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Talib was of the same mind and started circling to his left, drawing the kidnapper’s attention away from his captive and PJ. Unfortunately, the young man was behaving erratically and when he realized what was happening, he turned and rushed back towards the woman and donkey.
PJ started yelling, “Get down! Miss Malone, get down! Blaine, Now!” She watched the kidnapper get closer to Miss Malone, waving the knife at her and yelling at her in words PJ couldn’t understand. “Miss Malone! Please, get down on the ground. Now!”
Slade had watched the action unfold, cursing loudly at how things were playing out. When PJ yelled for Blaine to act, he relayed the information. “Do it! Kill the son of a bitch! Kamal can get his revenge elsewhere.”
Blaine didn’t even hesitate. He had kept the kidnapper firmly in his sights the entire time, moving with him as he rushed back towards his captive. He waited until the woman in the black robe dropped to the ground and then he acted. He let his breath out, nice and slow, as he squeezed the trigger, watching as the bullet found its mark, dropping the young man in his tracks. The force of the bullet knocking him backwards so that he stared up at the morning sun sky.
PJ saw the man fall and then took off at a dead run towards the young woman who had collapsed on the ground, with her hands covering her head. She hadn’t stepped away from the animal, and the commotion was making it very nervous. PJ didn’t want to compound her injuries by adding being stepped on by a donkey to the list.
“Miss Malone!” she called out, hoping that Brock was heading towards them already.
As she neared the crumpled figure, she lowered her voice, “Miss Malone? Erin?”
Erin heard her name, but didn’t have the energy to lift her head just yet. “Yes,” she called out softly. Then again a little louder, “Yes, I’m here.” Another round of dry heaves took over, and the cramping in her lower abdomen was so severe she could hardly breathe through the pain.
When she felt a touch upon her back, she whimpered and turned her head to the side, “Please, help me!”
“Help’s on its way! Just hang on! Can you tell me where you’re hurt?”
“Cramping!”
PJ heard the unspoken worry in Erin’s voice and helped her remove the heavy veil cloth. Talib reached her. After quickly assessing her condition, he picked Erin up, carrying her back to the tent so that her injuries could be more accurately assessed.
“Tell Carlos to send the helicopter to this location. She needs to see the doctor immediately.”
Erin heard Talib’s voice and started crying, “Talib, is Kamal…”
“Shush! Kamal is waiting for your return. He has been very worried about you. We all have been.”
“Thank you for coming for me,” Erin told him through her tears. “You always seem to be rescuing me.”
Talib laid her down in the tent just as Brock and Tim rushed inside. “It is my honor and a privilege. Now, let these men see about making you more comfortable while I wait for your transport to arrive.”
Chapter 15
Talib didn’t leave the tent until Brock and Tim arrived. After ensuring that the chopper was en route, he stepped outside and pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
“Talib?” asked the worried voice of Kamal across the line. “I heard the helicopter take off. What is happening? We lost the com signal early this morning and have been unable to reconnect with the American team.”
“Your Majesty, the kidnapper is dead. I apologize that you were unable to actively listen in to the mission, but things moved very quickly once we made contact with the target.”
“That doesn’t matter now. What about Erin?”
“Miss Malone is currently being treated by the American medic and the helicopter has been summoned to return her to the palace.”
“Is she okay? Can I speak with her?” Kamal fired the questions at Talib quickly.
“She is in need of medical attention. If the royal doctor has not already been summoned, that should be done immediately.” Talib stopped, not wanting to give voice to the possibility that Erin was losing the baby.
“What is wrong with her?” Kamal demanded to know. Khalil walked up behind him, and Kamal quickly whispered for him to summon the doctor.
“She is dehydrated.” Talib paused for a heartbeat before he added, “She is also experiencing severe stomach cramping.”
Kamal gasped in shock, “The baby?”
“I really can’t say, but that is a possibility.”
“I wish to speak to her.”
