The imam shifted to Range.“Would you buy her life with marriage?”
Range considered the offer.“I’ll take her.”
The man peered over the shoulder of his caliph.“That does nothing but condone what she has done, the lives she destroyed running that brothel. The one you helped her run.”
Canyon barked a laugh. “Okay, calling it—this is bull.”
“You seem to know a lot.”Range adjusted as if trying to get a better line of sight.
The imam looked furious.“Marry her or she dies. It would appease Afghanistan to humiliate an American soldier—who should no longer be in my country—to marry an adulteress!”
Another man talked to Range, who seemed to be hedging. “I’m not an idiot—you’ll kill us both.”
“Unlike you Americans, I am a man of my word,”the imam said.“Marry her and she is yours.”
“Range, I am not worth it. Do not—”The woman was hauled backward.
“What is your answer, American?”
“Fine,”Range said, motioning to the woman.“We get married. Then walk.”
“Do you think us so weak and foolish, American?”the imam said.“Put down the weapon.”
Range disassembled the weapon and dropped it on the floor.“Are we doing this or not?”
“Where is your Walwar?”the imam asked.
Range held his hands out.“I don’t have money.”
“Then your weapon.”
Range kicked over the M4 and nodded.“Marry us or I will drop you.”
“Threatening the man who holds this woman’s life in his hands …?”a second man said.
The imam pushed her toward Range.“Your name?”
“Range Metcalfe.”
Holy crud … On camera …
“Range Metcalfe, Kasra Jazani. Range Metcalfe, Kasra Jazani. Range Metcalfe, Kasra Jazani.”The imam eyed them.“Do you, Range Metcalfe, in the presence of these witnesses agree to take this whore as your wife?”
“I do.”
“She is your wife now, American.”
Range took the girl’s hand and moved backward.“Now, I’ll leave.”He nodded to her.“Go.”
Light flooded the camera, blinding the screen.
Pop! Pop!
A moment later, the lens flare cleared and the camera scanned bodies. Then a car speeding away.
The screen blanked.
Stone huffed and turned away, running a hand down the back of his neck.
