Page 10 of Deadly Betrayal

Having reached an intersection, he stoppedthe car. He turned to her, perusing her face, studying herfeatures. “I have far better plans for you.”

“What plans?” she snapped, unable to hide herresentment, thereby proving Khalid’s point. She abhorred the lawsthat essentially made her Khalid’s property, his to do with what hewould. Had her own brother been a stronger person, a more powerfulman, he could have fought for her guardianship in court, but hisreputation was too tarnished by his past. Besides, Shahram couldnot now fight for the return of something that had been freelygiven. Because shehadbeen given to Khalid. She belonged tohim both by custom and by law. How she hated that.

“I will inform you of my plans when it isnecessary for you to know.”

“I’m not a child, Khalid.”

His lips kicked up at the corners. “No, youmost certainly are not.”

Looking out the window, she rolled her eyes.“Perhaps you will answer this question then: Why Khan Tariq? Whatbusiness do you have with such a vile excuse for a man?”

“Please, Azitajan”—he chuckled—“tellme what you truly think of him.”

Clamping her lips shut before more truthsspilled out, she looked up, her eyes imploring him to answer.Perhaps she should have been an actress.

He smiled. “All right, I will tell you.Whatever else Khan Tariq may be, he is a very powerful man. Hisprivate militia is large and well-equipped.”

“Why does that matter?”

“It will not hurt me to have ties tohim.”

“But how will it help?”

He hesitated. The silence grew thick betweenthem. Finally, he said, “He controls a large part of Badakhshanprovince.”

Land.Was Khalid currying favor withthis warlord so he could somehow get some land for himself? Butwhy? “Does this have something to do with your work? Although I’dthink that the Minister of Mines and Petroleum would not be pleasedwith you having any ties to such a bloodthirsty warlord.”

“Azita, you are a brilliant doctor, but youunderstand nothing of politics. And neither does my donkey of aboss,” he said, practically choking on the last word.

Ah! Now they were getting somewhere. “Please,Khalid,” she teased, repeating his earlier words, “tell me what youtruly think of him.”

Surprise flashed across his face before hestarted to laugh, hiding it well with his hand. It was never a goodidea to show too much happiness in public. “I do enjoy you, Azitajan.”

“As do I.” And it was the truth. Khalid was agood man who cared about his family and who cared about his familyand seemed untainted by the bribery and corruption endemic toAfghan politics. And—until now—he’d been kind to the women of hisfamily. Since Faroukh’s death, she’d known it was just a matter oftime before Khalid married off the baggage he’d inherited from hisbrother. It was what any man would do. But how could she forgivehim for shunting Laila off to a bastard like Khan Tariq? “WillLaila be safe with him?”

He shrugged. “I’ve done my best to ensure hersafety and comfort, at least until the wedding.”

“How so?”

“Uncle Afrooz will ensure that the terms ofthe agreement are met.”

Azita hid her clenched fists beneath herjacket. Uncle Afrooz was too old to offer much protection againstTariq’s men. “How will they manage such a long trip? Your uncle isnot a young man,” she asked, feigning concern.

“Always so worried about others.” He soundedexasperated, which gave Azita a little thrill. Riling Khalid up wasgreat entertainment. “I’ve arranged for them to travel only sixhours a day. They will stop at hotels each night and will receivethree meals a day. The caravan will stop frequently so that theycan stretch their legs.”

“Khan Tariq agreed to all this?”

“Yes. He wants his bride to be healthy andwell-rested. The wedding will take place soon after herarrival.”

“How chivalrous of him.”

“Azita,” he scolded.

She crossed her arms and huffed. “How farwill they be travelling?”

“At that pace, Fayzabad is about six days’drive, assuming it doesn’t snow once they enter the mountains.”

Thank Allah!That would give herenough time to catch up to them if she left soon and stopped aslittle as possible. “This may be indelicate, but with only youruncle to protect her, how can you ensure that Laila will arriveintact? I assume this is a mandatory part of theagreement?”