He grinned. “I’m real.”
“Thank God for that.” She sat up, her head still aching. “I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in my life.”
“How do you feel?”
“A little better.”
It was dark now, the streets busy with traffic, okadas and tuk-tuks—motorbike taxis and auto-rickshaws—competing with buses, cars, and vans for space.
She rubbed the ache in her temple. “Where are we?”
The Nigerian man at the wheel met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Croc City.”
She glanced around, recognizing it now. “Kaduna.”
He grinned. “You know Nigeria. I’m David Ayodele Olatunji. I’m a friend.”
That didn’t explain why David was here rather than the rest of the Cobra team, but Kristi didn’t have the energy to ask and wasn’t sure she should.
Malik took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “We’re driving you to a private hospital so someone can check you out.”
“No, not a hospital. I’m fine, really. I just need a hot shower, food and water, and a real bed.” She could barely stand to be in her own skin. “I’ll need antimalarials, too, and, well, clothes.”
Everything she owned was in her dorm room.
Malik frowned, concern on his painted face. “We can handle that, but I’d feel better if a doctor had a look at you.”
“We can send for my doctor, have him come to our hotel. He can look her over and take care of Obi’s burned hand, too. Does that work for you?”
“Yes,” Kristi said.
Malik gave in. “She’s the nurse.”
Kristi saw that Obi was sleeping. “Thanks for letting him come with us.”
David made a left turn into the downtown area. “He told us all about you—how you saved his Uncle Jidda, how you stayed faithful to your husband, how you told them Malik would kill any man who touched you, how you helped him with his burned hand. You’ve got courage, Miss Chang.”
“He’s right.” Malik squeezed her hand. “What you did was incredibly brave.”
David stopped at a red light, looked back at Kristi. “How did you know Malik would come for you?”
Kristilooked into Malik’s eyes, a lump forming in her throat. “I didn’t. I… I wasn’t sure anyone would come.”
A part of her still couldn’t believe this was real, that she was free—and safe.
“We’re almost to the hotel.” Malik caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “You can take a shower in my bathroom. We’ll order you food and get some bottled water and whatever else you need.”
“Thanks, Malik—for everything.”
David pulled into the hotel’s valet entrance, rested a hand on Obi’s shoulder to wake him. “Get her and the boy inside, Jones. We’ll take care of the gear.”
“Copy that.” Malik climbed out, helped Kristi down, steadied her as she found her feet. “Dizzy?”
“Yeah. A little.”
Malik hadn’t forgotten Obi. “You okay, buddy? Just follow me.”
Kristi motioned for him to follow. “Come, Obi. It’s okay. We’re safe here.”