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The Americans were coming, she thought. Specifically, their CIA and a full SEAL Team in her city with their arrogant, we-know-everything attitude. Geez, special forces guys. They could be even more insufferable than regular males. She knew that from personal experience.
She was being tasked with acting as the liaison to them while they were here. Apparently, the notorious No Safe Haven terrorists had plans to target Americans in Sydney, which would impact Australian citizens she’d sworn to protect. Her government was worried about the impact on tourism, security, and the prevention of loss of life and property.
Kaiya had extensive experience with dealing with international people as she had done a couple of liaisons with Interpol, and participated in training Afghani police force members in Kabul at the tail end of the war.
She shifted at the memory of the last time she’d been there…during the chaotic and terrifying days of the evacuation and all the Afghani translators who had been left behind, people she had grown to love during her tenure there. She still carried that pain and guilt even after two years, especially since several of the men and their families she’d known had been brutally murdered.
She would carry that burden on her heart. She bit her lip, holding back the scoff she wanted to release as pressure built in her chest.Too emotionally attached with the situation.She’d been given a month’s leave to get herself together, and it was her father and the teachings of Buddha that had helped her find some form of peace, but she now had to wonder, had she? Or had she buried her shame to cope with it?
She was way too busy to delve into that morass of emotions. She was much more comfortable throwing herself into her work. It was when things calmed down that she got herself into trouble.
It was something she’d endured when she’d gotten back, ravaged by her emotions, her own fear for her life weighed against all the lives who had helped them work toward their shared goals.
“They will be arriving in twenty minutes. I expect you to handle them while they are here and provide whatever resources they need to conduct their investigations. You will also assist in these investigations by working closely with the members and reporting any threats up the chain. Do you have any questions?”
“No, ma’am.”
Tessa sighed. “I don’t have to remind you that our American friends are a vital ally and partners in this unstable world. We don’t want to alienate them in any way. Is that understood?”
Kaiya lifted her chin. “Maybe another rep?—”
“There is no one as qualified, and quite frankly brilliant enough to take on this task. You have proven yourself time and time again on a global scale. I know it hasn’t been easy, but I have faith in you that you can rise above any…personal biases. Keep in mind that the Americans have fought side by side with us for more than one hundred years, in every conflict.”
Kaiya took a hard breath. Inside she reconciled this assignment. Australians had close, strong, and historical bonds with the United States. This cooperation was just an extension of their agreement for closer defense and security ties. She rarely complained as the work that she did with the AFP was very important to her.
She would grin and bear it.
“They will be housed at the US Naval Base Sydney not far from headquarters.” The base had been established in World War II and was a boon to their economy. “See they settle in. Dismissed.”
Kaiya turned and left the office, making her way down to the lobby after she closed down her computer. She expected they would stay at the base, and she’d already gotten clearance from the Americans to access it, strictly to interact with the team. It was getting close to the end of the day, and she suspected that she would be busy with their overseas guests beyond closing time. She had already rescheduled her family dinner with her parents.
As the doors slid shut, she closed her eyes, transported back to those desperate days of the evacuation where two years separated the past from the present. The heat that August was brutal, the hot breeze blowing across the width and length of the Hamid Karzai International Airport. She had traveled to the airport with several of the police officers she had been training and her close friend and interpreter. With the mixed messages coming in, communication poor and fear high, she had been caught up in the crowds, unable to get to the Abbey Gate because of so many people. There was an overwhelming scent of terror mixed with sweat, desperation, and despair.
Those people saved her life.
The sound of terrified cries filled her ears, shouting, screams, crying, then an explosion rent the air, and adding to the chaos was a metallic scent she learned later was blood.
The lift dinged and she opened her eyes with a start, trying with all her willpower to put those images and memories in the past where they belonged. She couldn’t help them anymore. She had failed and had almost died herself.
She got off the elevator and walked toward the lobby and the front desk where the badges should be waiting to be distributed. Swallowing a lump in her throat and squaring her shoulders, she pulled herself together, even as the resentment and memories lingered. Returning to the task at hand, she wanted to check over the badges to make sure none were missing. Each of them would need badges to access the building.
She approached and smiled at the blonde behind the counter. Chrissy Carter was one of her friends.
“Hey there, Kaiya. You here for the badges?”
“Yeah, have our guests arrived yet?”
“No, not yet. You looking forward to playing host to a bunch of hunky Americans?”
“Of course,” she said with enough of an inflection in her voice to make Chrissy laugh softly.
Then the look on her face went a bit blank and she said, “Oh, my.”
Kaiya turned and got an eyeful of the “hunky” Americans, along with a stunner brunette. Had to be the CIA representative, Anna Graham. Her eyes went over all the men until her gaze landed on one in particular, then her breath just stopped. He was a big, muscular, intimidating guy—the kind women looked twice at and men didn’t mess with.
Whoa.
Her stomach did a funny little lurch when she saw him.
