“Yes, I did.”
Farzad grinned. “Then we are brothers. But I will not tell the others, especially not Hamzad. As I said, he is the eyes and ears of The Lion.”
And Derek knew at that moment that Farzad didn’t trust Kazi either.
“As for your sister, what she did was kind-hearted but dangerous. The mother and child are well?”
“Yes. A son.”
“I’m glad you brought this matter to me. I will do all I can to protect her. Yes, you may speak with her and explain things to her so that she will understand and not bring trouble upon us.”
“Thank you, Farzad.”
Farzad’s expression fell. “My country has not always been like this. When I was a boy, women walked the city streets without burqas. Some went to college, and many held jobs. No woman feared being flogged or shot for speaking with a man. The Taliban ruined that by twisting Islam. They stole Islam, dragged it through the dung, destroying my country. They are heretics. Once we were a land known for its poetry, music, and food. I grieve for Afghanistan and its people, Mr. Tower.”
“The future depends on men like you—and women like these student midwives at this hospital. My sister and I are in your debt.”
Derek sent Jenna a text message but didn’t hear back until noon, when she told him she had worked the night shift and been asleep. He told her they needed to talk, but she said she was too busy.
Derek took advantage of the time to catch up on sleep himself, crashing on his bunk in the barracks. He fell asleep quickly, but his dreams were haunted by Jenna—her sweet-smelling auburn hair, those kissable lips, those beautiful green eyes. He kissed her, began to peel away the layers that hid her body.
Sniper!
Rat-at-at-at!
Derek jerked awake, heart slamming in his chest.
Fuck.
He glanced at his watch.
It was just after three in the afternoon.
He got up, walked through the frigid wind and sunshine to the Land Cruiser, where he went through his stash of food, reading the options. He chose Menu 4—spaghetti with beef sauce, toaster pastry, peanut butter, multigrain snack bread, infused and dried fruits, fortified cocoa beverage powder, jam, and Accessory Packet B, which turned out to be M&Ms.
After eating, he brushed his teeth from a bottle of water and then went inside for a quick shower. There was no hot water today, the cold a shock to the system that sent his nuts into full retreat.
This is what you deserve for dreaming about getting Jenna naked.
Jenna Hamilton was off limits for many reasons, not the least of which was that getting caught with her could be fatal for them both.
He stepped out of the shower to find Hamzad standing nearby.
The man looked straight at Derek’s dick. “If you were a good Afghan man, you would be circumcised.”
Derek ignored him, wrapped a towel around his waist, and reached for his boxers. His satellite phone buzzed with a message from Jenna.
I can take a short break now.
He finished dressing and met her at the back door. “We need to talk—in private.”
They walked in silence to the Land Cruiser and climbed inside, where it was much warmer.
“Thanks so much for what you did last night. You saved—”
“What I did was saveyourass. You came close to starting a riot.”
“I had to dosomething.” The anguish on Jenna’s face was real. “If I hadn’t, a twelve-year-old girl would have suffered until she died with her baby still inside her.”