Page 123 of Deadly Betrayal

“It’s going to take a while for them to getover this.” Kaden rubbed his cheek on Azita’s head. “Know wherewe’re going?” He’d have to make plans once they landed to get themsome place safe.

“Jake said he was needed at Camp Marmal, sowe go there first. After we refuel, we go back to Bagram.”

Nic must have already arrived at the largeGerman-run camp with the security team. A twinge of guilt grippedKaden’s gut. The guy was paying for two full-time bodyguards, andhere, in the most dangerous place he’d ever been, he didn’t haveeven one.

The good news was that Camp Marmal, justoutside of Mazar-e Sharif, was one of the bigger bases in thenorthern provinces, and it had a large medical facility that alsotreated civilians.

Kaden balanced Azita on his chest and heldhis hand out to Hassan. “I can’t thank you enough. You ever needanything, anything at all, you call me.”

Hassan’s eyes darted to Azita and Laila.“Just take care of your doctor and the girl.” His voice lowered andgrew harder. “Men like Khan Tariq do not let go easy. Keep yourguard up.”

“Always,” Kaden agreed. A few minutes later,Hassan moved away to confer with Hoffman.

The vibrations inside the Chinook werelulling Kaden to sleep. His muscles felt heavy, and his eyelidsthreatened to close. The soldiers who weren’t standing guard at thewindows had already nodded off. Azita’s head rested on hisshoulder, Laila’s on hers. After so many hours of being cold, bothhad been unable to resist the warmth of the blanket he’d wrappedaround them.

What was he going to do with them? Khalid’seagle eye followed every movement Kaden made. Was Khalid even nowplanning to have Azita and Kaden arrested? Would he take Laila andtry to marry her off again? Tariq wasn’t dead. But after witnessingthe kind of man the warlord was, could Khalid be cruel enough to gothrough with their deal and force Laila to marry the oldbastard?

Kaden clasped the child’s arm. He’d heardsome of Freba’s final words. The rest he’d read on her lips. She’dasked Azita to care for her daughter. Kaden would do all that hecould to see the dying woman’s wish fulfilled.

Chapter 29

Azita awoke to Kaden’s warm breath on hercheek and his low voice in her ear. “Wake up, honey. We’relanding.”

Confused by the loud noise around her and theshifting below her feet, Azita struggled to sit up. It took her amoment to get her bearings, a moment before reality crashed down onher. Freba was dead. Her gaze dropped to the sleeping girl in herarms. Laila was exhausted, dehydrated, and probably suffering fromsome degree of hypothermia and shock. Although she would bephysically recovered in a few days, the psychological damage wouldtake much longer to heal.

And then there was Khalid to deal with. Sinceboarding the helicopter, his eyes hadn’t wavered from her or Kaden.He was no doubt furious that Kaden was touching her. That for atleast part of the flight, she’d been sitting in his lap. Somethingdeep inside spurred her to snuggle deeper into Kaden’s hold.Perhaps it was petty, but the small act of defiance buoyed herspirits.

The helicopter landed with a jolt. Azita hadno idea where they were. She just hoped it was somewhere Laila andKaden could receive medical attention. And someone had to see toFreba’s burial. As head of the household, it was Khalid’sresponsibility. Would he want to take Freba’s body to Kabul for theceremony? And if he did, would he take Laila away from her in spiteof Freba’s wishes? He wasn’t bound by the woman’s dying words; hemight not even have heard them.

Kaden was safe from Khalid’s retaliation aslong as he remained on a military base. The ANP had no jurisdictionthere. As for herself… there was nowhere safe.

The back loading ramp lowered and twosoldiers jumped in and began to pop the rivets securing thestretchers to the helicopter’s wall. When they picked up Freba’sstretcher, Azita gently sat Laila up.

Like a lion lying in wait, Khalid pounced.“Here, let me.”

Khalid went to pick up the girl, but Kadenwas faster. With one hand at the small of her back, he propelledAzita to stand, blocking Khalid’s access. In another instant, hestood, Laila in his arms. “I’ve got her.”

Khalid scowled. “It’s hardly appropriate. Iam her uncle.”

“Is that what they call slave traders thesedays?” Kaden pushed past the man, who stared at him with his mouthhanging open.

At the bottom of the ramp, two nurses waitedwith a gurney. Kaden laid Laila on it. Immediately, the girlreached out and gripped his sleeve. “I’m scared.” Her voiceshook.

“You’re safe here, sweetheart.” Kaden’s eyesdarted to Azita.

She swallowed. This was it, this was the timeto act. She wasn’t just a doctor now. She was a mother, and herdaughter needed her. Taking Laila’s other hand, she pressed it toher lips. “I’m here,azizam. The doctors need to examine us.When we are done, Kaden will join us.”

“Of course. I’ll be there in just a fewminutes.” He kissed Laila’s forehead, but his eyes were on Azitawhen he added, “I’m not going anywhere.”

As soon as Azita and Laila entered thehospital tent, Kaden turned back to face Khalid. Jake, Hassan, andthe others had spread out behind Khalid. They’d moved far enoughfrom the Chinook that they could hear each other speak. What wouldhappen to Khalid depended on what he said next, and Kaden didn’twant to miss a word.

While Kaden was deciding how to start, Khalidtook the offensive. “You cannot keep her.”

“Who?” Kaden asked. He wasn’t giving the manan inch.

Khalid’s eyes narrowed. “Azita. She is mine,and you will not have her.”

“No?” Kaden took a step closer, bringing hisextra height and bulk into play. “How are you going to stopme?”