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Chapter 15
As the Humvee neared Al Kamen, Jase stared out the window at the dark sky. They still had several hours until dawn, and they were thirty minutes away from the village. With any luck, they would be in and out before any of the other residents began to stir. Even if everything went smoothly in the village, they still had four or five hours of driving before they reached Kabul. And that’s if the Taliban hadn’t erected any checkpoints on their route.
For about the hundredth time, Jase glanced down at Laila, curled into him. It had taken her a long time to fall asleep, snugged into his side. Her neck was bent at an awkward angle as she slept, and Jase tried to support her. But his own arm ached with the effort.
Finally, when Jase had lost track of how many times he’d shifted beside Laila, Cody swiveled in his seat. “For God’s sake, Conway, put her head on your lap so she can stretch out,” he said, his low voice blending with the churning of the engine as they drove over a primitive desert highway. “Otherwise, your neck’ll be as sore as hers from twisting to check on her.”
Jase scowled at Cody, but finally sighed and slid Laila along the seat until her head rested on his thigh. Her back was straight, and she looked a lot more comfortable.
He was, too.
“Better, Conway,” Cody said with a grin. “Saves both your necks.”
Jase flashed Cody the universal eff-you. His friend just laughed as he swiveled to face forward again. “You’re a cute couple.”
Behind Cody’s back, Jase rolled his eyes at him but didn’t say anything. He had worried about Laila being sore when she woke up. And he was very happy to have her head on his lap. He shifted so she would be more comfortable and relaxed into the seat with her curled into his lap.
Laila shifted, as though even in her sleep she recognized Jase, and nestled closer. He splayed his hand on her back, and the steady rise and fall of her breathing settled him.
Having Laila burrowed against him? Perfect. Like she was where she belonged. And so was he.
Damn scary.
He shifted in his seat, trying to make it look less like they were cuddling and more like he was just being a pillow for her. But no matter what he did, she just curled in more tightly. Now her fingers gripped his thigh, as if she were trying to keep him close.
The damn truth was, he wanted her close, too. And that was just stupid. Assuming everything went well in Al Kamen, once they were back in Kabul, Laila would head back to the states. Now that Laila was wanted by the Taliban, Mel wouldn’t risk keeping her in the country. Laila would be thanked for her service, given the usual hazardous pay bonus, and sent home.
Mel would warn her not to talk about her experiences in Afghanistan. It could endanger other CIA agents, CIA Spec Ops personnel and even people in Al Kamen who were friendly with Laila. This chapter of her life would need to stay under lock and key.
She’d be able to talk to a CIA therapist at a VA hospital. But that was it. She couldn’t confide in any family or friends. If she asked, he’d tell her that was the hardest part -- having no one but a paid therapist to share stuff with. Having to hide everything that had happened to her from her family and friends,
Sighing, he tucked her closer and let his head fall back on the seat. With Laila resting on his leg, knowing she was safe, he could sleep.
* * *
Laila was roused from sleep by the slight growl of brakes engaging. She opened her eyes to see the village of Al Kamen in front of her. Sitting upright, she shook away the last dregs of sleep and leaned on the seat in front of hers, studying the village.
“Amira’s house is to the left,” she whispered, although the sound couldn’t be heard outside the vehicle. “We should leave the Humvee here and walk down to her house. If you drive in, everyone in the village will hear us.”
The men exchanged glances, exchanging a silent message. But Dev pulled the car over beside a field of beans and turned off the engine. She reached for her door, but Jase’s fingers gripped her wrist. “Remember the rules,” he said in a low voice. “I go first. Always.”
Without waiting for her to answer, he got out of the truck and closed the door carefully. Then he went around and stood silently beside her door. Finally he opened it. “We’re clear. Come on out.” By the time she slid out of the Humvee, Cody and Dev stood beside it, as well.
“We should go down this alley,” she said, pointing out the narrow lane between the rows of houses. “Approach the house from the back. Less chance of being spotted. Amira’s house is five down on the right.”
Jase nodded. He turned to Dev and Cody and spoke for a few moments. Both men nodded and disappeared into the shadows of the village houses.
“Three U.S. soldiers showing up in the middle of the night?” he whispered. “That’ll spook your families. Dev and Cody will be close, but you won’t see them.
“You’ll talk to your girl’s family. I’ll be there, but this is your show. Think about what you’ll say and how you’ll frame it. They’re not going to be eager to leave.”
“I think I can persuade them,” Laila said quietly. “They know me. Trust me, I think.”
“Okay. Let’s get this done. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Laila slipped into the alley, Jase close beside her. When they reached Amira’s house, she nodded at it. Jase nodded back. As she started toward the door, Jase caught her arm.
“I’ll be crouched next to that wall,” he said, motioning toward the three-foot-high brick wall enclosing Amira’s yard. “It would be better for me to come in. Make me less visible. But that probably won’t happen.”
