Page 59 of Her Ruthless Protector

What?

You’ve got to be kidding.

Kane shoved out of his crouch and kicked the man in the ribs. He let out a sharp cry. Then Kane stepped on his good arm and wrestled a gun out of his left hand, the one that wasn’t blown to bits.

Motherfucker, what a rookie mistake. Kane shoved the man over on his back and patted him down, finding another knife. He grabbed more pieces of the hijab that Abia handed to him and used it to truss the son-of-a-bitch up, then he stood up and searched the unconscious man and tied him up as well. Dammit, when he told Max about his screw-up, he’d be running the obstacle course with baby Nick.

Abia came up to him and tugged on his sleeve. He waved her away as he tried to get his men to respond.

“Perez. Zaragoza. If one of you two assholes doesn’t answer me in the next two seconds, I will pluck out your nipple hairs the next time I see you, you got me?”

Finally, he heard a grunt. It was Zed Zaragoza, he could recognize that deep voice anywhere.

“So much for little problem.” Leo’s voice came in loud and clear through Kane’s receiver.

“Report,” Kane demanded.

“I’m trying to stop the bleeding, he’s barely conscious.”

“Did it hit an artery? How’s his pulse?”

“Thready. It’s not an artery, it got him underneath his arm. I don’t see any bubbles so I’m pretty sure it missed his lungs.”

“Get him on the truck and get back here. I’m calling in a chopper from the USS Mason. They’re still anchored off the coast.”

“Will they help? I thought we were supposed to be totally under wraps,” Leo said.

“Absolutely they will help. Just get Zed over here, and we’ll load these assholes and get someplace where a helicopter can pick us up.”

Kane turned off the general transmission of his microphone and got out his satellite phone. He was on the phone with Max in less than a minute and when he explained the situation, he heard the anger and frustration in his lieutenant’s voice.

“I’m not far enough up the food chain for this. Those fucking suits have bungled this, and they didn’t want us taking on this mission. Even though you just proved we were right, that’s only going to upset them more.”

Kane felt rage flowing through his veins.

“So, Captain Hale?” he asked.

“The Captain is back in D.C. There’s something big going down. Liam will have our back, he’s here in Oman.”

“Is a Lieutenant Commander high enough up the food chain?” Kane asked bitterly. “Because Zed’s life is on the line, and I could give a shit less about politics and ass covering.”

“Trust me, neither could I. But I’m stuck here with Ambassador Hoag. He’s on the outs with our government right now, so neither of us have pull. Liam does because he doesn’t give a shit which bridge he blows up and the brass knows it.”

“Call him and keep me informed.” Kane hung up and found Abia still staring at him. He didn’t have time for this shit.

“What?” he demanded in Arabic.

“I can help you. I heard them talking in the car when they drove us here.”

Kane stopped and stared at her.

Was she for real?

“What is it you want? Why should I trust you?”

She looked at him with steely determination. “I’m a mother and I’m realistic. My husband will never get out of jail. None of his men will ever really help me or my children and my son needs an operation. He’ll never get well here in Yemen. We need to leave. My information is valuable to you, and I will use it to help my children before they die here.”

Kane had seen too many sick and starving children here in Yemen not to agree with her assessment. He was impressed.