Page 42 of Zain

Yes, it was that simple. Sleep not sex. She got into her pajamas, turned off the light, and crawled under her cool sheets. A minute later the bathroomdoor closed, and the sound of water splashing in the basin reached her ears.

If she ever wanted to sleep, she had to put Zain out of her mind for good.

***

Buzz,buzz,buzz

Zain woke with a start, his eyelids opening so rapidly they ripped moisture from his eye sockets. He reached for his phone with a groan. The clock on the screen read 9:48 a.m., but the sight of the caller’s name startled him more than the time: Maxine.

Swinging his legs off the couch, he stood and then went out to the balcony. The cool spring breeze met his bare chest, and he welcomed the refreshing scent of salty air. He’d slept in longer than he ever had, but it’d been a shitty sleep on a too-small couch with a sexy woman in the next room.

Just thinking about Dana made his morning wood ache.

He swiped to answer. “Hello?”

“You made it home I take it?”

“We did. Was that you who sent the escort at the airport?”

“Yes. Glad that worked. How’re you feeling?” Her question sounded forced, and the tingling sensation at the back of his neck warned him that Maxine wanted something—probably somethingbig if she had to summon empathy from the depths of her bleak soul.

“Fine. Tired and beat up, but fine.”

“Good. And your lady friend?”

He glanced over his shoulder toward the open patio door. Her apartment was even prettier now with the sunlight basking the cream-colored walls, bright accent pillows, and wall decorations. The woman had taste. And even her spare blankets smelled like cherry blossoms. “Alive.”

“Mmm,” she said absently. “Well, that’s nice to hear.”

Zain leaned his forearm on the railing and stared out at the beautiful skyline. Beyond it stood Mount Rainier. “Go on and cut to the chase,” he said, a little dryly.

She made a sound of annoyance. “Yes, well. You know how it is. There’s always something. We need you in Langley.”

He propped his elbow on the rail and massaged his temple. He was too tired for this shit. “Why’s that?” He’d never been to the CIA headquarters, in Virginia. Of course, he’d never had a reason to since they’d recruited him while he was still in Afghanistan. After his whole unit was bombed.

“We need to debrief you on your mission. We haven’t spoken since”—she tsked, probably looking at her calendar—“eight days ago. I’m sure things have transpired since then that will give us information.”

Of course they were still after Jabar. Zain’s world might’ve stopped since he left the Jaysh group, but the CIA needed to get the leader. Given that he’d failed, part of him wanted to say fuck the whole mission, but if there was information that could help them further their investigation, it was his duty to provide. “When do you want me there?”

“I can get you on a plane in two hours.”

Zain’s blood pressure spiked. He’d just gotten home. Hadn’t even seen his family. And they wanted him to fly across the country on two hours’ notice? “No.”

“N-No?” she sputtered.

“No. Hell, no. I just got in, Maxine. I haven’t seen my mom or brother in three damn years. I’m not going anywhere until I spend some time with them.”

“All right,” she drawled. “This evening, then.”

He just about threw his phone off the balcony. Burning irritation made his neck itch. If he didn’t cool his ass down, he’d be out of a phone and on the wrong column of the government’s list. “How about we do the debrief over the phone?”

Maxine let out a long sigh. “I’d prefer that too. But Roger would really like to see you. It makes it easier to ensure we’re getting all the information required.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. If it has to be in person, then this can wait until next week. OtherwiseI’m yours for a phone call any time of day. Hell, we spoke on the phone with sensitive information for three years. I don’t see why that’s not a viable option now.”

More silence. “Fine. I’ll speak with Roger, and we’ll arrange a video call for tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.” He hung up before she could say another word that’d pitch him over the edge.

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