His head cocked a fraction. “We’ve got safe houses, Dana. Helluva lot safer than downtown.” He tapped his index finger on his phone case, watching her.
She didn’t want to let on that something was going on between Zain and her. It was no one’s business, least of all her overprotective brother’s. And she certainly wasn’t going to broadcast their involvement in a room full of colleagues. “I’m well aware of my options.” She flashed her teeth, but her muscles were stiff. “You just find the guy who tried to kill me.”
He huffed. “I plan to. But if you change your mind,” he said, lowering his voice, “let me know.”
She patted his hand. “You don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”
“I wouldn’t worry if you weren’t always putting yourself in danger.”
This time she chortled. “Not true.”
His face hardened. “Just be careful.”
She flattened her lips and turned her head back to the conversation. Taschen could grumble all he wanted, but she was staying with Zain.
***
Zain’s stomach growledas lunchtime crept up. After more than an hour of sitting in Rami’s office, they’d made a game plan. August had called his contact at the local police department and gotten the scoop on their intel so far. He and Ghost would access the footage from security cameras inside Dana’s apartment building and surrounding businesses to get a lead on the assassin.
“How soon until we can have an ID on the guy?” Zain asked.
“Well.” August twisted his face. “He’s clearly a professional. My guy at the police department said not a shred of evidence was left behind. We’re still waiting for prints, but since Dana saw him wearing gloves, I doubt they’ll find any.”
“Great,” Dana mumbled.
“Doesn’t mean we won’t find him,” Ghost said. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’ll take only one little flaw to piece this together.”
Zain cut his gaze to him. “Sounds like you’ve done this before.”
A smirk appeared and then vanished on Ghost’s hardened face. “Let’s say I’m no strangerto finding idiots who don’t want to be found.”
A gentle knock made Zain glance over Dana’s head. Ivy cracked open the door and smiled. Her long brown hair curled around her shoulders.
“Hey, babe. Need something?” Rami stood but Ivy quickly waved him down.
“No, I’m fine. Gigi and I brought lunch for everyone.” She looked at Dana. “If you wanna leave this boring meeting, come with me.”
Rami chuckled. Dana glanced at Zain, and he gave her knee a squeeze. “Go ahead. We’re fine here.” His hand lingered on her leg for a moment, and a blush deepened the color of her cheeks.
Everyone’s eyes were on them. If anyone in the room doubted his involvement with Dana, they sure as shit knew the deal now.
Dana’s expression pinched in a cute show of embarrassment. “Um, yeah. I’m kind of hungry. I’ll make you a plate.” She stood and went to the door.
Ivy paused before closing it. She flickered her gaze toward August. “My sister’s antsy to see you. So hurry up.” She waggled her eyebrows and shut the door.
Zain frowned and looked at August. “Her sister—Wait. You two are best friends and you’re dating sisters?”
Rami’s lip lifted with annoyance and August laughed. “That’s not even the strange part. They’re identical twins.”
“Don’t ask if they ever get them mixed up,” Ghost said with a snicker. “That really pisses ’em off.”
Zain chuckled. “Man, that’d be weird.”
“It’s only weird because it’s August,” Rami said. “Trust me, I’ve already tried telling Gigi she can do better than this oaf.”
August snorted. “I know you don’t believe that. Not after I saved your ass from getting shotandhelped you save Ivy.”
“If I’d known you’d still be holding that over my head, I’d have taken that fucking bullet,” Rami said, his voice spiked with irritation and his hand balled into a fist. He shifted his attention to Zain. “And we’ve never once gotten them mixed up. Matter of fact, I could tell Ivy apart from ten identical twins.”