Pussycat in Peril (Pussycat Death Squad Book 3) Read online

  “I missed the adhan so much back in the States,” she said.

  “Do you use an app for the proper times?”

  “Yes, but it’s not the same.”

  He nodded. “I hadn’t experienced it until I was in Iraq.”

  “Did you have anyone to pray with?”

  “Oh yes, there were several in my unit and my chaplain was Muslim.”

  “Did you have any difficulties?”

  “No. I’m a Marine. If anyone had beef they kept it to themselves,” he said with a shrug.

  They rushed down the stairs to join Sarai and Dawood in the living room. After placing their prayer rugs on the floor they began the prayers.

  Astaria inhaled deeply. The first prayer of the day was always her favorite. It gave her an opportunity to ask for Allah’s favor and to thank Him for the blessings of the previous day. She thought about years of going to prayer with her mother who loved the first morning prayer as much as she did. Halil, on the other hand, had never liked getting out of bed so early. Tears came to her eyes as she thought about the destruction of her family. A destruction that served no purpose much like the pointless devastation of the country itself. She shut those thoughts down and focused on the prayer instead. Greed. Selfishness. Inshallah it would end soon, but she knew in her heart it would not.

  *****

  Kaeden looked around the small, but well-stocked electronics store, which occupied the entire first floor of the Hamadi home. Dawood sold and also serviced small electronics. From all accounts he had a thriving business. Most of the store was taken up by the showroom, which was spacious with two large plate glass windows on either side of the door. Displays of televisions, mp3 players, radios and other electronic devices were set up throughout the brightly lit space, and while Dawood did good business on those, his main sales were in cell phones. It didn’t take Kaeden long to realize that Dawood’s phones were popular because he hacked them to get around the government’s jamming technology.

  “How long have you been hacking the phones?” Kaeden asked, wondering why the US government had been unable to pick up chatter if people were able to use the hacked phones.

  “Almost as soon as they imposed the quarantine. It’s a lot of work though. No sooner than I have worked out the software than they find a new way to shut it down. I have to charge a lot of money for the service and it doesn’t last very long,” Dawood said.

  Lelia had said they picked up sporadic chatter so that made sense. It was still odd though that it was so inconsistent. It was unlikely that Dawood was the only hacker in the country. Why weren’t they getting through? During other similar rebellions there had even been traffic on Twitter and YouTube. Obviously the Laritrean governments had learned something from the mistakes of other regimes. He struggled to figure out a way to ask the question without revealing that he had far more contact with US intelligence than he should. Then he realized that Dawood had been speaking and he’d missed everything he’d said.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “Astaria said you have some knowledge of electronics?”

  Kaeden nodded, fairly certain that it wouldn’t be prudent to tell this man that his training consisted of dismantling IEDs.

  “My repair business had started tapering off prior to the quarantine. But it’s picking up again and I’ve got a few repairs to work on. You can work with me for a while in the back. Sarai and Astaria can see to customers.”

  Kaeden nodded, knowing the other man wanted to assess his ability. That was okay; he was glad to have something meaningful to do. Sitting around waiting for the quarantine to end would have driven him insane.

  He and Dawood went to the workroom in the back of the store while Astaria and Sarai remained in the front of the store. Sarai had gone over to the register to show Astaria how to operate it and also to run reports. He could hear them talking softly while he and Dawood began tinkering on the electronics. It didn’t take long for him to demonstrate his ability to Dawood’s satisfaction and the other man left him to work on a radio with a short in it while he worked on a computer. Thus occupied, the day went swiftly much to Kaeden’s relief.

  Chapter Six

  Astaria crept silently down the side of the building making her way into the shadowy alleyway below. Though it probably would’ve been possible to slip out the back door undetected, the back of the store opened into a busy street and there were other businesses across the street and next door so it was crucial that she take every precaution. While it was unlikely there would be anyone out at three in the morning, it paid to be cautious. Going up through the secret attic exit Dawood used for receiving contraband cell phones and into the narrow alley exposed her to a lot fewer eyes. She did wish she had not worn the abaya though. Kadiyya’s wardrobe didn’t include any dark colors, and Astaria feared she’d stand out too much wearing anything light. The loose, full-length garment made concealment easier, but rappelling down a three story building in it was far more difficult. Before she could heave a sigh of relief as her feet reached the ground, she was caught in an embrace that she recognized instantly.

  “Allah be praised, sister. I thought for sure you were dead,” Halil, her younger, but significantly larger brother said.

  “Halil! I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been so afraid for you.”

  “You’ve been afraid for me? I can’t tell you how sick I was when I saw the Presidential Palace. That huge building was reduced to ashes in just minutes. I didn’t believe anyone could survive,” he said, stepping back.

  She narrowed her eyes to study him in almost total darkness. Halil was tall, like their father, he was at least four inches over six feet with a heavy musculature he carried well. They had similar coloring and with his closely cropped hair and beard, he cut a striking figure. Her baby brother was quite good looking or so nearly every member of the Guard had endlessly reminded her as they had all had crushes on him, but there was only one he’d shown any interest in, but that hadn’t lasted long. Her mother had despaired Halil ever loving anything as much as he loved the Army.

  “I knew you’d be worried. That’s why I got word to you as soon as I could.” The complicated network and code system the LOV employed for communications was one of their best assets. She’d been surprised to discover that an elderly imam was her nearest contact. Such men tended to be conservative and allied with the government, but her concern was apparently in vain.

  “When your communiqué came I almost didn’t believe it was from you. I didn’t think you could come out of that alive. We were working on a plan to free you. How did you get out, anyway?” he asked in hushed tones.

  “My husband rescued me,” she said.

  Even in the dim light she could see the heavy frown that distorted his handsome face. “Your husband. That American?”

  “Yes, the American.”

  Astaria turned sharply as a third voice joined their conversation. Her arm came up immediately to deliver a sharp blow, fortunately her body recognized Kaeden before her mind had a chance to process his presence and the strike, intended to split his windpipe, glanced harmlessly off his shoulder instead. Or maybe not so harmlessly as his hand came up immediately to rub the area as though it pained him.

  “Kaeden, what on earth are you doing here?” she hissed at him.

  “What am I doing here? Where else would I be when my wife crawls out of our bed at three in the morning with no explanation?”

  “Your bed?” Halil sputtered. “But Babba said your marriage was in name only!”

  “She is still my wife. What kind of man would leave his wife in prison?” He turned to Astaria with a raised brow and more than just a bit of fury flashing golden in his eyes.

  “This is my brother, Halil,” she said by way of explanation.

  “I assumed as much. I’ve seen photos in our apartment. What is he doing here?”

  “I had to let him know I was alive. He’s a wanted man here. He couldn’t just come to the shop,” she said befor
e turning back to her brother. “What is the news from Amaru?”

  “The LOV is on the verge of retaking the city.”

  “Oh, Halil, that’s excellent news. And what a turnaround. We weren’t even close before.”

  “We’ve had air support from the French,” the young man said with a twist of his lips as though he wanted to spit, but was too well trained to do so.

  Astaria didn’t like the idea either, but their situation was desperate. “I know you have no fondness for them. And really, who does? But we are hardly in the position to turn down help where we can find it.”

  “They’re not helping us out of the goodness of their hearts. They hope to own us once again,” Halil practically snarled.

  “To be sure, but that doesn’t mean we have to let them have what they want.”

  “You know it’s like putting our heads in the lion’s mouth.”

  “Ya Allah! Are you two really going to have a political debate in an alley in the middle of the night when both of you are fugitives?” Kaeden snapped.

  Halil gave him a sullen look but before he could speak Astaria interrupted him.

  “My husband is a bit crabby, but in this case he happens to be right.”

  Halil turned to the other man. Astaria watched, annoyed, as he drew himself up to full height to ensure he had a full two inches over Kaeden. She rolled her eyes in disgust. This was exactly what they needed, a testosterone-fueled cockfight. Not for the first time she appreciated being part of an all-female fighting force.

  “Am I to assume that you plan to get your wife out of this country as soon as possible?” Halil asked with an arch to his brow that would have done credit to a comic book villain.

  “Don’t talk about me as though I’m not here. What if I don’t want to go?” she snapped.

  Halil gave her a baleful glare. “We’ve had this discussion. It’s too dangerous for you here.”

  “Me? What about you? I’ll leave if you leave,” she said.

  “That’s not going to happen. This is my country.”

  “You speak as though it’s not my country as well.”

  “You’ve made great enough sacrifice,” Halil said. She knew he was sincere but in these circumstances it was pure manipulation.

  “Surely that is my decision to make,” she said.

  “Enough.” Kaeden interrupted them again. His voice never rose above a whisper but the irritation in his tone was enough to bring the squabbling siblings to a halt. “To you sir, I have every intention of getting my wife out of this country or die trying. And you madam, I assume you have a way to contact him?”

  Astaria nodded, hoping he wouldn’t ask how. In his current mood, he probably wouldn’t be happy to hear that she couldn’t share that information. Fortunately he didn’t ask. She turned to her brother. “Now, you really must go. We’ll cover for you.”

  “I’ll go, and I will contact you through the usual channels if I need you.” Halil turned to walk away, but then faced them again. “I’ve been meaning to ask: Giselle, how is she? They didn’t marry her off too?”

  Astaria couldn’t hide her smile. She did love being right. He wasn’t as indifferent toward her fellow Guards member as he pretended. “She’s doing well. She’s in college.”

  He nodded and after another brief hug, he disappeared into the darkness.

  She didn’t even try to suppress the tears as her baby brother left. She knew there was a strong possibility that she might be seeing him for the last time. In the span of just a few months her family had been totally decimated. Kaeden studied her for a moment before gathering her into his arms. As always his embrace was like a homecoming as she was enveloped in his essence, and just like that she could relax. Could breathe.

  “He’ll be okay baby. You said yourself that he’s a good soldier.”

  “He is, but the bullets don’t know that.”

  He said nothing else and really what was there to say? He knew as well as she did the danger Halil would be in. She snuggled deeper into the warmth and security of his chest. When she began to yawn he shook her shoulder gently.

  “You’re tired. We should go back to bed.”

  She nodded against his chest. “Did you come over the roof, too?” she asked, peering up at him in the increased light of false dawn.

  “Yes I did,” he admitted, through clenched teeth.

  “I thought you were afraid of heights.”

  “I’m not afraid of heights. I just prefer to avoid them. In this case, it was the best choice so I went with it.”

  She smiled. As one of the American members of her Guard liked to say, ‘Testosterone was a helluva drug.’ “Don’t worry. I’ll spot you.”

  *****

  The climb back up to their room wasn’t nearly as difficult as Kaeden had anticipated. Mainly because he was so focused on not making a fool of himself he had little time to consider how high off the ground they were. He was just grateful not to land on his ass in front of Astaria. Rappelling had never been his strongest skill while she did it as though she climbed Everest every morning before prayers.

  Tiptoeing quietly back into their room so as not to disturb the Hamadis, they began to undress to return to bed even though they had only a couple hours of rest before morning prayers. He had politely turned his back to Astaria as she undressed though listening to the soft rustling of her clothes was itself as arousing as watching her undress. He immediately shut down that line of thought. Thinking about her naked was not going to help the situation at all. He was struggling so hard with his wayward libido it took him several moments to realize she’d spoken to him.

  “I’m sorry, I missed what you said,” he said resisting the urge to turn around.

  “I asked you about the day we arrived.”

  “What about it?”

  “Well, you kissed me.”

  He hated to sound like a parrot but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Indeed, all his thought processes had shut down the minute she mentioned The Kiss. Was she going to tell him she didn’t want to kiss him again? After all, she’d kissed him first, but now he wondered if she even remembered kissing him before they got married. “What about it?”

  “You haven’t done it again.”

  “Right.” Ya Allah. Was she going to give him the brush-off? It wasn’t the best circumstance, but it was all he had.

  “I was wondering if maybe you might want to. I mean not necessarily now, but yeah I really liked it and—”

  He turned to face her, praising Allah that she was wearing her nightgown.

  “Stari, what are you trying to do to me?” he asked moving until they stood a hairsbreadth apart.

  “Nothing. I mean we are married and all, and well, I did like it.”

  “If that’s the case, why don’t you kiss me?”

  “Okay.” And with that she stretched until their lips met.

  Inferno. That’s the only thing he could think. He was being consumed in a raging fire so intense even his blood boiled. He was amazed the entire room hadn’t exploded into immediate conflagration and burned down around them. In moments he had pushed her down on the bed and he quickly followed. He needed her like he needed oxygen, even more because right now he didn’t need to breathe. Didn’t even want to. All he wanted was her. He pushed her gown up until he could feel her smooth velvety skin against his own. Immediately his mouth followed nearly desperate to taste her skin, to absorb her into his own being.

  “Are you on birth control?” he asked, struggling to form a reasonable thought.

  “No,” she whispered back. “I haven’t, I mean no.”

  Kaeden closed his eyes. Then slowly rolled off her until they were side by side on the bed. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. “We can’t make love. I don’t have any condoms, either,” he said, mollified by the look of disappointment on her face. “You know getting pregnant under these circumstances would be the worst thing that could happen,” he continued, realizing he was mostly trying to convi
nce himself. He wanted her. He wanted her bad and knowing she wanted him too was almost more than he could stand.

  Despite being more turned on than he had been in his life, her delicious pout made him want to laugh and then kiss her until they merged into one. “Stari, have you ever had sex?”

  “You mean, with a man?”

  Kaeden struggled to catch his breath. “You mean, you’ve had sex with a woman? Do you know how many times Trick has kicked the shit out of someone in our unit for speculating about the girl/girl action that had to be going on with your Guard?”

  Astaria rolled her eyes. “Men are disgusting. No, I haven’t had sex with a woman…or a man.”

  “How the hell did that happen?”

  “You mean, me not having sex?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “You know we took a vow of chastity in the Guard and since leaving it, I’ve been married to you. And since you didn’t rather——”

  “Oh, I rathered all right. I just thought——” he paused, too embarrassed to continue.

  “You thought what?”

  “You married me because you had to, and I didn’t want to start anything until you had a choice. That night when we had dinner at Lelia’s and Patrick’s house I thought I’d hit the jackpot when they asked me to marry you.”

  “What? I barely knew you. I mean you were there when we first came to the base…”

  “Do you remember sparring with me?”

  How could she possibly forget? Everyone else was focused on whatever was going on between Lelia and Patrick, and her session with Kaeden had been fairly tame by comparison. Still, there was something about the look in his eyes when he’d thrown her. He’d stood over her and for a brief moment she’d felt like the prize in their contest.

  “Yes, of course I remember. You threw me. You were the only Marine who threw me,” she said.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, that was the talk of the barracks. You were beautiful, and I wanted you in my bed, but your bravery when you relocated to the States was what finally sealed the deal for me. I couldn’t imagine leaving my family and country the way you had, and I knew you were a warrior. The woman I’d always wanted. Yeah, I wanted you for my own, but only if you wanted it too,” he said.