another man in tow, an Afghan national who could speak English fluently.
Over the next hour, Kylie interviewed Faaid, using the interpreter, while Josh recorded the session and Kylie made notes.
When she had all the information she needed for her report, she thanked Faaid and wished him well. She hoped that he would be placed somewhere in the United States where he would be safe from the Taliban. With his cover blown, he wouldn’t live long in Afghanistan.
Mac was waiting outside the door of the building to escort her and Josh back to their quarters. They dropped Josh off first, as his unit was closer. By the time they reached her room, it was the early morning hours. Still dark, people still asleep, the night shift working. She and Mac were alone, walking toward her quarters. When they arrived in front of her door, she reached for the doorknob and paused. “Thank you for saving my life and bringing me here to protect me.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned her to face and tipped her chin toward the starlight. “You look tired, Kylie.”
“After a day like yesterday, it’s to be expected. Anyone would be tired.”
“No,” he said. “You look tired, like you’re tired of it.”
She gave him a weak smile. “I’m living my dream. How could I be tired of it?”
“I’m living my dream, and I’m tired of it,” Mac said. “Delta Force is really a young man’s work.” He brushed a thumb across the corner of her mouth. “I used to love kissing you.”
Her chest burned with longing. Not a day, not a week, not a year had gone by without her missing him. Right then she wanted to kiss him so badly, she started to lift up on her toes. Then she remembered that he’d said that he’d found another woman. She dropped down flat on her feet and stepped away. “That was a long time ago, Mac.”
“Yes, it was. But if feels like yesterday.” He bent until his lips hovered over hers. “I remember how you tasted.”
His breath, warm against her skin, made her tingle. She swayed toward him as if drawn like a moth to a flame.
When their lips touched, a massive explosion rocked the earth next to them, knocking them to their knees.
Chapter 4
A siren revved up, and the sound of heavy guns went off, lighting the sky with tracers.
Mac pushed her to the ground and covered her body with his. His teammates burst from the doors of their sleeping quarters, stepping out into the moonlight.
“What was that?” Kylie asked.
“C-RAM guns that detect and destroy incoming rockets,” Mac explained.
Another explosion went off nearby and the Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar guns Kylie had heard of fired, making a burping sound, the rounds went off so fast.
Mac rolled off her, leaped to his feet, grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “Come on. We need to get to the bunker.” With his arm around her, he ran her to the nearest reinforced bunker where they remained for the next thirty minutes.
After the initial attack, there were no other rockets launched at the forward operating base.
On their way back to their quarters, Rucker called out and ran to catch up to them. “The CO wants us in the conference room.”
“I’m not leaving Kylie,” Mac said.
Rucker nodded. “He wants her there, too.”
Together, they hurried to the war room. Once inside, they found the CO and the rest of the team seated around the table.
“Just got word from Intel.” The CO stared across the table at Mac and Kylie. “That attack was deliberate and meant as a warning message to our guest, Miss Adams. They’ll leave this base alone, if we turn her over to the Taliban.”
Mac stiffened beside Kylie. “No way in hell.”
The commander lifted a hand. “We’re not turning her over. However, we need to get her out of here. As long as she’s here, she’s a danger to all of the people on this base. As soon as we can arrange it, we’re flying her out to Kabul. She’ll catch the next plane back to the States.”
“Sir, she won’t be any safer in Kabul than she is here,” Mac said.
The CO nodded. “And that’s why you’re going with her. Get some rest. Likely you’ll be flying out at sunup, depending on the availability of helicopters.”
“Yes, sir,” Mac said.
“Miss Adams,” the commander turned to Kylie, “stay safe.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said.
They returned to their quarters. This time when Mac stood outside her door, he took her into his arms. “You’re