Edge of Courage (Edge Security Series Book 5) by Trish Loye Read Free Book Online Page B

quietly.
    He frowned. “How many?”
    “Just three, but Ahmed was with them. He’s going to be a problem. We should have taken care of him within the first month we were here.”
    Now Rakin’s fierce frown was directed at her. “We don’t murder indiscriminately,” he said.
    “He’s a liability,” she said.
    “He has an elderly mother who depends on him. Without him, she would starve. Besides, he’s hisbah . There’d be an investigation.”
    Sarah lifted her chin and moved back to the table, collecting the girls’ dishes. “And that is the only reason he still lives.”
    “You’re a cold one.” Rakin sat at the table. “Bringing the girl back was the first time I’ve seen your heart overrule your head.”
    “I’ve been rescuing girls since the first month I got here.”
    He shook his head. “Not without intense planning, and never such a high-risk situation. I’ve seen you leave girls in horrific situations until you devised a safe plan to get them out. Yesterday, your emotions ruled you. They told you to save her.”
    Sarah frowned. Was that what had happened?
    Turning away, she busied herself with packing food, pulling out cold lamb leftovers, fresh bread, and cheese for Rakin and Claire to travel with. Rakin moved in beside her.
    “Let me help.” He nudged her aside. “It’s my mission. No matter what I act like sometimes, I don’t need you to prep my food.”
    “I’m only doing it because I’m the better cook.”
    He smiled and the tension between them eased slightly. “That you are.” He sliced the spiced lamb and put it into a Tupperware container.
    “I’ve been thinking, Sarah.” He spoke in a whisper the girls wouldn’t hear. “The situation in Mosul is getting hot. We’ve been here a long time. I’m burning out. I think we should leave while we still can.”
    “Leave? Right now?” She took a step back. “But our orders…”
    “Fuck our orders. You know as well as I that as soon as we feel compromised we’re supposed to get out.”
    “But I haven’t been compromised.”
    “Fine. Be stubborn.” He turned back to the food. “But the next time I check in, I’ll be asking my superiors to find a replacement for me.”
    “But you can still help people,” she said.
    “It’s getting too dangerous,” he said. “And we’ve been here for months.”
    “The network needs a bit more time,” she said. “I just have to bring another contact into play. This guy should be able to take over my role, but I need time to convince him to do it.”
    She spoke of an imam in hiding from ISIS. He and his brother could handle the logistics of rescuing children. He didn’t like risking his family and she didn’t blame him, but if he didn’t agree to take over her position, then her months of building the fragile underground railroad would be for nothing.
    Rakin scrubbed his face with his hand. “I’ll think about it. That’s all I can say.” He shoved all the food containers into a small messenger bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I just hope this job doesn’t end with us dead.”
    He walked to the stairs. “Claire,” he called down quietly. “Veil yourself. We’re going to get you home.”
    Claire rushed up the steps, her veil askew. Sarah straightened it. “Rakin is smart. Listen to him and you’ll be fine.”
    Claire nodded and then hugged her. “Thank you.”
    Sarah stiffened and awkwardly patted the girl’s shoulder. She had never been easy with people touching her. She spoke to cover her reaction. “Be brave. You’re almost there.”
    The girl just hugged her harder and then nodded.
    “Stay inside,” Rakin said. “I’ll be back in two days.”
    Sarah gritted her teeth to stop herself from telling him off. She didn’t want to start an argument in front of the girl.
    Rakin and Claire left moments later, out the back door and into the alley. They had a spare truck parked in the lot of the apartment building behind them.
    Rakin would drive Claire out of