Page 151 of Deadly Betrayal

It had to be Khalid. “What about Dixon?”

“He’s down, sir.”

Kaden felt the weight of each decision on hisshoulders. Dixon and Stiles had come to guard the suite as a favorto Jake. Neither man had been expecting an attack.

Jake shouldered past Kaden. “I’m going outthere.” Before he could cross the threshold, a fresh burst ofgunfire came from down the hall. Jake grabbed Stiles and Kadengrabbed Jake. The three tumbled into the room, quickly rolling totheir feet and slamming the door shut.

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Now all they have to do isshoot through the door.” On the other hand, this forced the enemyto attack through a funnel, which helped even the odds. He doubtedTariq’s men had the skills to come in through their eighth-floorwindows. Kaden glanced toward Laila’s room, praying Azita had takencover with the girl. Hopefully, they were hiding in the closet, thebathtub, or even under the bed.

It was time for some backup. Crossing theroom, he snatched the phone off the corner table and dialed hotelsecurity. “Floor eight, room 802. There are five men with weaponsand one hostage in the hall. They’ve already killed one man.”

“A team is on the way up, sir,” the guardsaid. “Stay in your suite.”

After hanging up, Kaden relayed theinformation to the other two men. “I’m checking on Azita andLaila.” Jake and Stiles pushed a heavy desk up against the door andflipped over the couch, taking up defensive positions behind it,while Kaden slipped into Laila’s room. “Azita,” he whispered,almost holding his breath. If anything happened to her…

There was the sound of movement, a scrapingof cloth against the afghan carpet. “I’m here.” Azita stuck herhead out from under the bed.

Kaden immediately dropped to his knees andgave her a hurried kiss. “Are you both okay?”

“Yes.” She reached for Laila’s hand. The girlstared at him with glassy fear-filled eyes that ripped theheartstrings right out of his chest.

He stroked her cheek. “It’ll be over soon.Hang tight.” When her brows furrowed, he gave a small smile. “Itmeans ‘stay here.’”

She nodded, her quivering lips pressedtightly together.

Azita gripped his hand. “Is it KhanTariq?”

Before answering, his gaze went to Laila. Thepoor girl shuddered just hearing the man’s name. He gave Azita anod then pulled her to him, planting another quick kiss on herplump lips. “I love you.”

“Be safe,” she whispered in a raspy voice.She hadn’t asked about Khalid, and he wasn’t about to volunteer theinformation. With any luck, hotel security would subdue the menbefore Khalid got himself killed. He didn’t give a shit about theasshole, but Khalid did have two wives and children. Widows andtheir children often starved in this country, and whatever else hewas, Khalid was at least a good provider.

Softly, he closed the door and crouched downbehind the couch with Jake and Stiles. “Any change?” There was alot of shouting in the hall, not that he could understand any ofit.

“Security is trying to get Tariq’s men torelease Khalid,” Jake said, palming a grenade. “If he weren’tthere, I’d have lobbed this sucker at them already.”

Kaden arched a brow. “You do realize thishotel is full of civilians?”

Jake shrugged. “Maybe so. But if those guyscross this door, they’re going to be eating a shit-ton ofbullets.”

Out in the hall, there was a lull in theshouting. One voice—Khalid’s—rang clear. “Don’t trust the—”

A barrage of automatic weapons fire drownedout the rest. Kaden and his two allies hunkered down, guns poised.Ready.

Don’t trust what? What was Khalid trying tosay? It was obviously a warning, but it made no sense to Kaden.Sweat plastered his shirt to his back. It was a cold sweat born offear. A new sensation for a man who’d always reacted coolly andcalmly in a fight. He’d lived for shit like this. His militarycareer had been the only important thing in his world for over adecade. And he’d enjoyed every adrenaline-fueled second.

Now, everything had changed. His eyes flickedto the closed door behind which Azita and Laila were hiding.

Now, he had something to lose.

Azita shifted closer to the child shakingbeside her. It was dark under the bed, and although she couldn’tsee Laila’s eyes, Azita was certain the girl’s pupils were dilatedwith shock. Now more than at any time before, Azita appreciated howtraumatic the past week had been for the girl, who was still farmore child than woman. Laila had always been happy, lively. Wouldtheir move to Canada help her, or set her back even further? Azitawasn’t a psychologist, but in her heart, she felt it was for thebest. Kaden would ensure that they had some place safe to live, farfrom battles and people trying to kill them.

Yes, there would be tough times. She andLaila would both miss their home, their people. And they’d both gothrough tremendous culture shock, but it was necessary. She’dpromised Freba to give her daughter a better life, and with Kaden’shelp, she’d do just that.

Something screechedinsidetheroom.

Azita froze. Beside her, Laila pressed herforearm to her mouth. There was another screech, and the streetnoises grew louder. Had someone opened the window? Carefully, Azitabelly-crawled to the edge of the bed and lifted the coverlet acouple centimeters off the floor, just enough to see into theroom.

A slim figure outlined by moonlight climbedthrough the window.