The CIA agent claimed, to the members who dared question his presence, that he was on vacation, though Khalid was well aware that the man had never had a vacation in his life. Not a true one. Shayne had been the first to warn Khalid of the rumblings heard in Saudi of the Mustafa’s brothers’ plans to strike against him and had helped set up today’s meeting with Abram. He had come to warn him. But he would stay to protect the woman he had become fond of over the years.

“Shayne.” Khalid took a seat on the sofa across from him.

The newspaper lowered slowly. The other man looked back at him, his expression curiously bland, though his light brown eyes danced with knowledge. “I will require a third.” Khalid kept his voice low but his intentions clear.

Shayne folded the paper before laying it carefully on the low table between them.

“Do you think it’s the best time for this?” Shayne tilted his head questioningly as his gaze darkened with a hint of disapproval.

“I believe it is.” Khalid nodded. “Ayid and Aman are planning to strike, as we always knew they would. Marty is not going to back down, and resisting her isn’t something I believe I can do for much longer.”

Explaining himself wasn’t something Khalid did well, but in this case, the explanation was required. How to protect her, how to shelter and keep her safe would have to be discussed, questioned, and planned in exacting detail. That would require more than just explanations, and he would have to face others besides Shayne. He would have to face her fathers.

Looking around the nearly deserted room, Shayne slid the recliner back into its upright position before leaning forward. “They don’t know about her yet. There’s a very good chance we can keep her out of this,” he began.

Khalid waved that suggestion away. “There’s no way to keep her out of it. She will draw their attention once they decide to make their move. The question remaining is how to protect her while we’re resolving the situation.”

Shayne nodded before his gaze narrowed and his expression became thoughtful, intent.

“We’ve always known this was a dangerous game we were playing where your half brothers are concerned. I had hoped we’d have the proof the Saudi government required by now.”

Khalid sighed wearily. “They’re smart. They wouldn’t have survived so long otherwise.”

“What about Abram?”

Khalid understood the question Shayne was asking, he merely preferred to ignore it.

“I do not require his permission,” Khalid stated firmly.

“The two of you share a past in this,” Shayne pointed out, his gaze narrowing at Khalid’s deliberate attempt to avoid the subject. “I admit, I expected you’d make him the offer instead.”

“Abram has other responsibilities, and what is in the past is long buried.”

Shayne slowly nodded. “As long as that’s where we stand. If you intend to introduce her to any other as a potential third, then I’ll decline if it’s all the same to you.”

Khalid was more amused at the other man’s attempts to control some part of this relationship with Marty than angry, though anger wasn’t far behind. It was rather a good thing that he had developed the patience he had over the years.

“I understand.” Khalid nodded soberly as he began to rise to his feet. “Forgive me for disturbing you.”

Shayne glared back at him. “Sit back down you arrogant bastard,” he snapped. “Hell, at least give me a chance at part of her heart.”

“I will give you the chance to secure yourself as our third, nothing more.” Khalid resumed his seat. “I have no desire to share more than I have stated. Her bed, as well as her safety.”

Khalid found himself feeling rather possessive where Marty’s emotions were concerned.

Shayne grimaced at the statement.

“Hell, I was hoping Marty would demand more along the lines of what her parents have.”

“And you are prepared for such a commitment?” Khalid arched his brow in disbelief. He wasn’t surprised by the rueful smile Shayne gave him in return.

“It would have been nice to play house for a while.” Shayne finally shrugged. “She’s a damned fine woman, and coming home to her wouldn’t be a hardship.”

The life Shayne lived was solitary one. He’d mentioned that to Khalid and Sebastian several times. Evidently, he thought Marty could provide more than the sexual intensity a third was normally seeking.

“She’s not a toy.” Khalid found himself repeating her father’s warning. “She’s my woman, and she will be treated as such.”

“And you’ll need a third, one you can trust until the situation with your brothers is resolved.” Shayne’s expression turned serious now. “We’re not going to have much time, Khalid. Ayid and Aman won’t be held back by your father for long. Old man Mustafa may think he can control his sons and keep you from killing each other, but you know they’ll make their move soon.”

“Yes, I’m aware of this.” He was, to the very darkest corners of his soul, aware of what he would have to do.

“You’ll also have to come clean with Marty,” Shayne told him. “You can’t let this happen without warning her about what’s coming. Her, as well as her fathers.”

“You do not need to warn me about how I must handle this situation,” Khalid said, his tone rough. “I am no imbecile, Shayne, nor am I uncaring enough to start something without first warning her of the consequences.”

There was no way to hide his past from her any longer.

Damn, he couldn’t get her out of his head, his heart, or his fears.

Shayne was watching him with that penetrating stare once again. “Marty and I are friends, Khalid,” Shayne said, his voice serious. “I don’t want to see her hurt. Are you certain you can’t stay away from her?”

“Can you guarantee that once Ayid and Aman decide to strike that they won’t also go after Marty simply because they suspect her interest is returned by me?”

Shayne’s lips tightened. “I can’t guarantee that.”

“Once she learns why I have resisted her, she will run headlong into danger whether I allow it or not. Not informing her of the danger is just as dangerous. Tell me Shayne, what other choice is left?”

There was no other choice, and they both knew it.

“Then I have no other choice but to help you protect her.” Shayne shook his head, his shaggy hair falling over his brow before he pushed it aside. “Damn. We should just kill those bastards and be done with it.”

“If such a thing had been possible, then I would have done so already,” Khalid informed him. “However, bring me a plan with a chance of success, and we’ll talk.”

Shayne ran his hand over his face in a gesture in frustration as he bared his teeth. “Sons of bitches,” he finally snarled.

“No doubt,” Khalid agreed. “It doesn’t change the fact that we must protect Marty now.”

“She’ll shoot us if she finds out we’re trying to protect her,” Shayne told him.

Khalid shook his head slowly. “She will have enough of the truth to understand. And I will have the comfort of knowing that should anything happen to me, you will see to her safety.”

Silence descended between them as Shayne continued to watch him carefully. Should his brothers succeed in killing him, then Khalid didn’t want his woman left to suffer that alone. He wanted another to comfort her, to ease her grief.

“I’ll do that,” Shayne promised. “If needed. But let’s see what we can do to keep you alive.”

Shayne wondered if Khalid was aware of the demons that roiled in his eyes, the pain that gleamed within them.

He’d held out against Marty longer than any of the members of the Club had imagined he could. It had cost him, though. With the exception of Abram, Shayne knew more than anyone what it had cost him. He’d seen the darkness that filled Khalid. He’d seen the cost of the missions Khalid had completed as the Desert Lion in Saudi.

Khalid knew the region that Azir Mustafa controlled like the back of his hand. It wasn’t unheard of for him to lead strike teams into the region to take down the terrorists moving across the border.