her place back in front of the microphone right as Amos motioned to the rest of the band to get themselves ready for a song. Sadie was standing next to the stage, arms crossed while smiling. "You're gonna do great, Zia. You always do." That made Zia feel just a little bit better. She was slightly shaking from the anxiety of almost getting caught, and Sadie seemed to have noticed.

"Are you alright?" She looked at Zia like she was crazy. "Uh, yeah, I'm okay." "Okay then…" Sadie then went behind the bar and made Zia something, "Here, drink this." Zia shook her head, "No, I don't drink." Sadie scoffed, "I'm not offering, drink." She handed the drink over to Zia and glared at her until Zia had emptied the glass. "There, you should feel better soon. I wouldn't be a good sister-in-law if I didn't take care of you, now would I?"

Zia laughed lightly, "I guess not… Thanks." Sadie simply nodded before going back behind the bar to help Jaz as a rush came in. Zia took a deep breath and began to sing, her voice carrying through the crowd as a light breeze, warming the patrons with the notes of the song. All eyes turned to her and for once it didn't scare her. Usually people's eyes were on her because she was with Iskandar, but now that he was gone few paid attention to her. It was shocking how invested people seemed.

And amongst the hundreds of people, there was only one person who looked at Zia like she was perfect, and that was Carter. But it wasn't like usual, no, there was some defensiveness to it. That worried Zia incredibly. But she couldn't ask questions now, not when she felt so close to the proof of it all. It definitely hurt that he was feeling defensive even as he lookedat her but that wasn't important. What was is that she continued her mission for her safety, especially now that Iskandar is gone and it's getting more and more likely that Desjardins will become the mayor.

Chapter Text

The air was certainly tense. It was uncommon for the Kanes to all be sat at the dinner table with a heavy heart and uncomfortable silence hanging in the air. But tonight was one of those nights. Even Sadie and Carters parents were there. Sadie let out a short sigh, putting her spoon down after taking a sip of her soup. Chicken and noodles. Her favorite. But tonight all she could do was stare solemnly into the bowl. They all agreed to talk about Zia, but no one wanted to talk about it. The suspicion. Sadie saw her as a sister already. Carter loved her deeply. And well, their uncle saw her almost like a daughter.

“So, you really found her looking through your office? And you never asked her to find anything Amos?” The two men gave her a solemn yet firm nod. “And I saw her at dinner with Desjardins and Menshikov. And our parents can confirm personally that she has some sort of connection to their business of busting businesses like ours. I mean the proof is in front of our faces, isn’t it?” The bitterness burned in her throat, unable to meet her families eyes as they all gave weak hums. “And she tricked us. She tricked us.” Her voice wavered.

“Sadie we don’t know-” “But don’t we?! Don’t we?” Her voice was angry at first but got quiet when repeating. “Carter,” She looked up, looking him in his eyes. “I know you love her, I adore her as if she was my sister. But the proof is there enough, is it not?” His mouth formed a tight line. “Not really. We’d need something more solid. We don’t have definitive proof is isn’t something else.” “You are being optimistic, brother.” “Can’t a man dream that the woman he wishes to marry isn’t set on his downfall? Can’t I dream?” “You can but at some point you must open your eyes!”

“Sadie.” Their mother said firmly. “Be kind to your brother. Your grandparents, father, and uncle had a very similar dilemma when I was first with your father. I meant them no harm but I simply was just fiercely curious of their work. Perhaps she is too?” She offered, her voice as kind a light as usual. “Mother. I love you dearly but you have to see there is truth to my statements. Desjardins himself warned me of not asking to many questions or my life would be flipped upside down.” That made them all give her confused and concerned looks. With a sigh, Sadie told them of the encounter a few nights ago in great detail.

“All I’m saying is we cannot rule out the idea of her being a spy. What I have witnessed and what you all have said tonight gives me little hope that she is simply curious of what we do.” Sadie’s voice was quiet for once, weak with sadness and a little bit of betrayal. “I love you dearly brother,” she glanced at Carter, “but there is little doubt in my mind that she isn’t a little shady.” Carter began to speak but Sadie interrupted him. “Save it. I will speak to Anubis and Walt about this separately and ask of their opinion on the situation and what we should do. After all, they have known her longer.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea Sadie.” Amos offered. “I agree. Ask the opinions of others before you do anything.” Julius affirmed, nodding at his brother respectfully. “Then that is what I will do. I will go call up Anubis and set it all up.” She said, standing up from her chair. As she was walking away, she glanced back at Carter, “I really hope I’m wrong. For not only your sake but my own. I wish you only happiness and I know she provides that for you.” Carter replied simply with a nod before getting up himself and retreating to his room.

Chapter Text

Zia entered Carter's office once more, but for different reasons now. Today, they were going to spend the evening at Carter's house, a quiet night together. Zia was dressed in an olive green slip dress and black kitten heels. Adorning her arms, neck, and ears were golden jewelry, making her skin glow like the sun. Carter looked up and paused what he was doing, taking off his reading glasses and setting them down. "You look… gorgeous." He smiled before turning back to his work. "I just have to finish this up and then we can go." 'Okay." She sat down in a nearby chair and waited for him to finish his work.

"Okay, I'm finished." He looked up again and met her eyes, pausing for a second. "Why do you have to look so beautiful all the time?" Zia simply laughed, getting up and walking over to him. "What? This certainly isn't my fanciest dress, Carter." He stood up and held her waist, smiling at her. "Is it now?" "Mhm." Their faces were inches apart and he placed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling away. "I'm going to grab my jacket." She nodded, watching as he grabbed it before wrapping and an around his and letting him lead her out of the building.

They arrived shortly after to Carter's house and he led her to the dining room. It was stunning. Beautiful paintings hung on the walls, the table was set, a few candelabras were dotted around, enough to softly light the room if they were lit. She watched as he carefully lit each candle before turning off the lights. He led her to a chair and carefully pushed it in after she sat down and disappearing into the nearby kitchen. He returned with a bottle of wine and some glasses, carefully pouring her some. "It was aged for nearly 100 years, my father purchased it on his travels and I've been meaning to find a use for it."

He left again and returned with food, explaining that he used a family recipe and he had let it slow cook to get the right texture. They spoke as they ate, sharing more details about their lives with each other. Luckily, after a few glasses Carter let it slip that he had an office in his home where he kept all his important documents, just what Zia needed to know. Even if this pained her, she valued her safety. They ended up in the parlor, continuing to drink and talk. "So… Why did you decide to start working for us?"

Zia had to bite her tongue, noticing that the wine had loosened it a little more than her liking. "Well, I had heard you were looking for a singer through a friend of mine." It wasn't a lie, she had. But she knew she couldn't slip, not now that she was so close. "Ah, I see…" Carter replied. It was hard to lie to him, but a little white lie didn't hurt so much. She picked up on the fact that he didn't seem to believe her but decided to ignore it, blaming it on her anxiety. She took a deep breath and a drink. Focus.

"Anyway, I think I should get back home. I have a lot of important things to do tomorrow." She moved to get up but Carter beat her to it, holding her waist firmly. "No, stay. I wouldn't ever allow someone to leave my house after a few drinks, it's dangerous." He carefully led her upstairs, Zia frozen in shock. They entered a beautiful room, one decorated in shades of blue and gold. He took her over to the bed and smiled as he picked her up and laid her on the bed. "You will sleep here tonight." Zia just blinked before nodding quietly.

Zia was too stunned to speak. Carter's smile simply widened before he placed a soft kiss on her head. "Sweet dreams." And then he just left. She sat on the bed for quite a while, trying to process what happened. Until it hit her. Now was the time. She could find the evidence. Did she feel bad? Absolutely. But it was something she had to do. She couldn't guarantee he could protect her, not when the seat for mayor was still up for grabs. She decided to wait until she knew he was asleep. In the meantime, however, it wouldn't hurt to explore the house a little.

She carefully got up and started to wander. First to the en suite bathroom, then the small walk-in-closet, then out of the room entirely to other rooms of the house. Other bedrooms, small side rooms, the summer parlor, the winter parlor, each of the dinning rooms(one for those same seasons), the music room, the cellar, and so many other rooms. She had to admit, the house was gorgeous. She had expected them to have a larger house, being old money and all, but it was considerably modest compared to the houses of Menshikov and Desjardins. It was a marvel how they were content with it.

Either way, she creeped her way back upstairs to find Carter's room. Peaking her head through the crack of the door, she saw Carter blow out a candle on his bedside table. She exhaled and walked away, deadset on finding his office. She made her way downstairs and looked through rooms she hadn't been in yet. Another office(likely his father's), laundry room, coat closet, library, gallery(filled with Egyptian artifacts of course), a closed in porch, utility room, Amos' room, Sadie's room, a games room, an entire meeting room, and on and on. It seemed like she would never find it. But there was only one room she hadn't checked yet, it had to be it. She quietly approached the door, carefully opening it to not make a sound. And there it was. It was decorated similar to his office in the Jazzy Canary so it had to be his. Now, she just had to find the documents.