Page 112 of Deadly Betrayal

Kaden wrapped his body around hers like ashield. “Hang on,” he whispered as he carried her to the other sideof the building.

Like that would be a problem. Her hands werelocked so tightly behind his neck, she might never beableto let go. When she’d seen those men firing into the window, she’dfelt it in her bones that Kaden was in the room.

Yet here he was, in her arms, where hebelonged.

Too soon, he lowered her to the ground,peeling her stiff fingers off his neck one by one. She whimpered atthe loss. The expression of joy he’d had on his face when he’dfirst seen her was gone. Anger-filled amber eyes now stared at her.“What are you doing here, Azita? Christ, you could have beenkilled.” He pushed rough fingers through his hair, leaving itstanding on end in neat rows. She found it difficult to concentrateon his lecture when everything she wanted in this life was withintouching distance. Her hands reached out to his chest. He caughtthem in his before they made contact.

His voice softened as he chafed her coldfingers with his thumbs. “Are you even listening to me? Shit.” Hepulled her against him, rubbing her arms and back. “You’re frozen.Why didn’t you stay at the rocks with Laila and her mother? Didsomething happen?”

She shook her head, feeling his hard musclesflex beneath the thinkameezthe guard had given him. “The…the fighting was almost at the tunnel beneath the fence.” Lookingup, she met his gaze and poured her feelings into her next words.“I had to come warn you.”

He squeezed her. “What am I going to do withyou?” There was an amused exasperation in his tone, one she’d heardfrom many others over the years. Her eyes welled and she pressedher face against him so he wouldn’t see. But she wasted her effortswhen a sob broke through. “I only wanted to help.”

“I know, honey. I know.”

Pushing out of his hold, she straightened herheadscarf and clothes. “What do we do now? Have you found AghaKhalid and Uncle Afrooz?”

“Last I saw him, Khalid was with Tariq. Afriend of mine went to look for Afrooz. But none of that mattersright now. You have to get out of here.”

When he went to take her arm, she twistedaway. “No, let me help.”

For a moment, Kaden watched her silently,then his weapons rattled with the force of the air he blew out. Hehanded her a pistol and curled her fingers around it. “I don’t careif you are a doctor, you shoot anyone who comes near you. Gotit?”

The gun felt alien in her hands. Cold andimpersonal. Heavy. Could she do it? Could she kill a man? Her gazewent to the bruises on Kaden’s jaw, the sutures in his eyebrow, andshe had her answer. To protect Kaden, she’d kill anyone.“Understood.”

“First thing we need to do is identify theattackers. If they’re working for a rival warlord, all we have todo is stay out of the way and let them kill each other.”

“And if they aren’t? If they’re Americanmilitary or ISAF?”

“Then we get the fuck out of here, ASAP.”

Truly astonished, she couldn’t help gaping.“Surely, they would help us?”

He smiled, a sad, tired curve of his swollenlips. “They have orders to attack a warlord’s camp. They won’t betriaging potential victims before they shoot.”

“But there are women and children here!”

He stroked her cheek and his voice was everso soft when he spoke. “Children who shoot at soldiers and womenwho carry bombs.”

“Is that what this war has done to you,Kaden? Is everyone a threat?”

“It’s what this war has done to all ofus.”

Taking her hand, he led her around to theother side of the building. Though the sun hadn’t yet risen, thesky was beginning to lighten, and from here, they had a bettervantage point. Tariq’s ragtag group of men and boys were runningaround searching for their opponents. “Where are they?” oneshouted. “Over here,” another answered, and they all raced overyelling and firing their weapons. In the span of a couple minutes,they saw this routine repeated several times.

Kaden pointed to a shadow on top of a smallshed. “One is right there,” he whispered in Azita’s ear.

“I don’t see—”

The figure moved, detaching itself from thepool of darkness. He wore clothing that looked military, but it wasnot a uniform. Not a single insignia could be seen. His weaponlooked new and modern, and a mask of some sort covered hisface.

Kaden edged away from the wall as thoughtrying to get a better view. He inhaled sharply, then winced as hejerked back, pressing himself to the mud bricks. “What is it?” sheasked.

“They look like my old team. Special Forces.I just don’t know if they’re here for us or not.”

“This Afghan friend of yours, who came tohelp, is he also on this team?” she asked.

“He trained with us, but he is ANA. And henever said anything about calling in backup.”