“Zarek’s a drug runner.”
“He makes me feel beautiful. I love him.”
I think she does.
Stein approaches, radio in hand. She addresses Robyn. “You’d better get aboard. My people will meet you at Bagram.”
“Thank you, Ms Stein.” Robyn shakes Stein’s hand. Turns to me. “Breed, ‘thank you’ doesn’t cover it.”
Before I can answer, Robyn throws her arms around me. Hugs me with such force, I feel like our bodies are going to melt together. Helpless, I return the embrace. Look over her shoulder at Stein.
When Robyn releases me, her eyes are wet. “Come visit,” she says.
Jealous of Zarek, I shake my head. “You’re going back to a civil war.”
“Yes, and we’ll win. Someday you and Zarek can hunt ibex together.”
“I’d like that.”
Robyn wipes her eyes. Suitcase in hand, she walks to the waiting Globemaster. She looks back once, then disappears aboard.
“You think she’ll be happy in those mountains?” Stein asks.
Stein is dressed in her signature black pantsuit. Straight as a blade, hair brushed, eyes shielded by dark designer sunglasses.
“It’s what she wants.”
“Can’t believe Robyn’s mother is okay with her being second wife to a Mujahedeen warlord.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Can’t you? Robyn’s mother was Iranian. She may have married a Christian, but I’m sure she accepts Islamic norms. Robyn didn’t seem to struggle with the decision. Besides, Zarek is more than a warlord. He’s leader of the faithful.”
I don’t like long goodbyes. I turn and start walking to Stein’s caravan.
Stein falls in step beside me. “Six weeks, and my house is still a mess. Help me straighten the place?”
I should have guessed. The pool was designed for workouts. Stein probably swims two hours a day, runs cross-country in the hills. “Are you rich?”
“Yes.”
“How rich are you?”
“My grandfather gave the Stein Center to Harvard.”
Another piece of data for the file.
“I’ll help if you have food in the fridge.”
“Done.” Stein looks back at the C-17 taxiing to the runway. “Robyn and Zarek better stay together long enough to lock in the deal.”
I lift an eyebrow at the darkness in Stein’s tone.
“The Mujahedeen have a saying,” I tell her.
“Oh yeah?”
“You have the watches, we have the time.”
The End
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Acknowledgments
This novel would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and guidance of my agent, Ivan Mulcahy, of MMB Creative.
I would also like to thank my publishers, Brian Lynch and Garret Ryan of Inkubator Books for seeing the novel's potential, and taking a chance.
Thanks also go to Jodi Compton for her editorial efforts, and Claire Milto of Inkubator Books for her support in the novel's launch.
Not the least, I wish to thank members of my writing group, beta readers, and listeners, who support my obsession with reading every word of a novel out loud in pursuit of that undefinable quality called voice.
If you could spend a moment to write an honest review, no matter how short, I would be extremely grateful. They really do help readers discover my books.
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Feel free to contact me at cameron.curtis545@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Also by Cameron Curtis
DANGER CLOSE
(Breed Book #1)
Published by Inkubator Books
www.inkubatorbooks.com
Copyright © 2021 by Cameron Curtis
OPEN SEASON is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
