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The first thing was to check his weapons. The HK MP7. The Glock. The SOG TAK knife. Ammo. Yeah, he still had plenty. The HK MP7 could fire 40 rounds without reloading.

Perfect.

The second thing was to move Annie. But where? There, to that cluster of boulders. Each was the size of a big car. The boulders would hide her as well as provide protection.

He would take up a position behind a huge chunk of rock ten, twelve meters away where he could see her, keep her covered, but where he wouldn’t be close enough for any enemy fire he took to endanger her.

The horse whinnied.

Hell. The animal would be an easy target. Dec undid the saddle, the bridle, tossed everything aside. What had Annie called him?

“Thanks for your help, Big Boy,” Dec said softly. Then he slapped the animal on the rump. “Hooyah,” he yelled, and the horse took off.

Dec stiffened.

What was that? The wind made it difficult to hear, but… Engines. That was what he heard. Vehicles were coming in their direction.

So much for having thirty minutes.

Dec ran to Annie and scooped her into his arms.

“Declan?”

“Yes, honey.”

She buried her face against his throat. Her face, her body were hot. His heart thundered. Even her breath felt hot.

Quickly, he carried her to the boulders and sat her behind them.

“Annie. You’re going to stay right here. No matter what you hear, what you see, you’re not to leave this place. You hear that?”

Tears glittered in her eyes. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

He crouched down and clasped her hands. “For what? There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“So much trouble…”

“Trouble? You? You’ve never been trouble, Anoushka. Never.”

“Are they coming?”

He wanted to lie. No, he’d say, they’re not. We’re just going to wait here for our ride home.

Instead, he let go of her hands and cupped her face. “Yes,” he said bluntly. “But they’re not going to get you.”

“Who is it? Which of them is coming for us?”

Dec hesitated. “Amjad.”

A tremor went through her. “He’ll kill you,” she whispered.

“Kill me?” He forced a laugh. “Hell, sweetheart, tougher bastards than a guy with a lice-infested beard have tried to kill me. And I’m still here.”

“I love you, Declan. I love you, love you, love—”

He kissed her with a hunger that was soul-deep. How could he have ever thought she’d willingly left him? He should have searched for her even it meant going to the ends of the universe.

“We’re going to get through this, honey. We have a lifetime to spend together. I won’t let anybody take that from us.”