Page 35 of Zain

She landed in his hands, and he lowered her feet to the ground. She hesitated, as if the jump had rattled her, but they didn’t have another moment to waste. He scooped her over his shoulder and ran down the gravel road.

His chest ached from smoke inhalation, and every pounding footstep made his head throb.

“Zain, I can walk!” Dana shouted.

He didn’t respond. He ran another twenty feet until he was sure the blast wouldn’t hit them. Ali’s vehicle roared up behind them. Zain brought Dana to stand next to him. Her hair was askew, her clothes covered in debris. Even her long braid had pebbles of glass stuck in it.

Her chest rose and fell erratically as she stared at the fast-approaching vehicle. She mopped the sheen of sweat from her cheek. “I don’tunderstand. Was Ali responsible?” Her question came out on a gasp, and he couldn’t help but worry about further injuries.

But he didn’t have the opportunity to check her over. The SUV screeched to a stop, and Brick leapt out. “Shit! Are you guys all right?”

Boom!

Glass and metal exploded like a firework from hell. Zain covered Dana with his arms as smoke billowed from the vehicle they’d just escaped. Thankfully they’d made it far enough to avoid any remnants of the blast. But the fact that they’d just about been blown up made fresh rage singe his brain.

Zain shoved Dana behind him and took aim with his rifle. “Stay there!” The roar shook his chest. If Brick was in on this, he was about to eat Zain’s entire clip.

Brick lifted his palms. “Dude. I’m with you guys. You’re hurt. Let me help.”

Zain wiped a trickle of blood from his eyebrow on his shoulder. “Pretty fucking convenient your SUV didn’t blow up.”

Brick’s eyes widened, and he shook his head. “That’s not what this is. I swear to god. I had nothing to do with this.”

Ali exited the vehicle, hands extended. “Please. Let me call for help. You both need medical attention.”

“Fuck you,” Zain spat.

Dana’s hand twitched on his side.

Brick’s palms shook. “I had nothing to do with this.”

Ali’s driver approached, gun drawn. “Drop your weapon.”

The muscles at the back of Zain’s neck pinched. No way in hell he’d comply. He aimed the rifle at the driver’s head. “You first.”

“Everyone take a breather.” Ali took a step forward. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Bullshit,” Zain snapped, not taking his eye or his rifle off the driver. “You wanted me in that SUV alone, and when that didn’t happen you were happy to sacrifice Dana.” Zain itched to assess Brick’s expression but didn’t dare shift his focus.

Ali placed his hand on his driver’s elbow. “Stand down.”

“Boss—”

“I said stand down.”

The driver scrunched up his face and lowered his weapon to the dirt. Zain’s trained eyes spotted his finger still on the trigger.

“We’re almost out of here, guys. We’ve got a little over an hour to get to the airport. Come ride with us.” Brick held out his hand, pleading.

Using his instinct, Zain scrutinized him—his earnest eyes, his worried brow. He’d bet the rifle in his hand Brick was innocent in all this, but he couldn’t endanger Dana on that hunch.

“C’mon. I’m good friends with Taschen. I’dnever hurt my friend’s sister. Or any woman. This is a complete misunderstanding.”

Dana inched forward from behind his back. “I trust you, Brick. But you have to admit something’s not right. Someone knew what car Zain and I would be in. Knew where we’d be traveling. This wasn’t a random attack, and you know it.”

Brick dropped his hand, and his expression hardened. “You’re right.” He turned to Ali. “You have some explaining to do. And until we find out what happened today, you and I are no longer friends.”

Anger flashed in Ali’s eyes. “Suit yourself. Don’t miss your flight.” He turned on his heel and headed toward his SUV. The guard refocused the weapon on Zain and retreated backward in his boss’s path.

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