Clearing her throat, Kasra diverted her thoughts back to finding a way to make him see her as partner in this venture. Not as an adversary. What would convince him …? “Viper.”
He snapped to her, muscles taut. “Nice try. Already know—”
“Hisrealname is what you want, yes?”
He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. “Is this a game to you? This man who’s running children, robbing them of their innocence and—”
“Do not think to tell me what they are robbed of! I know, all too well.”
“Then stop the frickin’ games and give me his name!”
Kasra felt something she had not in many years … “I was wrong. You do not have honor. So.” Why did her throat feel thick? “What is to stop you from killing me or abandoning me after I give you his name?”
His lip curled. “Guess you’ll just have to try me.”
At least he had not asked her to trust him. Because she never would. But she needed to get back to the others, which was the only way she could get to Saudi. That was an absolute must. “He is German.”
He stared at her, hard.
She felt a pull to give him what he wanted so he would not look at her like that. But that … “That’s all. For now.”
Shaking his head, he turned away. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I want to live. And without y—” She felt the ‘you’ on her lips, her hopes pinned so recklessly to the chest of this man as if with all his military medals he likely had tucked away somewhere. “Without getting back to the others, I have no hope of that.”
“Without me, you mean,” he snarled.
She swallowed at the way he said that. What he meant by it. Is that what he wanted to hear? Is that all it would take? Others had forced her to admit she needed them and that never ended well for her. But ithadbought her time … “My life is in your hands, Rage.”
He grimaced. Turned away.
“Is that so disgusting to you?”
He jerked back. Frowned. “You know what?It is!” He shouldered toward her. “Ihatethat I’m out here, risking my life for someone who soldchildrenfor sex! For you!”
Kasra drew up straight. “You have no idea—”
“Do. Nottry to justify what you do.” He pressed into her space. “There is no law severe enough for someone like you. But I vow”—his nostrils flared—“you will feel the full force of my fury when this is over.”
Pulse racing, hurting, she stepped into a role so practiced and familiar, she almost didn’t notice the shift. “And this is how you convince me to give you his name?”
“Again,” he barked, “you prove you’re not worth my time and—”
“I wasn’t aware this was for you.”
“—that you value your own life above that of the innocents caught in your horrific net!”
“It’s. Not. My. Net!” Her shrill scream rang in her own ears, startling her.
He snatched up his ruck. Glowered at her. Then struck off in a northwesterly direction.
When? When had sheevertried to justify herself to a man, especially one who decided her worth and value based off something he could never fathom if he tried for years. If he only knew what she had risked, sacrificed, to help everyone else. All the hours, the dangers …
What? He would like you? Be nice to you?
She stood there for what felt like ages, frozen in his words, his hatred. Why were they getting in her head? Why did she care what he thought? She should not. Had not—not for any other man who vomited his hatred. She long ago figured out how to be sharper and smarter than any man who came to her…
Until him.
