Page 108 of Deadly Betrayal

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? But she… Her crimemustbepunished.”

Tariq stroked his beard, giving theimpression he was weighing the merits of Khalid’s argument. Inreality, he was covering up a grin. “I agree, my friend. But hercrime is not against me. I do not even have proof she was trying tostop the wedding.”

“She definitely was.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. She is gone now, and I’mabout to take a new wife.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll see youin a few hours.”

There was another knock at the door. The sametap-tap-pause-tap as before.

“Bale?” he asked the guard.

“Khan Tariq,” the man said, panting forbreath. “Lailakhanomis not in her room, nor is hermother.”

A sick feeling, a burning in his stomach,started. “Well, where is she? Have you checked the kitchen and thebath?”

“No, Khan Tariq. I came straight here.”

“Get to it. Find her!” When the guard turnedto leave, Tariq grabbed his arm. “Wait. Give me that.” He yankedthe AK-47 off the man’s shoulder.

“Khan Tariq?” The guard looked at him withquestioning eyes.

Tariq pursed his lips. He didn’t answer toanyone. “Go!”

No one interfered with Tariq’s plans, not anaspiring president, not a female doctor, and certainly not agodless American. Shutting the door, he strode to the part of theroom that could not be seen from the doorway. Khalid followed hismovements with his eyes. His throat worked as he forced himself toswallow.

Toying with the man, Tariq raised the rifle,pointing it at Khalid’s chest. “Sit. Drink your tea.” When Khaliddidn’t follow through quickly enough, Tariq added in a low, deadlytone, “Now!”

Khalid scampered to the table and pulled outa chair. He righted the toppled glass and poured some fresh teainto it. He shook so badly, hot liquid sloshed onto his hands. Hedidn’t even notice the red blotches on his fingers. “W-what willyou do now?”

“Your whore will come for you. I will wait.”He once again raised the weapon. “And I will be ready. This endsnow.”

Chapter 25

Kaden melted into the shadow of the nearestbuilding and anxiously watched Freba make her way across the emptyfield. If the patrol showed up, he’d create a diversion to give hertime to reach the rocks. Once she was safe, he had to find theuncle. And what of Khalid? Fuck. Kaden’s jaw clenched at thethought of the man. He had taken care of Azita after her husbandhad died, and he’d treated her well, better than many men wouldhave. Kaden was man enough to acknowledge that. But the bastardwanted her. It’d be so easy to leave him here and let Tariq do whathe wanted with him.

Then he remembered the man’s two wives andhis young children. What kind of life would they have without theirhusband and father? The wounded kids begging for food and moneyoutside his hotel in Kabul would forever be engraved in Kaden’smemory. If he wanted to prevent the same fate from befallingKhalid’s children, he had to ensure that their father lived.

Freba sneaked behind the outcropping of rocksand trees. She was finally safe. Kaden blew out to relieve some ofthe tension in his shoulders and neck. Two down, two to go.

Feeling naked without his weapons, Kadencrept back to the main building where Tariq and his family slept.He already knew which room was Khalid’s, but he wanted to get theold man out first. Pulling Afrooz out the window like he’d donewith the women wouldn’t be possible. Kaden’s ribs were screamingfor mercy, and Khalid’s uncle was too old and frail. Which beggedthe question: how the fuck was he going to get the old man underthe fence and across the field?

He located a back door into the building andwas just about to open it when the crunch of gravel froze him inplace. Quickly, he flattened himself against the wall and scannedthe area. Every dark spot, every bush, every potential hiding placebecame suspect. That’s when he saw it—the faint outline of a manunder a jeep. His clothing was tan and brown, allowing him to blendin well with the dusty ground.

A hand separated from the rest, two fingerssplit to form a V.

Kaden’s heart pounded. Back when his unit hadtrained some ANA Special Forces members, Hassan and his buddies hadused the V-sign to signal Kaden. V for Viking. He beckoned the manto join him. Kaden held his breath as the form slunk out from thenarrow space, melding into the environment before appearing by hisside. Kaden gripped Hassan’s arm. “I am so fucking glad to seeyou.”

“Looks like you’re handling things well onyour own,” Hassan said, his smirk ruining the effect of thecompliment.

“Come on, Chameleon Man. I got the women out.There’s still two more. One’s an old man, walks with a cane. Youtake him.” Kaden explained how to find the tunnel under the fenceas well as the patrol rotation. “Have him join the women. They’llbe safe there until we can get to them.”

Hassan held up a finger, then disappearedaround the corner. What the hell? Before Kaden could decide whetherto leave or stay, Hassan returned, a duffel over his shoulder.“Found this in the SUV. Thought you could use it.”

“Holy shit. That’s my bag. The weapons?”

Hassan chuckled softly. “Idiots didn’t takethem.”