Page 77 of Zain

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with. You think—”

“Four minutes.” He hung up.

He set his phone on the desk and cradled his head in his hands. Despite his bluster, sweat trickled down his face and anxiety made his stomach roil.

Jesus.

He’d just thrown all his eggs in one basket in the hopes the damn thing wasn’t already on fire. Lowering his hands he lifted his head. One look at Rami told him everything he needed to know. Rami’s face had lost a bit of color, his brow was tense, and disbelief flashed in his eyes.

“That was one ballsy move, dude.” Rami’s tone lacked reproach. Instead, it held a hint of awe.

“I didn’t know what to do. If we’re wrong and they don’t have Dana, then this shouldn’t blow back on me. But considering the evidence, chances they’re not involved are nil.”

Rami gave a sharp nod. “Agreed. Given the circumstances I think you played this well. Better than I would’ve.” He nudged Zain with hisshoulder. “It’s gonna be okay. We’ve got a whole team working round the clock. I bet they’ll have something concrete in a few hours.”

Zain curled his lip. “She won’t live that long.”

“You don’t know that.” He rocked on his heels. “I never told you about how I met Ivy.”

Zain cocked his head. “Tell me.”

“I rescued her from human traffickers. If it weren’t for Gigi’s insistence, though, I never would’ve taken the job. Backcountry was fairly new at the time. We were growing but nowhere near search and rescue.” He wet his lips and swiveled his head toward the door.

When he looked back at Zain, his eyes were filled with sadness. “Had I not taken that job, no one would’ve found her. She was in Mexico being held by a cartel. Every fucking day I kick myself for what could have happened had I not followed my gut.” He placed a hand on the back of Zain’s neck and brought his forehead to rest on his brother’s. “You’ll bring her back, man. Have faith. You’ve got all of us behind you.”

Desperation moistened Zain’s eyes. If he lost his footing now, he’d fall to his knees in despair. No, he had to stay standing. “Thanks, Rami.”

Ring,ring

Zain’s phone vibrated on the boardroom table. A text lit the screen.

Holy shit.

***

Metal tinkled inthe lock, and the door swung open before Dana could steel her nerves or summon an ounce of false courage. Her captor stormed into the room, his ominous eyes landing on her with disgust.

She scampered backward until her shoulders smacked into the cement wall. Her elbows flanked either side of her knees, and her bound hands hung in front of her. She wanted to scream and fight him, but she wasn’t prepared.

That said, now she knew what he was capable of. And if he came after her fingernails again, or even a lock of her damn hair, she’d lose it. She’d rather die fighting than have her body parts ripped off.

He stalked forward and Dana began to shake. He lowered himself down to her level, only a few feet away, and her breath hitched in the back of her throat. She opened her lips to demand what he wanted but nothing came out.

She stared at this demon incarnate and clung to a prayer—surely only Jesus could banish something so evil.

He smiled. The lifting of his lips crinkled his eyes. “How’s your finger?”

She squeezed her hands together. If he touched her, she’d strike. “About as ugly as you now.”

His expression froze, and his blue eyes swirledwith ice. Then his face cracked, and he burst out laughing. “I’m going to enjoy breaking every bone in your body.”

She glowered at him. “Why keep me here? What’s the point?”

“The point is to cut out your fucking throat once I get the information I need from it.”

“I told you everything I know.”

He snarled. “Bullshit.”

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