Page 76 of Deadly Betrayal

Khalid glared at Kaden, whose glower rivaledKhalid’s. Azita smiled at the sight of Kaden in warrior mode—sofierce, so protective, sohers. Her smile fell. Where hadthat thought come from? He wasn’t hers. Come morning, she’d bemarried to her brother-in-law. What a mess.

“Fine,” Khalid grunted. “He can come with usuntil we enter Kabul. Then he will get out and find his own way.Understood?”

Azita nodded, grateful for the chance tospend a few more hours with the man of her dreams.

Khalid repeated his words to Kaden, whoagreed. But the gleam in his eyes told her he had another plan uphis sleeve. Anticipation made her heart pound. She hoped his planincluded her.

Hugging her medical bag to her chest, she gotin the car. When Kaden went to take the seat beside her, Khalidbarked, “In. The. Front.”

Shahram slipped in beside her as Khalid gotin the driver’s seat, muttering to himself about the world havinggone mad. They drove away, the smoldering vehicles and the bodiesof the bandits but a speck of light in the darkness behind them.Shahram handed Azita a bottle of water so she could take herantibiotics and a painkiller. When she’d finished, he rested hishead against the seatback mere centimeters from her own. “I can seewhy you like the American,” he whispered.

Her mouth went dry. “You can?”

“He never gives up.”

That described Kaden perfectly. Once he madeup his mind to do something, he kept at it. Regardless of theobstacles in his way, the number of times his plans were derailed,he got back up and tried again. Failure was not in this man’svocabulary.

Shahram squeezed her hand, the show ofaffection surprising because of its rarity. Would her brother helpher get away from Khalid before morning? Before she was forced tomarry yet another man not of her choosing? Would Kaden?

Kaden stared out into the darkness, seemingoblivious to all around him. But he wasn’t. When she caught hiswink in the reflection on the passenger side window, her heart dida little staccato dance.

The clock was ticking, and she couldn’t waitto discover her American’s latest plan.

Liquid fire churned in Khalid’s gut as hedrove through the night, Azita’s American by his side. Never in hiswildest imaginings had he anticipated this situation. Did this manthink himself a rival for Azita’s affections? He scoffed at theidea, until he remembered her running into the man’s arms. Sheshould not have done that. To touch her body was a husband’sprivilege. And this American would never—couldnever—behers.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked theman.

The American glanced over his shoulder atAzita as she slept before replying. “She asked for my help.”

“That easy, is it? She calls, you comerunning?”

“Yep.”

“I do not believe you. There is more, andwhatever it is, I will figure it out.”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then let me make it clear. She thinks youcame to Afghanistan to help her. I think you had a differentreason.”

“What if I did?”

“Then she is being misled. Tell her the truthso she can see you for who you really are. This trip was notaltruistic.” Khalid sneered. “Let her know you are as selfish asthe rest of us.”

“Now I get it.” The American chuckled dryly.“You think I’ve manipulated her somehow. Believe me, man. If shefeels anything for me, it’s because I treat her with respect. She’ssmart and knows what she wants.”

Khalid sighed, the sound loud in the quietvehicle. “I am well aware. Unfortunately, this society does notfavor women like her.”

“Apparently, it doesn’t favor girls likeLaila either.”

A headache started to pulse at Khalid’stemple. “You will not interfere with that.”

“Why not?”

“Because too much depends on it.”

The American cracked his knuckles, bringingattention to his very large hands. Hands that had easily raisedbruises on Shahram’s neck. “Tell me more about that.”

Khalid swallowed to wet his suddenly parchedthroat. “It has nothing to do with you.”