Page 113 of Deadly Betrayal

Azita’s already fragile nerves frayed evenmore. “What do we do?”

“I need to get behind that guy and grab him.”He shot her a wry look. “And hope he doesn’t blow my head offbefore I can subdue him.” After giving her a quick peck on theforehead, he repeated his earlier orders. “Stay here and shootanyone who comes near you.”

Then he was gone.

Her fingers clammy, Azita held the pistol ina firm grip, index finger hovering over the trigger. She could dothis. Until Kaden returned, she had one goal, one single purpose:to stay alive.

Tariq stood in the center of the camp,surrounded by destruction and devastation. He jabbed the back ofKhalid’s neck with the muzzle of his rifle. “I should kill you forthis.”

Khalid fell forward, his face hitting thehard ground. “Khan Tariq, I swear I had nothing to do with thisattack. I came only to celebrate your marriage to my niece.”

“Liar. You brought that whore into my camp,and now you will pay for her sins.”

“I didnotbring her here. I tried tostop her.” Khalid’s voice rose in a sickening plea. “You mustbelieve me. It’s the American you should blame.”

“Do not worry.” Tariq rested a foot on thedowned man’s back. “I will get my revenge on him as well.”

“Khan Tariq, we are allies, soon to berelated through marriage.” Khalid tried to rise, but Tariq pushedhim back down. “Let me help you.”

Tariq frowned at the sniveling rodent underhis foot. He could crush Khalid’s neck with one well-placed boot.Although the man’s death would bring him great satisfaction, havingKhalid under his control, perhaps in his role as president, wouldbring Tariq much greater joy and success. Blowing out a breath, helet his anger toward the man seep out along with it. He yanked theweapon away and stepped back. “Get up.”

Khalid flinched at his harsh tone, butscrambled to his feet as though afraid Tariq would change his mind.Bowing low in a way that pleased Tariq, Khalid said,“Tashakor, Khan Tariq. I am at your service.”

“Come, I need to find Ishaq and get an updateon the situation. I do not even know who is attacking us.”

Khalid craned his neck, scanning the area.His shoulders hunched involuntarily with each blast of gunfire. “Ido not see anyone except your own men.”

“Yet we are clearly under attack.”

“Americans?”

A tic started in Tariq’s jaw. He clenched histeeth tightly to stop the incessant jumping. “It would seem so.Again, I lay this at your feet.” Which was precisely why he waskeeping Khalid with him. Until Tariq had concrete proof of Khalid’sloyalty, he wasn’t taking any chances.

Snaring Khalid’s arm, Tariq hurried to hisstronghold, a small reinforced bunker he’d had built for just suchan occasion. Ishaq would be there. His wives knew to bring thechildren to the bunker at the first sign of trouble, and the guardshad been instructed to deliver Laila there as well.

His steps hastened as a gnawing worry grew inhis belly. What if Laila wasn’t with his family? What if the guardshadn’t found her? A growl rumbled in his chest. He would get herback, alive or dead. And if Khalid’s bitch had somehow escaped thehole, found her way past his guards to Laila’s room, and thenmanaged to sneak the girl out of the camp, Tariq would have toadmit she was an extraordinary woman—right before he squeezed thelast breath out of her devil’s lungs.

The fighter Kaden had spotted knelt on therooftop, gun at the ready. Kaden was as quiet as a cat, hismovements just as efficient. Timing his steps with the bursts ofweapons’ fire, Kaden crept up behind the man whose face he couldn’tsee. There was something about his build, his stance, his poisethat Kaden recognized. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean anything.All well-trained soldiers had this extra edge.

Kaden was just about to launch himself at theman when a firm hand clamped over his mouth. He was pulled againsta body smaller than his own, but just as hard. A dozencountermeasures clamored for attention in his mind. Adrenalinespiked. Muscles tensed. Focus narrowed.

“Easy there, Sergeant.”

Kaden froze. Was it—? He let his body go lax,signaling to the man that he wouldn’t fight. As soon as the handsdropped from his mouth and waist, Kaden whirled around, recognizinghis former teammate.

“Jesus Christ. You’re a sight for sore eyes,Hoffman.” He cupped the man’s neck and clapped him solidly on theback. They’d kept their voices low, and the man kneeling a fewyards away didn’t budge or otherwise acknowledge their presence.Kaden flicked his eyes to the fighter. “One of yours?”

“Yep. That’s Ortiz. He’s new.” Hoffmangrinned. “Didn’t want him to kill you.”

“As if he could,” Kaden blustered.

Ortiz turned around and shot him a wink. “Oh,I could. I’ve had you in my sights for the past five minutes.”

Hoffman feigned shock. “The great sergeant,the Viking himself, has lost his mojo? Please, say it isn’tso.”

Kaden laughed good-naturedly. This was theway things had always been. A little humor always helped the menrelax, which increased their focus. “You don’t have to call me thatany more, you know.”

“Once a sergeant, always a sergeant.” Hoffmanthrew an arm around Kaden’s shoulders and smacked him on the chest.“It’s really good to see you again.”