Page 49 of Zain

He quickly collected her phone, purse, and shoes from her car and returned. They were on theroad a minute later. Part of her needed to know where they were going, but she was mostly too tired to care. The adrenaline crash was making her brain mush.

“Should we call the police?” she asked.

He grunted. “I don’t think they’re going to help. Besides, I’m sure he’s long gone. I’ll call Maxine when we get settled. She’ll know the best way to handle it.” He covered her knee with his large, warm palm. “We’re gonna get a hotel for the night. I’ll have Rami bring me some clothes, and we’ll stop at your place tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She rested her head back against the seat. Nothing mattered right now except getting to a bed as fast as possible.

Half an hour later, they had checked into a ritzy hotel downtown with a view of the harbor, and Dana sat in the one-bedroom suite while Zain spoke low on the phone in the living room, on the other side of the door.

Hearing him relay the details of her attack told her he was speaking to either Rami or Maxine. Her body hummed with the need to lie down, but now her brain fired with activity. Her mind kept replaying the memory of the man lunging at her, knife inches from slicing her throat.

She pressed her fingers to her closed eyes and tried to focus on her breath.

You’re okay. He’s gone. He didn’t kill you.

This time.

She shuddered and got to her feet. She desperately wanted to get out of her clothes, the feel of the attacker still fresh on her skin. Breezing to the closet, she pulled out a housecoat and then went to the bathroom. She stripped and pulled on the robe. A shower would make her feel better, but she was too damn tired and probably shouldn’t get her cut wet.

After tightening the tie, she scrubbed her face clean, rinsed her mouth with the complimentary mouthwash since she didn’t have a toothbrush, and finger-combed her hair.

When she exited the bathroom, Zain was just entering the bedroom. “Hey,” he said, his voice smooth as he scanned her from her toes to her hair.

A little thrill swarmed in her tummy as she sank onto the bed. “Did you talk to Maxine?”

He folded his arms across his chest, his expression murderous. “Yeah. She sent agents to your apartment. She’ll give me an update when we speak in the morning.”

She nodded slowly, lowering her gaze to her bare feet. “Thanks for coming. I’m sorry.”

He sat on the bed beside her, cupping her neck. His hands were so thick and comforting, she could melt into them for hours. Lifting her lashes, she met his stare.

Determination blazed from his irises. “Don’t be sorry. I shouldn’t have let you leave by yourselfearlier. It’s my fault this happened.”

She frowned and gave a light laugh. “How? You had no reason to stay with me. It’s not like we expected this to happen.”

Something blipped across his face, and the hard, chiseled planes softened. “No, I didn’t expect you’d get attacked. If I’d thought for one minute you were in danger, I would’ve gone with you.” He shifted his gaze toward the window, his hand twitching on the base of her neck.

Then he pinned her with his unwavering stare again. Some of the rage that always seemed to burn at the edges of his demeanor had diminished. The anger was still there, but she sensed it more than witnessed it. He was unraveling from his mission. And maybe, just maybe he’d reveal the true Zain to her.

“I should’ve stayed with you because it felt wrong when you left.” The words rasped out on a hungry whisper. “I don’t know how else to say it. You left and part of me stayed with you. It was a fucked-up feeling.”

His words engulfed her heart. She bit down on her bottom lip as warmth spread through her. But she reminded herself that he was being protective. He’d guarded her from the moment he rescued her from the prison cell—that’s why he had those feelings. He felt responsible for her.

Nothing more.

Still, she leaned into him. “I wanted to staywith you too.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

If Zain had been with her, nothing bad would’ve happened. He’d have caught the man, and they’d have answers. But that was only part of it.

The other part was that she wanted him. She wanted him to hold her. To kiss her like he’d done. To not be afraid to touch her because god, she needed him.

Soft breaths came in and out through his nose. His fingers toyed with the sensitive strands at the back of her head, and she rested her hand on his shoulder. “You make me feel safe, Zain. It’s not your job to protect me, but...” Words failed her.

She sniffed as a rush of emotion flooded her, stealing the resolve that’d kept her trauma at bay.

Zain pulled her to his chest, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. “Shhh. You don’t need to say anything else. I’m not going anywhere.”

With her snuggled in his arms, he stretched out on his back. She let her body mold to his side, let his arms envelop her like a cocoon. His broad length was the only solidity in her life right now. And so help her, she’d cling to him until she reached stable ground.

---