Page 62 of Zain

Zain’s mother could have been killed. Whoever was behind this had to be stopped. And she’d make sure that happened.

***

Rami’s vehicle wason the street, out of the way of the fire truck parked in front of their mother’s house. Pressure sat heavily on Zain’s chest, and for the tenth time since getting in the car, he rubbed the ache.

Dana sat in the passenger seat, quiet but comforting. He hated that he couldn’t reach out to her. Couldn’t reassure her. Not when he was so tied up in his own fucking head.

His mom.

They’d gone after her. Why? Christ.

He parked behind Rami’s truck and got out.Dana quickly came to his side. Her fingers curled around his biceps, and he caught her hand and kissed her fingers. “I’m sorry.”

Her tear-filled eyes gutted him. “You don’t need to apologize to me. None of this is your fault.”

He shook his head. “They came after you. My mom. It’s completely my fault, Dana.” The words came out rocky and uneven. As much as he wanted to continue the conversation with her—she had a way of soothing his jumpiest nerves—he couldn’t.

His mom stood on the front lawn, her shoulders shaking and Rami’s arm around her.

“Go,” Dana urged.

He broke away and strode across the lawn. “Mom.”

She turned at the sound of his voice. He pulled her into his arms, shielding her eyes from the blaze. Flames licked around the front porch, and the scent of smoke thickened the air. “How’d you get out?”

She sniffled. “My neighbor saw the porch on fire. He came with a fire extinguisher while his wife called 911. If he hadn’t, I’m sure the fire would’ve spread faster. All the racket woke me up, and I got out through the back. I don’t understand how this happened.” Her voice was thick with worry and guilt.

Goddammit. More than anything, he hated that she thought she’d done something wrong.

He gently pushed her back and caught her shoulders. “It’s my fault. Someone’s after me, and they thought I was here last night.” He flicked his gaze to the charred white porch he’d walked down only hours before. “It wasn’t an accident, and it sure as hell wasn’t your fault.”

Concern softened her eyes. “My god. Why would someone be after you? What happened, Zain?” The sadness in her voice made him lower his head.

He’d done everything wrong, that’s what’d happened. But he didn’t say those words. He couldn’t.

Since getting Rami’s phone call, Zain’s mind hadn’t stopped moving. Anyone working for Jaysh could’ve been sent to kill him, and Dana by default. Then there was Ali. He had unlimited funds, friends in high places, and the power to make an assassination happen on US soil.

The question of who wasn’t a huge mystery. But finding them would be a bigger problem. Which was where Ghost came in.

Rami approached. “Ma, why don’t you come stay with Ivy and me? I’ll help you call your insurance company, and we’ll figure this out.”

Zain gave his mom another hug and watched her walk to Rami’s truck. Dana hovered near the sidewalk with a crinkle in her brow he wished he could kiss away. She hugged and spoke briefly to his mom on their way to Rami’s car.

Pulling out his phone, he hit his colleague’s number. Rami had added him to the Backcountry group chat, so he had the numbers of all the guys now. Inhaling the cool, smoky air, he stared out at the large lots of the neighborhood. The sun had begun its ascent, and the pinkish purple hue of the sky promised a beautiful day. Nature lied.

“’Lo?” Ghost’s groggy, irritated voice rumbled in Zain’s ear.

“I need your help.”

He grunted. “Figures. The morning I try to sleep in for once. What’s up?” The rustling of covers echoed over the speaker.

Zain paced the lawn and explained what’d happened. Firefighters shouted as they moved over the property. Police showed up a minute later. The place was a buzz of activity.

He flicked his gaze back to Dana. She now stood with one arm drawn around her ribs and her head tilted down toward the phone in her hand. Her concerned eyes met his, and she gave a tight smile. He lifted one finger to tell her he’d come to her when he was finished on the phone.

“Shit. I’m sorry to hear that.” For once, Ghost had expressed an emotion.

Zain cleared his throat and paced another wide circle in the grass. “I know you’ve been looking into Ali and who he might have in the US. Any luck?”

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