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Her reaction to him? Well, that was an entirely different story, and one she wasn’t going to unpack while running on fumes and sleep deprivation.

“Time’s up.” A guard appeared in the doorway. His authoritative voice made Dana jump, but she didn’t back away from Zain.

Zain sent the guard an annoyed glare. Once again, he brought his mouth close to her ear. “If you need me, scream,” he whispered. “Don’t hesitate. And use what’s in your pocket if you’re in danger. I’ll take care of the rest.” He pinched her chin and backed away.

Her body ached at the lack of his contact. It was all she could do to keep her feet rooted and not follow him. “Sleep. You’re safe.” He reached the hallway, and the guard shut the door.

But not before Zain’s penetrating gaze locked on hers and sent her heart into palpitations.

The lock clicked.

CHAPTER 9

Zain sat onthe edge of his bed, satellite phone between his hands. It was almost 3:00 a.m. but there was no way he could sleep. Not yet.

He’d showered in the ostentatious bathroom—the only place without a camera. He was more of a prisoner here, wrapped in the stone walls, than he ever had been inside the Jaysh compound. The forced separation from Dana agitated his nerves. And Ali had insisted they relinquish their weapons, which also didn’t sit well with him. He’d managed to slip Dana one of his knives.

Nevertheless, the half-hour-long piping-hot shower—Jesus he’d missed running water—was a luxury he was happy to indulge in. His clean skin was new to him. He’d shave in the morning.

He stared at the screen but couldn’t think of the right words to say to his brother. There weren’t any. It had been three years since he’d spoken to his brother, and he’d changed. He dialed the digits he’d committed to memory and held the device tohis ear. With the twelve-hour time difference, it was afternoon for Rami.

“Hello?”

The sound of his brother’s voice took Zain back in time again.

“Hey, man. It’s me.”

Rami’s sharp inhale made Zain get to his feet and start pacing. He wished he could be there to see his older brother’s face.

“Jesus Christ. Zain,” Rami blurted, his voice strained. “I thought you were dead. All this time...What happened?”

Zain palmed the back of his neck and closed his eyes. Whathadn’thappened? “It’s a long story.”

“Brick told me he thought they’d found you but—hell, I didn’t believe him. None of it feels real.” Rami’s tone was pained.

Remorse swallowed Zain’s heart. His decision to harden himself for the mission came back to bite him. He’d hurt his family, and there was no way to ask for forgiveness. Rami might understand, but it’d take time.

“Why didn’t you contact me?” Rami’s question stabbed through his chest. “We were worried, bro. Mom—I didn’t think she’d keep going. The only reason she hasn’t had a heart attack is because she’s been waiting for news about you. Closure.”

Pressure weighed on Zain’s lungs and hit the corners of his eyes. He was too exhausted to dothis. To explain something his family would struggle to understand. But he owed Rami an explanation. “I know.” The admission came out weak, contrite. Pain and guilt burned his throat. They’d suffered because of him. “I—” He rubbed his thumb against his fingers, wishing he was better at this shit. “I’m sorry. I hope you know that.”

Silence. “You’re alive. That’s all I care about. Just come home.”

“On it.”

“Are you all right?”

That was a loaded fucking question. “Probably not,” he said with a scoff. “But I’m coming back in one piece. Dana almost didn’t.”

Rami muttered a curse. “I had no idea she went on a self-appointed mission. Had I known—hell. I would’ve gone myself. I’ll have words when she and Brick get back, that’s for damn sure.”

“She’s fine now.” He wouldn’t say she’d been assaulted. Wasn’t his place. But his hand clenched into a fist at the memory of interrupting Rakesh.

They spoke for a few more minutes then hung up. Zain lowered himself to the bed and kicked his legs up on the mattress, then clicked off the lamp on the bedside table. That was one tough phone call off his plate. Tomorrow he’d make the other—to Maxine.

His muscles ached as his cortisol finally reached a normal level.

Sleep came fast and hard.

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