Page 46 of Zain

“And Dana, well, she searched for you for a reason.”

“She wanted the adrenaline rush,” Zain said dryly.

“Maybe. But I saw the way she looks at you. She thinks you walk on water.”

Zain rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t matter. My shit’s a mess right now. I’m not in any shape to be in a relationship. If she’s still single in a few months, maybe we’ll connect.”

Rami shook his head. “You used to be the go-get-’em guy.”

He screwed his lips to the side. “That’s when they didn’t run when they saw the death toll in my eyes.”

His brother’s face grew somber. “I’m sorry, man. I wish—”

The door creaked again. Tomorrow he’d oil the damn thing. Ivy stepped out and froze as if she’d walked in on something she shouldn’t have.

Rami stood and caught her hand before she could dart back inside. “Ready to go, babe?”

Her worry lines softened. “As long as I’m not interrupting.”

Zain stood. “Nah. I’m heading to bed. Thanks for coming, and it was nice meeting you.” He hugged them both and went inside.

Rami had found love. Just like his dad had wanted for him.

Zain still hadn’t found himself.

***

A chill racedover Dana’s arms as she sat at a red light. She flicked the vents away from her and returned her hand to the steering wheel. Her windshield wipers slapped across the glass, trying to give her a clear view through the sheets of water pelting down on the road.

Several cars had already pulled over to wait out the storm, but it was nearly 9:00 p.m., and after an exhausting afternoon, she just wanted to get in bed. Plus, she was only a block from home.

The light turned green, and she checked the intersection before moving carefully through. Fatigue made her eyes bleary and her body ache. Seeing her mom and dad had been nice despite the chastising she’d received. They’d been horrified by her bruises, but Taschen must’ve watered down the situation, because thankfully, her parents knew only that she’d been to Afghanistan—not that she’d been captured and barely made it out alive. She had no intention of telling them that.

Though she’d enjoyed her visit, her mind had stayed with Zain the whole time. She’d wonderedwhat he was doing, when she’d see him again. And now she wondered if he’d already gone to bed. She turned into the parking garage below her building. At least she wouldn’t get drenched.

A few minutes later she walked tiredly down the hall leading to her apartment and stifled a yawn. Reaching her door, she stuck the key in the lock and paused. Had the lock clicked open? It must have. She just hadn’t been paying attention.

She pushed open the door and flicked on the light. After dumping her purse and keys on the small entryway table, she shut the door and removed her shoes. She padded through the kitchen to the living room. Her gaze automatically fell to the couch, where Zain had slept just last night. He’d left the spare blanket neatly folded; the pillow sat on top.

Stop. Don’t even think about snuggling his pillow all night, for god’s sake.

But why not? He’d never know. She practically rolled her eyes at herself as she reached her bedroom and clicked on the light.

The soft scuffle of footsteps on the laminate flooring sounded behind her. She wheeled around. A man lunged for her from the bathroom. She gasped and staggered backward, and her stomach dropped to her feet.

A black mask shielded his face, and a black long-sleeved shirt and black pants covered his body. Blue latex gloves coated his hands like asecond skin.

Terror drugged her like morphine, numbing her from the inside out.

The bedroom light caught the sheen of a metal blade. A scream swelled in her throat, but fear clamped down on her vocal cords like a bear trap. The man plunged the knife toward her chest. Dana jumped backward, her training kicking in. Fight instantly overcame freeze.

She jabbed the man in the jaw, and his head snapped back. Before he could recuperate, she kicked him in the stomach. He grunted. Blue eyes glared at her through the holes in his ski mask, and a silvery scar sliced through his left eyebrow.

He dove for her, tackling her to the ground. Dana let out a scream as her back slammed hard against the nightstand. The solid wood tipped, dumping the lamp and clock to the floor with acrash.

She kicked and squirmed but he got on top of her, pressing her back into the floor. He held her arms down with one hand and lifted the knife to her throat. She let out a guttural cry and twisted, throwing him off balance.

He staggered to the side, and she bucked hard, forcing him to let go of her arms to catch himself on the bed. She jammed her knee into his groin.

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