Page 18 (1/2)

Hell She was definitely in trouble now

Letting her go was perhaps the hardest thing Khalid had ever done in his life He pocketed the white silk handkerchief that was now stained with her blood and watched with hooded eyes as she and Shayne moved off

"Bad idea," Joe snapped behind him "She’s hurt"

Khalid turned to him slowly

"She would know if she was hurt badly," he told the otherlogical decisions As long as she is doing this, we have no right to interfere"

There was a long silence behind hi off the other man as they watched Marty and Shayne athered Shayne was going to have a hell of a tis ht make use of Shayne when he needed to, but on hohter was concerned, it would be a different story The CIA wasn’t exactly bosom buddies of Zach’s He was siencies from that particular branch of covert operations

"What the hell happened? I thought she left with you last night? Didn’t you stay with her?"

The fury pounded at his back as Joe stepped closer "I warned you she wasn’t going to be as easy to control as you thought she was That she would need more attention if you stepped into an affair with her"

There was nothing inattentive about what Khalid felt for Marty But there was also fear More fear than he had ever known in his life Fear for her life, for her safety

Still, Khalid nodded slowly "So you did It is a situation that will not be repeated But in all fairness, Senator, I have never stated a desire to control her, nor do I feel the least bit careless toward her My only desire was to ensure she was never harmed"

"If I find out your past is behind this attack on her, Khalid, then you won’t enjoy dealing with me," Joe snarled, now at his side as he voiced Khalid’s own fears

Khalid turned to the senator, watching hiaze back to the woman

"If I learn this happened because of my past, then I will deal with it however I must," he said "She’s a woman My woman And I promise you, I will protect what is ain "No matter who she must be protected from"

He would protect her, whether froblanket over her Her fathers had tried She had been placed within his sphere, and there danger always existed Though he had not expected danger to co away fro hter’s protection, Khalid walked over to his sleek black Lexus

Abdul aiting, his craggy features creased into a frown as he watched Marty, his hand placed casually in the pocket of the jacket he wore--and on the he carried there

"Contact Azir," he ordered "See if you can find out if Ayid and Aman are involved in this My contacts had no infor, nor do they know of my bastard half brothers’ whereabouts"

Abdul shook his head "This is not so he would discuss with me Your brothers do not discuss their schemes with him They work around him, below him, but never where he can stop their plans"

"Then contact the bastards," he snapped "Tell them I will come after theets so much as another scratch"

Abdul stared back at him, his expression torreater satisfaction and spur on their efforts," Abdul warned hio in weakness Stand silent and still, and you htened furiously "I’d rather go hunting"

Abdul shook his head again before nodding toward Marty "Seduce your woman Love her Use this time to tie her to you, so that once your deceptions are revealed she will not run fro of your time and your care" There was a hint of censure in his voice then "She is also strong She is a woman of truth and honor, my friend The day will come that this may be all that holds her to you Then, when your brothers th, not in weakness This is my advice to you"

And it was advice he should heed Khalid watched as Marty and Shayne worked together He acknowledged that the other agent was carefully covering her back, on guard, and watching everyone closely

Shayne was a th; Khalid had chosen him as his third for this reason He would be there when Marty was in danger And Khalid would be by her side as thehe couldn’t pull back on The danger that would always surround her would aleigh too heavily on his soul Should she be harmed or, God forbid, should she be killed, then could he survive the loss?

He couldn’t He knew this Sharing her life with another reement with, was the only alternative And thankfully it was an alternative he would be pleased to live with

"Contact Abram," he told Abdul "Let him know the situation as it stands He should add to his own protection as well"

Abdul nodded "They will attempt to destroy Abram, but only after they have destroyed you Azir protects Abram for now, for Abram is the chosen heir"

That hat they suspected, it wasn’t what they were certain of

"Doesn’t matter" Khalid shook his head "They’ll do what they can as opportunity presents itself Abraainst them Make sure that he has the information he needs, and we’ll work on our end to ensure our own protection"