Her words had a strange effect. Pushed his gaze down. “Secondary is compromised.” He stared out from their location on a hill. Eyed Kandahar. A small village between them and the city. “We need to get a vehicle.” He stood and started down the hillside.
“Wait.” Jazani’s voice pitched and she slipped and skidded down the dirt to him. Caught his arm. “What do you mean compromised? What about the others? Why are we getting a vehicle? Where are we going?”
He hated her. He really hated her.
Not true. He hated the situation.
Caused by her.
So yeah … hated her.
“Hatred stirs up conflict, Son. Love covers all wrongs.”His mom loved to throw that verse at him every time he’d said he hated Canyon. What would she say about this, about this woman? Surely she wouldn’t tell him to coverthis.
Kasra angled in, prompting him for an answer.
Not trusting himself to speak, he showed her the text from Pike.
She glanced down, dark lashes dusting her olive complexion as she read. Then those brown-green eyes came to his. “What is a foamy zebra?”
“Of all the things to ask about—”
“It is the only one that does not make sense.”
He took back his phone. “It makes sense.”
She twisted her hair and tossed it over her shoulder. “So, Taweel is making trouble for your friends.”
“And for us.”
“How?”
Range frowned. “We’re on our own.”
“For how long?”
“Unknown.” Range tugged out his nocs and checked out the nearby close-knit village, bordered by a stone half-wall that sectioned off each home as well. A few vehicles, but he doubted they’d be able to get away with one of them. It was too open. Too few people. They’d be spotted. “We’ll need to sneak into the city.”
Jazani pulled in a sharp breath. “Are you crazy?”
“I’m withyou, aren’t I?”
Hurt rippled through her but washed away just as fast. She pointed toward the city. “That is Kandahar,” she said with emphasis. “I am known there. Their spies are everywhere.”
He considered her. Started to say something about her paying for the hurt she’d caused, but something shut his mouth. Tugging out his device, he decided it’d be easier for him to go in alone. Less complicated. “Hide out here, and I’ll—”
“No!” She grabbed his arm, fingers digging into his flesh.
Range drew up straight, scowling from her grip to her face. Where he’d expected to find demand and outrage, he saw … fear. “Jazani, what do you want? I say we go in there and you balk. I say to stay and you balk.”
She released him and stepped back. Seemed to find herself. “I will wear a burqa.”
“And where do you have one of those hidden?” He huffed. “You couldn’t have thought of that before accusing me of being crazy?”
“You are … infuriating. I’ll find one!”
“Right back atcha, Madam.” He yanked his arm free. “We need a vehicle and we need supplies, so we’re going into the city. Want a burqa, then find one.”
Again, she paused. “Where will we go after …?”
