Page 74 of Zain

“Before the CIA recruited you, a hospital in Afghanistan—can’t remember the city name—was bombed. A lot of innocent people died.”

Zain’s head bobbed with a mind of its own. “Iwas there. We saw the bombing. The news reported that Jaysh issued the attack...” His throat became scratchy as memories assaulted him. “It was the CIA. But it was an accident.”

Slowly, Ghost shook his head. “It wasn’t an accident. The hit was planned, and that’s why your entire crew was killed.”

Zain bolted toward Ghost, and Rami’s hand caught his shoulder. He shook off his brother’s hold and refocused on Ghost. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Ghost’s emotionless eyes met his. “Think about it. What’s the likelihood only one of you would survive? The CIA needed you. Only you had the capabilities to infiltrate Jaysh.”

Zain shook his head. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Ghost sighed. “My guy dug up classified CIA documents detailing the attack on your unit,” his voice lowered, as if the details were too heavy to speak boldly. “They made sure every single one of ’em died but you. Fed you the story that Jaysh hit you with an IED when it was really them.”

Reality crushed Zain down. He brought his knuckles to his chest to erase the burning sensation, but it didn’t help. Like ash falling from an inferno, memories fluttered into place.

His fellow soldiers had asked a lot of questions about the hospital bombing. Zain had been on the ground but hadn’t witnessed it as closely as theothers. A few days later, their trucks were hit with the IED.

And Zain had been rescued.

In his mind, the horrific scene had mostly been filled with blank space, but he remembered certain clips. Remembered the shrill, piercing pain. He’d wanted to die just to escape the noise.

He’d suffered a head injury and had been in and out of consciousness until medics arrived. In his moments of consciousness, he saw deceased soldiers. Some were so severely mutilated that death was imminent.

But George... he’d been alive. Seemingly unscathed compared to the others. In the hospital, when Zain asked doctors about George, he was told he’d suffered a bullet in the lung and hadn’t survived surgery. Maxine had given Zain the same story.

But that’s not how he remembered it. George’s death had sat like cement on Zain’s mind. It just hadn’t fit.

Now it fucking did. “George Harrow. Was there any mention of him?”

Ghost’s eyes narrowed. “George’s records stood out to me. His file was missing a lot of documentation about his medical state when he was found, and about the efforts made to ensure his survival. I’d bet anything his files were fabricated and he was murdered in the hospital.”

His senses tilted. Zain hung his head, his handsstill braced on the tabletop. Shudders shook his shoulders. Trapped emotions rose from his gut. Hate burned his eyes. He’d fucking kill them all—after he exposed them.

His brother’s hands landed on his shoulders, firm and intrusive. “Dude. Listen to me.”

Zain’s breath came hard and heavy through his nose, almost drowning out Rami’s voice.

“Come on. Work with me here.”

Zain met Rami’s gaze. “They’re going to kill her.” The words came out weak. Broken. Emotion pressed against Zain’s sinuses, and he blinked away what moisture came forth.

Rami didn’t blink. His brother’s blue eyes, so damn much like their father’s, were like a balm around Zain’s shredded heart.

“She doesn’t deserve this,” he continued.

Rami nodded. “I know. I know.” He gripped Zain’s shoulders harder. “You need to stay strong. We’re ahead of them. They don’t know we figured it out. We’ve gotta play this right.”

Zain pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. He couldn’t play this game when his head was about to explode. Not when his world teetered. Not when the very ground he stood on was falling beneath him.

Zain shook off Rami’s hold. “If I call Maxine and tell her I figured it out, she’ll just deny it and hide Dana’s body.”

A cold, bitterness filled Rami’s eyes. “She won’t get away with this. I fucking promise you.”

Whether she got away with it or not didn’t matter right now. He didn’t want to avenge Dana’s death—he wanted to take her home.

“When were you going to tell us you were CIA?” Ghost asked, his tone chilly.

“Dude,” Rami said. “Fuck off and just work on finding Dana.”

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