Page 55 of Deadly Betrayal

“Huh.”

Kaden had never seen Nic speechless. Untilrecently, his boss had been the love ’em and leave ’em type. InNic’s world, “getting to know” a woman was a euphemism for havingsex with one.

Jake’s gaze flicked to Azita, then to Kaden.His brow furrowed. “Speaking of which, what’s going to happen toher when this is all over? Think the brother-in-law will forgiveand forget?”

“Not likely.” Kaden had answeredautomatically, but the question struck a chord. Whatwasgoing to happen to her? Did she have somewhere to go? Someone who’dshelter her, protect her from Khalid and the warlord?

“Sounds like you and the lady have a lot todiscuss,” Jake said ever so helpfully.

Nic grabbed Kaden’s arm. “She doesn’t lookwell.”

Azita held a palm pressed to her forehead asshe breathed in and out slowly. The headache must have gottenworse. “She was injured yesterday.” He explained about the carrunning over the IED on the roadside and the shrapnel that had hither head. “One of the German docs just put in some stitches.”

“Jesus, Kaden.” Nic shook his head. “If she’seven admitting that her head hurts, it’s probably a migraine. Youhave much to learn about women, my friend.”

“I want to take her back to the guesthouse,but you’re not done here. And we still need to talk. Inprivate.”

“I’ll go with you. Give me two minutes towrap things up.”

Kaden sighed, knowing he was in for anargument. “It’s too dangerous for you to leave the base withoutyour military escort. We gave them the day off, remember?”

“I’ve always been safe with the two of you.”Nic’s gaze took in Kaden and Jake. “This isn’t any different.”

“It’s a fuckingwar zone, Nic. Ofcourse it’s different. You’re a huge target.”

“You think someone’s going to try to killme?”

Kaden had kept his worries to himself up tonow, but it was time to come clean. “No. Like I told you back atthe office, you’re a warlord’s wet dream. All one has to do iskidnap you, and his militia will be funded for life with theransom.”

Nic’s lips thinned and he crossed his arms.“I’ll wear a disguise, and you can practice those evasive maneuversyou like so much.”

“I really don’t want to do this. It isn’tsafe.”

Looking as stubborn as any three year old,Nic stuck to his guns. “I’m going.”

Jake stepped between the two of them. “MaybeI can get a couple of the guys here to volunteer to escort us tothe guesthouse. Would that work?”

“Wouldn’t an escort draw even moreattention?” Nic asked. He turned to Jake. “You’ve seen it. Any signof a military vehicle or military uniform, and everyone settles infor a show.”

Jake scratched his chin. “Even in civilianclothing, these guys would get noticed. They scream military.”

Nic arched a brow at Kaden and waited. Kadenhad never felt so on the spot. They did need to talk, and he didn’twant to do it on the base. Shit. “All right. Christ, I hope I don’tlive to regret this.”

Nic held up two fingers. “Give me a coupleminutes.” When Nic moved away to thank his fans, Kaden pulled Jaketo his side. “It’s going to be just the two of us with two chargesto protect. You up for it?”

Jake tapped his chest twice with his fist.“My life for theirs.”

Kaden returned the vow, but in his mind heincluded Jake among his charges. He’d take another bullet for thekid, and do it gladly.

Chapter 14

Kaden sent Jake to get the car while hewalked out with Azita and Nic, who’d been decked out in camo pants,a dark shirt, and body armor. A baseball cap pulled low over hiseyes topped the outfit. Kaden had wanted to suggest Azita wear moreWestern-style clothing, but judging by how tightly she gripped herscarf under her chin, she was far from ready for such a bigstep.

Jake pulled the Corolla up to the outerperimeter fence as near as he was allowed. Once Jake had opened thetwo doors closest to them, Kaden gave the signal. “Go.Quickly.”

As casually as possible, he looked for anyremaining fans or troublemakers. Jake stuck close to Nic, whileKaden stayed with Azita. When everyone was safely in the car, Nicand Azita in the back, Kaden took the wheel and drove them towardthe guesthouse.

“Any tail?” Kaden wasn’t expecting trouble,but that was when it usually found him. Being a soldier had taughthim to always be on guard. That level of hyperawareness had beendifficult to manage when he’d first returned stateside. But rightnow, in this place, it was what would keep them all alive.