Page 85 of Deadly Betrayal
She bit her lip to hold back a sob.
“I see.” He hugged her then, the warmall-encompassing hug of their childhoods. “I love you, mysister.”
“And I you, my brother,” she murmured againsthis neck as she fought to swallow her tears. Her ruse wasn’t justto save Kaden; it was also to protect Shahram. Growing up, they’dbeen each other’s best friend, and being a couple years youngerthan she, he’d been the perfect escort. He’d followed her blindlyanywhere she’d wanted to go. Just as he had this week.
They broke out of the hug and spoke at thesame time. “Be safe.”
Before she could comprehend why he would wishher safety when she was about to put herself in enemy hands,Shahram vaulted out of their hiding spot, waving Kaden’s pistol.“Go. Run. Warn your man.”
“No!”
“Over there!” one of Tariq’s men shouted.
Azita froze. His expression grave andunafraid, Shahram grabbed her arm and propelled her forward.“Go!”
Gulping down her misgivings, she crouched lowand scooted through the trees away from Shahram and the path.Before heading toward the village, she had to get far enough fromthe area the men were searching that they wouldn’t spot her.
Behind her, men yelled. A weapon fired, and ascream rent the air. The sound arced through her, and she felt itto her bones.Please let that not be Shahram.Her eyesblurred and she ran into something hard. Something warm. Had shedelivered herself into the arms of the enemy?
“Shh. It’s me.”
She blinked to clear her vision and almostcried out. Kaden was back. She hugged him tightly. “The men…Shahram…” Her words faltered as she warred with relief anddread.
A fallen tree lay a couple feet away. He ledher there and handed her a canteen. “Drink. I’ll be rightback.”
Without another word, he left as silently ashe’d arrived, melting into the branches and leaves. Her hands shookas she unscrewed the cap on the canteen, which was filled to thebrim. After a few careful sips, she closed the canteen, unwillingto waste any of the precious water. Shahram would need it.
Sounds of a struggle nearby set her teeth onedge. She slipped off the trunk and ducked behind it. The thicktree would provide some protection if the men came this way.Moments later, there was a blast of gunfire, the rat-a-tat-tatcloser and more terrifying than anything she’d ever heard.
There were more shouts, return gunfire, andscreams. Then all fell silent. The lack of noise was eerie. Goosebumps broke out across her flesh. She dared not move. Dared notmake a sound. Even the birds and small creatures had sensed thedanger and scurried to safety.
“Azita!”
Kaden’s frantic call had her up and running.Before her mind had even understood what was happening, her hearthad already drawn a conclusion: one of the two men she loved washurt. Tripping over exposed roots, she pushed through the shrubsand trees. Leaves and branches hit her battered body and tore ather clothing, but that didn’t slow her down. Nothing matteredexcept locating Kaden and Shahram and doing what she could tohelp.
When she reached the path, her knees almostgave out. A shirtless Kaden knelt on the ground. Blood covered hisface, chest, and hands as he pressed a bundle of material toShahram’s thigh. Her brother’s breathing was labored, his facepasty. Trails of blood surrounded the pair. Without even looking atthe wound, she had a diagnosis: severed femoral artery.
Bile rose in her throat and she had to fightto keep the nausea down. The chance of his surviving such a woundin the field was virtually zero. But this was Shahram, her brother.She had to try. Had to do everything in her power to save him.
“Do you have a belt? Something to make atourniquet,” she asked, crouching at her brother’s side.
Kaden nodded and went to one of the downedmen. He ripped off the strap of the rifle the man still clutched inhis dead hands. She quickly tied the strap around Shahram’s thighabove the bullet wound. “Hold on, brother,” she murmured, liftingKaden’s bundledkameez. Blood continued to ooze with eachbeat of Shahram’s heart, but he wasn’t losing it as quickly as hehad before. She peered inside the wound. Her fingers shook. Thebullet had shattered his femur.
The situation was dire. Shahram was dying.Although she’d managed to slow the rate at which he was bleeding,she couldn’t stop it entirely. Not without a hospital and a team ofspecialized surgeons. All those years of medical study, of trainingto be a doctor, and she was still helpless to aid her own brother.She didn’t even have the morphine from her medical bag to ease hisway.
After replacing Kaden’s shirt on Shahram’sleg, she pasted a bright smile on her face and leaned over herbrother so she was all he could see. Her fingers stroked hiseyebrows, his forehead, and his temples. “Everything will be okay,my brother. Soon there will be no more pain.”
The creases on his forehead disappeared andhe focused on her. She could see the brightness that infused adying person’s eyes in the moments before death. She’d seen it toooften. He licked his lips. She brought up the canteen and wet herfingers, placing a few drops on his tongue. He smiled and her heartfractured, crumbling into a million tiny pieces. Shahram was thelast member of her family, her beloved brother, and she’d broughthim to his death. He should have been home, safe in his apartmentin Kabul.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, themetallic scent of blood filling her nostrils, her lungs, her body.This could not be happening.
Kaden’s hand squeezed her shoulder. Warm andsolid. The compassion and shared pain on his face made her feeleven worse. She didn’t deserve his understanding, didn’t deservehis comfort, not when all she did was leave death and destructionin her wake.
A tentative finger touched her chin. Shahramgazed at her, a content expression on his face. “Be happy, Azitajan.” She had to bring her ear close to his mouth to hearthe rest of his words. “The American… is good… for you.” He closedhis eyes and fell silent. She feared he’d slipped intounconsciousness. When she cupped his cheek, he looked at her again.“Don’t let him go,” he said.
“Oh, Shahram.” She hugged him as her tearsoverflowed. “Don’t talk like that.”
“All I ever… wanted… was for you…” He gaspedfor air. Below her hand on his chest, Azita felt his heart begin toslow. His body shook in protest. Kaden took the canteen from herand pressed a few more drops of water to her brother’s parchedlips. Did he sense how grateful she was that he was with her inthis moment? Even if he hated her, his kindness to her brothermoved her deeply.
