Page 20 of Her Righteous Protector

Max had already been over this five times with Kane.

“I want Asher and Cullen across the street on top of these buildings, or what’s left of these buildings.” He pointed to what he was talking about. “I don’t think we’re going to need sniper coverage, but in case we do, you’ll be there.”

“I want one man for each person in the apartment. That’s Kostya, Nic, Raiden, and me. Kane, I want you to stay back and listen in to all the chatter. You’re going to coordinate what’s going on. Kostya, you’ll stay with Lark and go directly to Leo’s truck.” Max waited and Kostya nodded.

“Raiden, Nic, and I will take the Nuris to Zed’s truck. Nic and I will help Zed pack them in. Then Nic and I will head over to Leo’s truck and make sure Lark is packed in. Then I’ll head over to Ali’s truck.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Kane protested. “You should just straight over to Ali’s truck once you’re done with the Nuri family.”

Max looked around and everyone was nodding. He was reluctant because Lark was who they needed to get out.

“I see your point. Since Leo and Ali switched trucks, and Leo is now driving the decent one, then I’m fine with that suggestion. I’ll head to where Ali is driving.”

Everyone stood up. They had a plan.

7

They were outside the apartment building when Max heard Kostya’s voice come over his receiver. “Samira is calling in on my cell phone.”

“Take it and keep coming with us,” Max ordered.

Max had a tough time hearing the muffled Arabic as he and Nic went around to the back of the building. The back alley was empty so he pushed the wooden door open and stepped down the crumbling cement steps to a narrow, dark hallway. There were no numbers on the doors. Lark had said that the apartment was the first one on the right when you entered from the front. Max saw one shadow up ahead.

“Kostya, report,” he whispered into his mic.

“Samira is coming. I’m waiting outside for Cullen or Asher to catch sight of her.”

“Good.”

Max got in front of the correct door and knocked twice, paused, then knocked twice again. The door was immediately opened a tiny crack by a woman who was covered in a long dress with a scarf covering her head. Her eyes were squinched tight with strain. She could be any Afghan woman except for her light blue eyes.

“Ms. Sorensen?” Max whispered.

She flung the door wide.

“Get in here, fast and quiet.”

Max, Nic, and Kane swarmed into the small space and Max looked around for the girls, but realized they must be behind the drape at the far end of the room.

“Where’s Kostya Barona?”

For a moment, Max was startled that Lark knew what Kostya looked like, then realized he was dealing with a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; of course, she would have found a way to get Kostya’s picture.

“Kostya’s waiting for Samira outside. She got ahold of him.”

“Good,” Lark nodded. “Let me wake up the girls.” She waved her arm to the small little kitchen area. “Grab their backpacks.”

Max grinned when he saw two Hello Kitty backpacks. It made him happy for just an instant for the little girls. Nic grabbed the backpacks before he could. Nic was grinning too.

Max listened to the sounds of little girls’ voices behind the curtain, then Lark was ushering out two tiny girls. One had to be only five at the most. She was ushering them towards a door, telling them they needed to hurry and go to the bathroom.

“I’m hungry,” one of the girls wailed petulantly.

“Hush, Nazy,” the taller girl said in Arabic. “Mama is getting us food. Use the toilet. We’re going on an adventure.” Then she stopped still as she took note of Max and the others. When the other girl turned to see what her sister was looking at she let out a shrill shriek.

“Nazy, stop!” the older girl said as she clamped her hand over her mouth.

Lark crouched down in front of them and started whispering softly. The small girl started nodding, then she turned to go to the bathroom. The tall girl continued to stare at them. She didn’t move until it was her turn to go to the bathroom.