Page 69 of Commander

“Don’t even think about it, Tara.”

“What?”

“I know you. We were partners for years on different assignments. Kade has orders to tie you down if you even think of stepping off the truck.”

I glared at the smirk on Kade’s face. “I’ll do it, Commander.”

There was no way that I could take him, even on my most fit of days. The guy was built like a tank and probably outweighed me by a hundred and fifty pounds.

“Stop calling me that,” I gritted out, threw my rifle on the floor, and sat down on the chair near a bank of monitors, folding like a pissed-off toddler. Yes, it was childish but fuck, I was useless.

He laughed. “You’re kind of cute when you’re annoyed.”

“Kade, I should warn you, she will find her revenge. Be prepared for an assignment following some pretty playboy through the Thai underground.”

The change in Kade’s face had me almost losing my irritation at being useless. I’d never put a beast of a man in a situation where he wouldn’t have any hope of blending in.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced down. It was a text from Ashur. Of all the times to hear from him, it was now.

Hello, First Lady, heard you aren’t well. I’ll call later tonight to check on you.

I texted back.

I’m okay, just feeling a bit trapped and irritable.

A second later his response came.

If it’s any consolation, I’d rather be in bed next to you making sure you’re getting rest, rather than here. Miss you.

A huge wave of guilt hit me. I’d lied to leave and now I’d lied to Ashur. I was digging a bigger and bigger hole for myself.

“Ty, how’s Ashur doing?”

“As well as can be expected when dealing with countries who are still upset by his predecessor’s decisions.”

I knew any trade agreements would be long fought. The tariffs President Edgar had enacted had caused a major economic ripple effect throughout the world, including manufacturers and farmers in the US who conducted business with international companies. It had been a huge cluster of unhappiness that resulted in mass layoffs around the world and the closing of many businesses. Hopefully the Oslo Summit would have some compromises and restore relationships with trade partners.

I didn’t envy Ashur the task he had.

All of a sudden, the whole truck jerked, and my chair slammed into the side wall. I staggered to stand and checked for Kade. He was already outside.

“Ty. Can you hear me?”

There was no response—the communications satellite was probably damaged.

The sound of gunfire echoed all around me. I grabbed my pistols, tucked them into the front and back of my pants and under my shirt and then inserted my communications earpiece. I hoped Kade had had enough time to put his in. As I checked to make sure my guns were concealed, I paused. I could swear I heard Ameera’s voice.

My heartbeat accelerated at a deafening pace.

My girl was here. I pushed open the door.

A second before I jumped, I screamed into the empty truck, “Ty. If you’re hearing this, Ameera’s here. Get word to Kartik and the team that we’re under fire.”

After a quick prayer, I dropped to the ground. I searched the area, trying my hardest to see and breathe through the haze of dust in the air. I pulled a scarf from the back pocket of my mission pants and wrapped it around my nose and mouth.

I maneuvered around the side of the surveillance vehicle and noticed a truck similar to the supply trucks within the convoy had crashed into us. How the hell could they have gotten here so fast? We still had a good twenty minutes before they could maneuver the cliffs to reach us.

As I moved forward, I noticed bodies everywhere. Thank God none of them were my team, but they weren’t Awan’s, either. The uniforms were too formal and noticeable. Awan’s men went out of their way to remain inconspicuous.

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