Page 21 of Her Righteous Protector

The littlest girl stood next to Lark and held her leg as she stared at Nic longingly. Nic caught on and moved forward slowly. In halting Arabic he asked her which backpack was hers. She pointed to the one in his left hand and he handed it to her. When her older sister came out of the bathroom, he handed the other backpack to her. She gave him a hesitant smile and thanked him.

“Where’s Mama?” the older girl asked.

“She’s getting food,” Lark said easily.

The door opened and everyone looked up.

Nazy yelled, “Mama!”

“Shhhhhh,” Samira said as she caught her running daughter. “You must be quiet.” Kostya closed the door behind them. He raised his eyebrow at Max.

“Ms. Sorensen, do you have everything ready to go for you and Mrs. Nuri?”

She darted behind the curtain and came back with one worn Swiss Gear backpack that had to belong to Lark and a bulging, paisley cloth bag.

“We’re ready.” She opened a side pocket on her backpack and pulled out a pouch. “Inside are the Afghan Special Immigrant Visas that Ebrahem acquired before he died. There is one for Samira and the two girls.” Her hand trembled as she handed them to Max.

Max looked at them, then handed them to Raiden. “He’s going to be going to be traveling with Samira and her daughters, he’ll keep them.”

Lark nodded.

“Okay, we’re heading out,” Max said. He turned to Samira who was holding Nazy. “Do you think your older daughter will be comfortable going with Lark, while Nazy stays with you?”

“Taja, come here.” Samira nodded to the older girl. She knelt down, still holding her youngest daughter in her arms. Taja crossed the small room to her mother. “I need you to be brave and stay with Miss Lark. She and some of the men are going to keep you safe, while Nazy and I will go with the other men.”

Taja grabbed her mother around her neck. “I don’t want to leave you,” she cried. The girl’s tears had Max dropping to his knees.

“Listen to me,” he whispered to the scared little girl. “By daylight, you, your Mama, and your sister will all be together, I promise you, Taja.”

She lifted her head out of the crook of her mother’s neck and her big, soulful brown eyes stared at him. “Truly?”

“Yes, truly.”

“Are you taking us to our Papa?” she asked.

Max’s mouth dried up, and when he tried to answer, no words came out.

“Papa’s in heaven,” Nazy said.

“Are you taking us to heaven?” Taja asked him.

“Habeebti, we’re taking you somewhere safe, where you can run and play outside anytime you want. Won’t that be fun?” Max asked. “But no, your papa won’t be there, I’m sorry.”

“Taja, we will talk about your papa again when we are safe, okay?” Samira said to her daughter.

“Yes, Mama.”

“Now go to Ms. Lark. You must be brave so that we can get to safety, okay?”

The little girl nodded, then walked into Lark’s waiting arms.

Max stood up and backed up two steps. “Asher?” he asked into his mic. “Are we clear?”

“Go out the back. I’ve seen two jeeps drive by since you’ve been inside.”

“Okay, we’re all heading to Zed’s truck first since that’s where the Nuri family is going. Once they’re dropped off, we’ll head to Leo’s and make sure that Lark is situated.

“Cullen, you’re going to take point when Kostya and Nic head out with the baby and her mother.” His eyes flicked up at Nic, who nodded. Max had seen Nazy’s eyes light up with Nic when he’d passed her the backpack; that should work. Nic sidled up to Samira and her daughter as Max continued to give orders.