Page 46 of Defenders of Jawhara

Kale started to shake his head and then remembered that Slade was very good at his job. If his team said there was a leak, there was a leak! “Do they have any suspects yet?”

“No. What concerns me more is the nature of the intel.”

“And that is?” Kale asked, wondering if he really wanted to know the answer.

“The dissidents are smart. They realize that getting to either you or Kamal is going to be very tough, if not impossible. That is not true of your women.”

Kale cursed before asking, “What are you saying? That they are going to try to hurt Erin or Shira?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I spoke with Kamal, and he wants to basically lock Erin up in the palace and never let her leave again. I advised him against doing that, but I don’t know that he listened to me.”

“That would be his first response, and not such a bad one.”

“The agent I sent over there to protect her disagrees. Erin has already become an integral part of caring for the refugees and seeing to their comfort while in Jawhara. If she suddenly stops, it will be noticed and could harm the negotiations your brother has worked so hard to get signed. The refugees are to begin crossing the border back into Sumari next week.”

Kale sighed. “So what do you recommend?”

“Everyone needs to be extra careful. I’ve instructed PJ that Erin goes nowhere by herself. Not even to her bedroom in the palace. And especially not anywhere public.”

“And she agreed to this?”

“She will. She was on one of her mercy missions to the refugee camp when I spoke with Kamal. He was sending someone out to bring her back immediately.”

“Good.” Kale ran his fingers through his hair. The sooner the refugees returned to their own country, the sooner Jawhara could return to a peaceful existence and he could focus on his future.

“Anyway, I wanted you to let your men know what’s going on. I was planning to fly over there at the end of the week, but this intel is too concerning, and I’m on my way now. Additional contractors will arrive within the week. Until this crisis is resolved, I don’t want to take any chances.”

“Sure you don’t just want to go lie on the beach for a while?” Kale asked, not forgetting Slade’s fondness for Jawhara or the ocean.

“Well, every job has to have some perks.” Slade chuckled.

"I don’t want to make light of the situation. Should I be concerned?”

“You should be fine for the moment. Let us know when you leave the States, and I’ll make sure we have extra security waiting for you when you land.”

“Will do. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I can’t wait to meet your fiancée. Kamal tells me she is the perfect woman for you.”

Kale looked at Shira, who had joined him on the sidewalk in front of her condo and smiled at her. “Yes, she is perfect.”

When he hung up, Kale pulled her to him and hugged her close, filling her in on the new threats that had been discovered and securing her promise to keep at least one bodyguard with her at all times.

The threat to her wasn’t in the States, but once they returned to Jawhara, her safety would be just as precarious as Erin’s. He was taking no chances with the woman he loved.

18

ERIN/PJ/KAMAL

The refugee camps, Jawhara western border with Sumari.

Erin walked among the refugee tents, pleased to see that many of the people not only greeted her but gave her shy smiles. Thanks to the humanitarian relief she’d put in motion, their housing accommodations were greatly improved, along with better sanitation, food, water, and medical care. She was pleased to find out that some of the teachers had volunteered a few hours a week to help teach the children, and the local schools had donated boxes of books and games to help keep them entertained. The haunted looks she’d seen when she’d first arrived had been replaced with hope.

“Miss Malone?” one of the new bodyguards called to her.

Erin turned to the young man with a raised eyebrow. “Amir, isn’t it? How can I help you?”

The guard seemed surprised that she knew his name, but he gave her a quick nod. “Ma’am, there is a woman several rows over who is demanding to speak with you.”

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