Page 21 of Her Tempting Protector

The girls gave solemn nods. “Go see Faizah.”

“Did you leave the baby with the mom?” Cullen asked.

“Yes, it’s best if they can have as much bonding and skin-on-skin contact as possible. Unfortunately, her milk hasn’t come in so he’s going to need formula.”

“That happens,” Raiden nodded.

“When I spoke to Shada, she finally told me that it was her husband who hurt her and her girls. No big surprise there. According to her, he’s a soldier who has been gone for the last week and isn’t due back for a while. I tried to get her to define what length of time that would be, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.”

Cullen looked at Raiden. A soldier could mean anything in this part of the world, and God knew what side he was playing for. “Carys, did he leave alone, or did he go with others?”

She bit her lip and her brow furled. “I didn’t think to ask. I only asked what color his uniform was, and she said it was tan.”

That really didn’t do them a damn bit of good—both sides were wearing tan uniforms.

“It’s okay, Doctor, what other information did you find out?” Raiden asked. He rocked Farida from side to side. Cullen saw that Carys was eyeing his friend with approval. It bothered him, he wanted her to only look at him with approval.

Cullen stopped short.

Where in the hell had that come from?

“I found out that she has a concussion, is what I found out. I found out that she needs to leave the bastard!” As soon as the word left her mouth, Cullen saw that she regretted it. Apparently, the good doctor didn’t feel comfortable swearing.

Damn, that was so sweet.

“Carys, where is it you think she can go if she leaves here?” Raiden asked quietly.

“We’ll take her to Khartoum.” Cullen glared at him.

“No,” Raiden looked at Cullen with that calm way he had about him. “She can’t be moved. We need to take this little girl to Khartoum and get her some help, but we can’t separate this family. We need a game plan.”

Carys’ shoulders straightened. “And we’ll come up with one. There isn’t a chance in heck that this family will ever be beaten again.” She walked up close to Raiden and the girl in his arms. She put her hands on Farida’s head and abdomen. The little girl gave a weak cough. “We’ve got to move fast. How fast can you get to Khartoum?”

“Not as fast as my boy Lyons,” Raiden dipped his head to Cullen. “I’m pretty sure he learned from his moonshine relatives how to drive NASCAR.”

“You’re driving the family. I’m staying here,” Cullen stated emphatically.

Raiden’s lip twitched the slightest little bit.

“But if you’re the faster driver shouldn’t you go?”

“He’s the safer driver,” Cullen said soothingly as he nodded toward Raiden.

She looked from one to the other. “Oh for Pete’s sake, I have to be tired to be buying into your drivel. I know SEALs. You’re both safe and fast. You both probably drive Formula One and ambulances in your spare time.” Carys rolled her head side to side, then pushed it far back so the long line of her throat showed, and her strawberry blond braid fell almost to her ass.

Cullen swallowed.

“How do you know SEALs, have you worked with some in the past?” Raiden asked as he repositioned the little girl so that her head rested on his shoulder.

“You could say that. There was a problem a several years back on the island of Santa Flores.” This time when she stretched her neck, she kneaded it with her hand at the same time. “Things got dicey and they had to send in a team of SEALs to help us out.”

Cullen had heard about that. “Wasn’t there an earthquake and a prison break?”

She sighed. “Yes, that was it. My team of doctors went in to give aid, then some of the prisoners took us hostage. We were lucky, nobody died. Well none of us at least.” The last was said in a whisper. She firmed her lips and seemed to realize that her hand was on her neck.

“Enough about the good old days. I know you men can handle anything. So, Cullen, even if your grandpappy was a moonshiner, I don’t necessarily think you’re the better driver. I just want to know who’s staying and who’s going.”

Cough.