Page 52 of Deadly Betrayal

“No, no!” Shahram clawed at Khalid’s arms.“Stop!”

What was his problem? Frustrated with hisbrother-in-law and more than a little angry toward Azita forrunning off and causing him so much headache, Khalid halted. Heclenched his fists on his hips and inhaled roughly. “What?”

“Azita is here.” Shahram shifted from onefoot to the other. “We need to go get her.”

“Where, you fool?”

Shahram pointed to the woman in the dark blueheadscarf, who now walked along the fence between the tall guardand the star. “Right there. That’s Azita.”

“You can’t see her face. And the guard isn’tblond.”

“That scarf was our mother’s. It was handmadeby her grandmother. See the gold embroidery along the edges? It isthe names of all the women who have owned it. And the guard’s hairis brown because Azita dyed it.”

“She dyed it? But that would mean she—” Hecut himself off, unable to speak the unspeakable, unable to believeAzita would do such a thing.

“Touched him. Yes, I’m well aware.”

“How could you let that happen?” Khalidroared, the emotions of the past few minutes too much for him tocontain.

Shahram shrank back, but he did not stepaway. His shoulders hunched and he bowed his head. “Have you seenthe man? How could I not?”

Khalid tightened his fists until his nailsdug into the flesh of his palms, providing a release for some ofthe anger churning inside him. He would find a way to get her back.All he had to do was wait outside the gates, and when he saw Azitaleave with the bodyguard, he’d follow them.

It wasn’t Shahram’s size that made him weak,it was his spirit. But Khalid didn’t suffer from the samedeficiency. In him, the American had met his match.

Kaden’s sixth sense was stuck in overdrive. Afeeling of foreboding, of imminent danger, made the short hairs atthe nape of his neck stand up. With Azita safely tucked between himand Nic, he scanned the crowd for any sign of a threat. The peopleamassed along the fence pushed to get closer when Nic approached.Many held out their hands, trying to touch him. And even here, sofar away from Hollywood and all the hype surrounding movie stars,some of Nic’s fans were moved to tears just being in hispresence.

Kaden never could understand any of it. SureNic was a great guy. He was better-than-average looking, and he wasrich. But did that justify such extreme reactions? Not in Kaden’sbook, and judging by the bewildered look on Azita’s face, not inhers either.

Two men broke away from the crowd. Kadenreached around Azita’s back and put a hand on Nic’s shoulder.Triggered by Kaden’s heightened alertness, Jake moved incloser.

“Something wrong, sir?” McAlister, thesecurity team leader, asked, his eyes on Nic’s fans.

“Not sure. But keep a watch on those twomen.” With a subtle angling of his head, he motioned toward the twomen in Afghan clothing who were pushing through the crowd, awayfrom the fence. Both appeared well-to-do, not the type to beinsurgents. But these days and in this place, appearances wereespecially deceiving.

Azita touched his arm. “They look familiar. Iwish I could see their faces.”

None of this eased Kaden’s anxiousness. Theair seemed heavy with expectation, the way it did right before abig electrical storm. He didn’t like it. “We’re done here. Time tosay goodbye, Nic.”

Nic raised a brow, but didn’t argue. Holdingup his hand, he waved to his fans. “Khoda hafez!”

When Azita smiled at Nic like he’d justdiscovered the cure to cancer, Kaden placed his hand on hershoulder and abruptly directed her away from the fence. “Go.”

Her smile became a frown, and Kaden’s guttwisted. Fuck.Can the caveman attitude, you idiot. Shewasn’t his, and even if she were, this sure as shit wasn’t any wayto treat a woman.

Nic moved into place beside her, while Kadenand Jake positioned themselves between the pair and the crowd atthe fence. The security team fanned out around them, walkingbackwards, their vigilant gazes trained on the fans.

Once they were back inside the camp proper,Nic stopped and faced Kaden. “What was all that about?”

“Just a bad feeling.” Since the crazy nightof the premiere of Nic’s movie,Bad Days, in Washington,D.C., Kaden had learned to trust his gut. Nic’s face darkened as hegot even closer, until they stood toe to toe. What was this? Kadenraised his brows in silent question.

“I’m talking about you shoving Azita,” Nicsaid, his voice low and angry.

Kaden felt each word like a blow. He held uphis hands. “It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it like, then? Tell me.” Nic’snostrils flared and his shoulders broadened. “I don’t care if she’sfrom Timbuktu. Every woman deserves respect. Always. If you can’tmanage that—”

Christ. Did Nic really think he’d hurtAzita—or any woman for that matter? Acid burned in his gut. Nic washis friend, and he didn’t want to fight with him over somethingthat was not even remotely true. Kaden gripped Nic’s shoulders.“Come on, man. You know me better than that. I’d never harm awoman.” Nic’s scowl remained firmly in place. “Okay,” he conceded.“Maybe I nudged her a little harder than I meant to. I’msorry.”