The air in the Grand Bazaar was thick with spices and incense, a warm haze of colour and sound. Booths overflowed with handwoven rugs, intricate silver jewellery, and vibrant ceramics, each more enticing than the last. Traders called out to passersby, flashing bright smiles and beckoning them to examine their wares. Bunny's eyes shone as she soaked it all in, her senses on overdrive as they moved through the crowd.
"This place is amazing!" she said, clutching Wolfe's hand as they wove through the stalls. "I don't know where to look first."
Wolfe chuckled, his grip firm but gentle. "I don't think you'll need much help finding something," he replied, his gaze sweeping over the sea of people around them. But his eyes, sharp and ever-watchful, moved with more than casual interest, occasionally settling on certain figures in the crowd before shifting away.
They strolled past vendors selling lanterns in every shade of the rainbow, rugs with patterns that seemed to shift in the light, and small shops overflowing with antiques. Bunny took in every detail, from the intricate patterns on the ceramics to the sellers' lively haggling, as she tried to absorb the sights and sounds all at once.
"Let's look at some jewellery," she suggested, pulling him toward a stall filled with shimmering bracelets and necklaces. She picked up a delicate silver bracelet, its design a swirl of shapes that seemed to echo the flowing Bosphorus.
Wolfe nodded, though his attention drifted slightly, and she caught him glancing over his shoulder more than once. Her curiosity, sparked by his behaviour on previous trips, nudged at her. She could tell when he was preoccupied, which always seemed to coincide with moments where she suspected he had some hidden agenda. Today was no different.
"Everything all right?" she asked, feigning lightness as she examined a set of ornate earrings.
"Of course," he replied smoothly, though his gaze remained distant. "Just keeping an eye on things."
Bunny gave a knowing smile. "You look like you're about to negotiate a million-dollar deal. Try to enjoy the market, Wolfe! We're not here on some secret mission."
He smirked, giving her a sidelong glance. "Maybe I just like to be thorough."
But Bunny's suspicions lingered. She watched him as they wandered the market, noting how his body language shifted whenever certain people passed by or lingered nearby. His hand rested lightly on her back, guiding her around crowds with practised ease, but she could feel the tension in his touch—a quiet readiness that only seemed to grow as they moved deeper into the Bazaar.
After another few minutes, Wolfe's attention sharpened, and Bunny saw him glance discreetly at a man in a tailored suit standing near a booth selling antique maps. The man's face was unreadable, but he gave Wolfe a barely perceptible nod.
Wolfe leaned into Bunny, his voice soft. "Would you mind looking at those scarves over there?" he asked, nodding toward a stall a few steps away. "There's one that would look perfect on you."
Bunny's eyes narrowed, but she played along. "Only if you're joining me."
Wolfe's expression remained carefully neutral, though his grip on her arm relaxed. "I'll catch up in a second. Go on—I won't be long."
Reluctantly, Bunny moved toward the stall he'd pointed out, watching him from the corner of her eye as she pretended to examine the brightly patterned scarves. She saw Wolfe approach the man with the casual air of a tourist asking directions, though their interaction was anything but casual. The man handed Wolfe a small, wrapped object, and Wolfe pocketed it smoothly, murmuring a few quiet words before stepping back.
It all happened so quickly, that Bunny almost missed it. She felt a flicker of frustration—she'd known something was going on, but Wolfe's skill at slipping between roles left her with little proof beyond her suspicions. Still, she felt a growing determination to get answers.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a second figure approach Wolfe from the side, his face hidden beneath a hat pulled low. Bunny's pulse quickened as she watched Wolfe's shoulders tense; he had noticed the man, and his gaze sharpened in quiet assessment. The man stepped closer, muttering something in Wolfe's ear, and she saw Wolfe's jaw tighten as he pulled back, clearly unwilling to engage further.
Suddenly, the man lunged, making a grab for Wolfe's pocket. Wolfe sidestepped with practised ease, deflecting the man's hand and taking a quick step back. The man, undeterred, advanced again, his movements more forceful.
Before Bunny could react, Wolfe broke into a swift, controlled stride, moving through the crowd with a subtle urgency that was somehow invisible to those around him. Bunny's heart pounded as she caught sight of him weaving between stalls, the figure in pursuit. Without a second thought, she followed, her footsteps quickening as she kept her eyes trained on Wolfe's retreating form.
They darted through the Bazaar, Wolfe expertly navigating the maze of shops and stalls, his posture calm but his pace relentless. Bunny kept close, pushing past groups of tourists and dodging around carts loaded with wares as she followed. She saw Wolfe glance back once, catching sight of her, his gaze flashing with something she couldn't decipher before he resumed his focus on the man tailing him.
After several twists and turns through narrow alleyways, Wolfe made a sharp right, ducking down a dimly lit side street. Bunny barely had time to adjust her path, her pulse racing as she tried to keep up.
Finally, Wolfe stopped in front of a closed stall, his back pressed against the wall as he caught his breath. Bunny slipped into the alley, her gaze narrowing as she caught sight of him.
"Want to explain what's going on?" she demanded, crossing her arms as she approached him. Her voice was low, but her eyes held a spark of intensity.
Wolfe straightened, his expression unreadable. "Just… handling an unexpected guest," he replied smoothly, though she could see the hint of something in his eyes—an edge he rarely allowed her to see.
"Handling? Wolfe, I saw you back there. You were practically dodging a shadow in the middle of Istanbul," she said, her voice carrying a note of frustration. "Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to keep pretending I don't see what's happening right in front of me?"
He sighed, glancing past her for a moment, his gaze flicking down the alley to ensure they were alone. When he finally met her eyes again, his expression was softer, almost regretful. "Bunny, there are things I can't explain. Not because I don't want to—but because I shouldn't."
She folded her arms, her brow furrowing as she watched him. "Wolfe, you don't get to decide what I can or can't handle. I've seen enough to know you're hiding something, and I can't just ignore it anymore."
For a moment, Wolfe looked as if he might tell her the truth, his gaze searching her face as if weighing her resolve. But then his expression hardened, and he shook his head. "It's better if you stay out of this. Some things are safer left unknown."
Bunny's frustration grew, but she knew pressing him now wouldn't get her the answers she wanted. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm, though her mind raced with questions.
"Fine," she said quietly, her voice laced with a touch of resignation. "But I'm not as naïve as you think, Wolfe. And I won't keep playing the role of clueless bystander."
He watched her, a shadow of something—regret, perhaps—crossing his face, but he nodded, his hand reaching out to take hers. "I never thought you were clueless, Bunny. Just… precious."
The words, meant as reassurance, only deepened the tension between them. They stood in silence, the weight of unspoken words pressing between them as the lively sounds of the Bazaar drifted in from the main street.
After a moment, Wolfe gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his voice soft. "Shall we get back before they start wondering where we disappeared to?"
Bunny hesitated, her emotions swirling, but she finally nodded. She allowed him to guide her back to the market, but her suspicions simmered, her determination solidifying with each step. Whatever Wolfe was keeping from her, she was done letting it slide.
As they returned to the vibrant chaos of the Grand Bazaar, Bunny found herself taking in the scene with new eyes. She felt the familiar tug of her love for Wolfe, but it was tempered by a new resolve. She wouldn't let his secrets slip past her again—not this time. And as the sounds of haggling vendors and the scent of spices filled the air once more, she knew that sooner or later, she would get the answers she sought.