Page 63 of Deadly Betrayal

She huffed. “Yes, it is true. He can force meto marry him. But what does that matter?” She stalked up to Khalid.“I don’t care what you say.”

Khalid caught her under the chin. “Is thatright?” His gaze bore into hers. “Do you have any idea how muchtrouble you’re in?” He jerked his head at the men. “How muchtroubletheyare both in because of you? With one phonecall, I can have the ANP here. What, my dear, do you suppose willhappen then?” He’d already decided not to involve the police, buthe wanted to impress upon her the gravity of the situation—and howpowerless she was. “You will come back to Kabul with me, now. Wewill marry immediately, before anyone becomes aware of what youhave done.”

Eyes welling, she shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?” He stroked her cheek, marveling atits softness. In contrast, he hardened his voice. “Did you actuallybelieve you had a choice?”

“She damn well does have a choice. You can’tforce her to marry you,” Kaden blustered. Khalid just smiled ashumiliation threatened to drown Azita. When Kaden looked at her,she had to turn away. How could she tell this gentle, caring manthat in her own country she was nothing other than a possession ofher late husband’s family?

There was a scuffle in the hall, then thedoor slammed open and Jake entered, a bag of food in one hand andher brother in the other. She stared in shock. “Shahram!”

He’d sold them out.

“This is not what you think, my sister.”

“No?”

“We made the wrong decision. I should nothave let you go after Laila. Especially not with Mr. Christiansen.But”—his gaze flicked to Khalid—“Agha Khalid says he will marry youand protect you from any consequences that may come from what wehave done.”

“Is that right?” She glared at her brother.How easily he was snowed. How easily he gave up.

“It is for the best, my sister.”

Khalid picked that moment to ask the mostdamning of all his questions, one she’d dreaded. “How did youexpect to get away with this little scheme, Azita? What did youthink would happen after you took Laila from Khan Tariq?” Khalidraised a brow at Kaden. “What did she tell you?”

“That you’d kick her out.”

He scratched at his beard as though mullingover Kaden’s statement. Then he shook his head dramatically. “Poorfool. Azita should not have involved you, certainly not withoutfull knowledge of the risks.”

Kaden bristled. “I knew what I was gettinginto.”

“So you knew you were committing a crime bybeing alone with her, that you could both be imprisoned or killedfor it? That by breaking my agreement with Khan Tariq, should youhave succeeded, you would have rained shame upon my family as wellas on his? That he’d stop at nothing to get retribution?”

Kaden remained silent, an unmoving wall infront of Nic. Jake dropped Shahram’s arm and moved to stand besideKaden. Azita felt the world slow. Khalid was right. She hadn’t beenhonest with Kaden and had kept vital information from him. Whatmust he think of her?

Khalid paced across the room, scowling whenhe stopped in front of the mattress in the corner with the twoside-by-side sleeping bags. Azita began to tremble inside. She andKaden had done nothing wrong, but it was enough by her country’sstandards.

More than enough.

Khalid spun on his heel. “Tell me, myAmerican friend, what didyouthink would happen?”

“I expected to liberate the girl and hermother, to return them to you. I also expected I’d have to bribeyou.”

Khalid laughed. Kaden’s expression hardened.“And what of Azita, the instigator of all this?” he asked, pointingto her.

“If she wants, she can marry you after.”

Khalid’s face darkened like the night skyover the desert. He stepped closer to Kaden. “There is no after. Ifyou go through with this madness, there is no future for Azita. Shewill be dead—or as good as dead.” His gaze lasered onto Azita.“Tell your hero.”

Azita closed her eyes and snaked her armsaround her waist. Everything Khalid had said was the truth.

“Azita?” Kaden prompted her gently. “What ishe talking about?”

Her eyes filled with tears, for herself andfor him. “I should have told you. Everything. I’m sorry. Sosorry.”

When he looked at her, his hurt expressionwas one she’d hoped to never see on his face. “So this wasbasically a suicide mission.” His dead voice lashed at her.

“I-I just wanted to save Laila.”