Page 18 of Deadly Betrayal

Kaden laughed. “Well, that and the fact I’dbe dead if you hadn’t gotten me medical help when you did.” Hesqueezed Jake’s shoulder. “I never did ask how you managed to finda doctor in that shit storm.”

Jake frowned. “I didn’t. When you got shot,Azita came running, shouting that she was a doctor.”

“She did?”

“She appeared out of nowhere almost beforeyou hit the ground,” Jake continued. “The guys covered the two ofyou while she did her magic. Once you were stabilized, I picked youup and we hightailed it.”

“Did you ever ask what she was doing near theexchange site?”

With a roll of his shoulders, Jake nodded.“Sure. She said she’d been visiting a nearby women’s shelter andthat when she heard the shots, she came to see if anyone was hurt.You were damn lucky. Azita’s the only reason you didn’t biteit.”

Yeah, he had been lucky. The area they’d beenin had been rough, filled with slums, one where it made perfectsense to set up a women’s shelter. Damn, she was tough. She musthave been helping out there without her husband’s consent. If Azitahad been Kaden’s wife, he’d never have allowed her to go into thatneighborhood without a full complement of armed guards.

Someone tapped at the door.

Jake checked the peephole. “Grub’s here.” Heopened the door and after a few words to the delivery man, wheeledthe room-service cart, overflowing with plates covered by metaldomes, into the room.

When Kaden lifted up the covers, Nic stirredand finally cracked open an eye. “Is that food? Thank God. I’mstarving.”

Jake burst into laughter and high-fivedKaden. “I’ll remember that one.”

Nic scrubbed his cheek as he forced his eyesto open. He looked a little dazed, and his voice was gruff withsleep. “You making fun of me?”

Kaden swallowed his grin. “Never, boss.”

“Fuck you,” Nic shot back without heat.

There was another knock at the door. Thinkingit was probably room service again, Kaden went to answer it, comingup short when he spotted a tall, slim brunette instead. Kaden shotJake a look, and the man immediately pulled a grumbling Nic intoone of the spare bedrooms. Kaden turned back to the woman andarched a brow. He could swear he knew her from somewhere. Butwhere?

The woman cocked her hip and grinned. “Ifthere’s going to be any fucking involving you blokes, I hope I’minvited.”

The British accent threw him. Was she areporter who’d found out Nic was staying at the hotel? Obviously,she’d overheard them talking. He shoved her up against the wall,but oddly she didn’t look the slightest bit afraid, and the smilenever left her lips. “Who the hell are you?”

Jake came out of the bedroom and pattedKaden’s shoulder. “Stand down.” Kaden stepped back, but kept hiseyes glued on the vaguely familiar woman until Jake kissed hercheek. Jake knew her?

“Kaden, meet Gwen Clarke. She’s with MI6, andour purveyor oftaskeraand marriage certificates.”

Kaden’s shoulders relaxed as he finallyrecognized the woman. She and Jake had had a bit of a thing severalmonths before Kaden had left Afghanistan. “Sorry about that. Ididn’t mean to bite your head off, especially since you’re helpingus out,” he said and shook her hand. “Nic,” he called. “You cancome back.”

“No worries,” she said. “I’d be on guard tooif I was tasked with protecting this one.” As Nic re-entered theliving room, her eyes swept him from head to foot and back up againbefore resting on his movie star face. “I’m Gwen.”

Nic held his hand out and grinned. “It’s niceto meet you, Gwen. I’m not a spy, but I’ve played one before.”

“Oh yes, I remember. Wasn’t that inReturned?”

“Not to interrupt the fan moment, but ourfood’s getting cold,” Jake cut in and Kaden wanted to laugh at thejealousy heating his partner’s cheeks.

“Care to join us, Gwen?” Nic asked.

“Happy to.”

Jake flinched when Gwen plopped herself onthe couch next to Nic. Kaden struggled to keep his face blank.Jake, clearly still interested in the beautiful agent, had nothingto worry about. Nic was a charmer, but he was also a one-woman man,and that one woman was Lauren. After handing each of them a plate,Nic dove in as though he hadn’t eaten in days.

Jake cleared his throat. “So Gwen, did youget the documents?”

She touched the handbag beside her. “Righthere. Thisashis delicious.” She smiled and batted her eyesat Nic as she spooned up some of the thick Afghan soup. Her smilefaded rapidly when Nic’s gaze failed to find hers. Instead he waslooking longingly at Kaden’s untouched bowl. Kaden hadn’t been inthe mood for it. Instead, he’d attacked his plate of rice andkebabs. But the opportunity to tease Nic was too good to pass up.Forcing a serious expression, Kaden picked up his bowl along with aspoon and made as though he were going to eat the soup. But beforebringing the spoon to his mouth, he looked up, eyes wide andinnocent. “Oh. Did you want myash, Nic?”

Nic reddened and looked away. Kaden waited,grinning broadly.