Page 75 of Deadly Betrayal

She stepped away from Kaden, instantlymissing his touch, the solidness of his presence. It was going tobe so much more difficult to leave now that she knew how it felt tobe without him.

Khalid stopped a few feet from Kaden. Hegrabbed Azita’s wrist and pulled her to his side. “I instructed youto stay in the car.”

“I’m not a child,” she snapped.

“Then stop acting like one!”

She closed her mouth in an effort to masterher emotions. How easily Khalid could rile her. After takingseveral breaths of hot rancid air, she forced herself to focus onthe original purpose of their return. “Kaden, are there anysurvivors?”

His gaze seemed glued to Khalid’s fingers onher wrist. “No.”

“Are you hurt?” He didn’t look it, but it wasbest to ask since Khalid wouldn’t allow her to conduct anexamination.

“I’m fine.” Kaden’s tone was as hard as hiseyes. Finally, he looked away from Khalid’s hand. “How’s yourhead?”

She touched it gently with her fingers. “Alittle sore.”

“Why were you following us?” Khaliddemanded.

Kaden shrugged. “Azita’s medical bag. Youleft it behind.”

Shahram approached, his steps slow andhesitant. Kaden’s lip curled at the sight of him. Shahram simplyheld his hands up. “I did what I thought was best for my sister atthe time.”

“What do you think now, genius?” Kadenasked.

Her brother lowered his gaze and buried hishands in his pockets. He looked so out of place, confronting thismountain of a man. So lonely. She wanted to hug him and soothe him.But not as much as she wanted to hear his answer.

“Those men”—he pointed to the burnt-outpickup—“would have killed us all if you hadn’t stopped them. Howdid you do it?”

“A grenade.” Kaden grinned and she caught aglint in his eyes. This was how he must have looked as a boyplanning a prank.

“Spectacular.”

Khalid snorted at Shahram’s awed expression.“‘Spectacular’ would have been not blowing up his own car. Azita’smedical bag was in it.” He smacked the other man behind the head.“Or were you too busy hero-worshipping to remember?”

Without a word, Kaden stalked over to theside of the road, disappearing into the night. Azita was just aboutto risk Khalid’s anger by calling out, when he reappeared carryinghis duffel and her medical bag. “Oh! You have it.” She pulled awayfrom Khalid and raced to the side of the road.

Kaden ducked his head and muttered, “I wantedyou to have your medicine.”

When she took it from his hand, their fingerstouched. Electricity sang through her body, taking her breath away.“Is that the only reason you came after me?”

He leaned in close. His lips brushed her ear.“I missed you.”

His whispered words caused something to twistlow in her pelvis, a pressure that grew and spiraled. Azita had toclose her eyes against the wave of arousal that filled her,consumed her.

When he pulled back, she opened her eyes anddrew a shaky breath. “Thank you.”

“Enough.” Khalid gripped her arm above theelbow and forced her toward the SUV. “Let’s go.”

“What about Kaden? We can’t leave him here.”At the guesthouse, she had gone willingly with Khalid, but thistime she resisted with everything she had.

Abruptly, he stopped and let her go. Thefingers of one hand dug into his hair, making it stand on end.Unusually disheveled and looking like he was at his wit’s end, heturned to her. “What would you have me do? That man has caused mequite enough trouble already.”

“He needs to come with us.”

“No.”

“What if more bandits come looking for theirfriends? They’ll kill him.”