Page 47 of Deadly Betrayal
“Only to see that he comes to no harm. I’dhate to see him shot down by a nervous soldier or bodyguard. Hissister would be quite upset.”
A waiter arrived with their meals. Rezalifted his tea. “Then it is done. We will leave here at noon.”
“Tashakor, Agha Reza.” Shahram beamedas he bowed his head repeatedly. Khalid clenched his hand to keepfrom smacking the smile off Shahram’s stupid face. Azita was inserious trouble, yet all her brother could focus on was some sillymovie star.
At fifty thousand inhabitants, Kunduz was alarge town, and with no clues, he wouldn’t be able to find Azita.Agha Ali and his friend at the telephone company had only been ableto provide him with a ten-kilometer area in which the phone couldbe. That area included both military bases and a dense sector ofthe city where businesses had been built up in close proximity tothe rich foreigners.
If things went Khalid’s way, he might hearmention of the American, who, it seemed, had arrived in Afghanistanthree days ago, on the same day as the movie star and hisbodyguards.
Khalid did not believe in coincidences.
Chapter 12
At two o’clock the following afternoon, Kadenparked the Corolla as close as possible to the Camp Kunduzcheckpoint. Since most military installations didn’t allownonmilitary vehicles onto the base or within the double-fencedsecurity zone, they’d have to walk in. And he’d have to leave hisweapons in the car. Being unarmed always left him feeling cold.Naked. Vulnerable. All things he could not afford.
Walking as close to Azita as custom allowed,Kaden approached the gate guard. Everyone seemed on higher alertthan normal. Having a rich movie star on site would do that. Kadensaw that reaction wherever they went.
Jake and the leader of Nic’s security escortwere supposed to have left instructions that Kaden and Azita beadmitted as members of Nic’s entourage. Kaden was once againwearing Western clothes, and although his hair, eyebrows, and beardwere brown, he’d left off the foundation. How did women stand it?Face paint stayed supple and greasy. This shit just dried thick asplaster.
When it was their turn, Kaden handed overtheir passports to the guard and succinctly explained who theywere. The young German soldier, who had to be at least eight inchesshorter than Kaden and a good fifty pounds lighter, took his sweettime examining their credentials. As people gathered outside thegates near what looked to be a large bazaar being set up, the backof Kaden’s neck started to prickle. His anxiety spiked when theguard’s gaze roamed Azita’s body in a slow, assessing manner.
The kid didn’t even blink when Kaden hit himwith his best don’t-fuck-with-me glare. His tone clipped andbusinesslike, the guard said, “We’ll need to search you”—he glancedat her passport—“Azita Seraj.”
Azita stared at the man. Had she understoodthe guard’s heavily accented English?
“We’ll need a—” the guard started.
“Female guard,” Azita finished for him.
Kaden felt a rush of pride. Whatever thesituation, Azita handled it with integrity and a spine so straightshe could have been a Ranger on parade.
The guard indicated they should stand to theside and wait. Five minutes later, an attractive blonde, tall andathletically built, arrived. “Khanom, please follow me.There is a private area inside.” When Kaden pushed off the wall,she held up her hand. “Sir, please wait out here.”
Azita laid a hand on his arm. “I will befine.”
Mutely, he nodded and shoved his clenchedfists into his pockets. He’d be so much more at ease if this werean American camp. Chances were, he’d know some of the guys. He’d atleast know their protocols. Here, he was as much a foreigner as shewas.
He kept his gaze glued to the small buildingwhere the female guard had taken Azita. His agitation built untilAzita stepped out into the bright sunshine, and the sight of herwas almost too much for his overloaded system. Her blue headscarfperfectly matched the sapphire blue of her twinkling eyes, and herskin glowed with a healthy tan like the palest of coffees. Theloose-fitting white tunic that hung midway to her knees did littleto conceal the fullness of her breasts and the curve of her hips.Hips he’d caressed in the early hours of the morning while she’dslept, cradled in his arms.
“Thank you very much, Doctor,” the femaleguard said with a warm smile. “Have a pleasant day.”
With no thought other than to get Azitawithin the perimeter of the base, he grabbed hold of her hand andhurried through the final gate and onto the base proper. Only thendid he stop to let her catch her breath. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she said, panting. “But you must notwalk so quickly. My legs are much shorter than yours.” Her wordsdrew his attention down to said shapely calves and ankles. Not thathe could see much of them now, since she wore navy pants under thetunic, but he had the memory of last night, of the backs of herlegs pressed firmly against his. Her ass had felt so snug and warmagainst his groin. Heat flared in his face. That’s when he realizedhe was still holding her hand. He dropped it like a hot stone.
“Sorry,” he muttered and headed toward themess hall where he’d arranged to meet Jake and Nic. He had to gethis head screwed on straight before his friends saw him. They’dtake one look and know immediately where his thoughts were: in thegutter. Christ. He’d faced off insurgents with more class than he’dshown Azita. Remembering his manners, he slowed his steps,measuring them to hers. She took everything in with wide eyes.“First time on a base?” he asked.
“It is.” The shake in her voice alarmed him.He turned to her, urging her to continue. “It’s my first time nearso many men without...” The words trailed off, and if Kaden wasn’tmistaken, she shifted closer to him.
A need to protect her welled up inside him.“Without your brother, or your husband,” he finished for her.
“Or Khalid. He took all of us to the fair inKabul last summer. But Afghan men know to keep their distance.”
The muscles in Kaden’s arms were flexed,hard, with the desire to wrap around her shoulders. To mark histerritory in the not-so-subtle way of men. “Don’t worry. No onewill touch you.” They wouldn’t dare.
She twirled the fringe of her scarf aroundher index finger, and there was a small quirk of her lips. “Iknow.”
When they arrived at the mess hall, Kadenopened the door and motioned for her to enter first. Conversationsin English and German flowed around them, punctuated by the scrapeand clatter of dishes. Men and women sat at tables, enjoying lunch,which consisted of brats, potatoes, and sauerkraut.
