Page 46 of Her Sensual Protector

“My uncle said that you are in a hurry. Do we have to worry about people following you?” the young man asked eagerly.

“No, not this time.” At least she hoped not.

“Oh.” He was obviously disappointed. It still didn’t stop him from driving like a bat out of hell when they pulled into the Kabul traffic. Once again Daisy found herself clutching the St. Christopher medal. When they got onto the highway to Bagram, she sighed a breath of relief.

“Is your father well?” the young man asked.

“I know he’s safe,” Daisy answered. “I don’t know how injured he is. That’s why I’m going to the hospital.”

“I shall pray for him.”

“Thank you,” Daisy said sincerely.

It took them an hour and twelve minutes to get to the base, but then it took them twenty minutes to be let through the front gate. She had to invoke the name of Leo Perez. The first thirteen times they said they had never heard of him.

The fourteenth time was the charm.

Malek’s nephew was directed to park outside a rather small building that she assumed was the hospital since someone was wheeling a person out in a wheelchair. She was opening the backseat door when the other backseat door opened and Leo slid in beside her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.

Was he seriously going to try and stop her from going into the hospital? Has he met me? “Not you too.”

“I’m serious, Daisy. He’s alive. But the brass and suits have to talk to him. Then there are people like us who need to find out everything they can about where he’s been so we might be able to help others one day.”

“Why can’t they do that after I spend ten minutes with him?” she asked. “And another thing. Why didn’t you answer one single phone call or text? Why did the guard at the front gate pretend you didn’t exist? What the hell, Leo?” All her feelings of abandonment came roaring up, but not hard enough that she couldn’t push them back down again.

Mostly.

“While I’m in-country, and until the mission is completed, that’s what I needed to do. I’m flying out of here in less than an hour. I swear to you, I’m going to call you as soon as I hit American soil.”

“Oh really, and I’m supposed to believe this why?” Now she was getting pretty fucking angry.

“We promised no lies. Have I lied to you yet?” he asked softly.

“You ignored me. You ghosted me. You left me in the dark. Think about how that made me feel.”

“We were supposed to be wheels-up four hours ago. I was not allowed to tell you that your father had been found or have any contact with you. But all bets are off when I’m home.”

She looked into his warm brown eyes that were willing her to believe. He was, he was willing her to believe him. Daisy hadn’t had much dealing with the military, but maybe this was the way it worked.

He reached for her hand and held it tightly. “Please,” he said.

Her jaw clenched. She didn’t have time to wonder if this was just another empty promise despite Leo’s honesty. She needed to get in to see her father. If she agreed, maybe he’d back off.

Daisy nodded.

“You need to leave,” he said.

“Oh hell no. You have your part to play. I understand that. So, I never saw you. I get that. Maybe I’ll hear from you, maybe I won’t.”

His face became stony. “You will. Take that to the bank.”

“Whatever.” But her heart was bleeding. “But I get it, this talk isn’t taking place right now. So, get the hell out of the car. I’m going to play my part, which is I’m going to storm the hospital and rattle some cages until they have no choice but let this troublesome woman see my dad.”

“Daisy—”

“Leave, Leo.”