Page 83 of Zain

“Perfect.” He called Maxine.

She answered immediately. “I see you’re cooperating.”

“Of course.” He balled his hand into a fist at his side. “All I want is Dana. And I’m sure youwant this over with too.”

“I want to know your source.” Her heartless tone beat through the speaker.

He paced in a small circle, his pulse pummeling against his temples. “You’ve got a mole, Maxine. Someone high up.”

Her breath caught. “You’re full of shit.”

“Think about it. How would I know about the attack on my unit? I imagine something like that would be kept under tight wraps.” He had to force the memory from his mind so he didn’t lose his shit. He couldn’t help the murdered soldiers, but he could damn well save the one person who mattered to him now—Dana.

“Who?”

“I know who, and I can prove it. But I’m not doing a damn thing until you bring Dana to me.”

Silence stretched out.

“Maxine, I have enough evidence to put you away for life. You know the crimes you’ve committed. Give Dana up and all this goes away.”

She smacked her lips. “Fine. Let me call my guy, and I’ll see where he wants to meet you. But you need to give me everything. Have it all on a drive and ready to hand over when you see your girlfriend.”

Excitement fissured through him. “I need to talk to Dana first. I have to be sure this isn’t a setup.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “You’ll receivea call in a few minutes.”

The line clicked off, and he bowed his head. Holy shit. They might just have a chance.

One minute. God, please just give me that. I’ll figure out the rest.

***

Dana reached overher attacker’s shoulder for the railing, and her fingers scraped the old wood. He yanked her arms away and buckled them against her side as he pounded down the stairs with her in his hold.

“Let me go!” she yelled.

He descended quickly, and the basement loomed before her. Panic frothed over her senses. She twisted and lifted her knee into his injured armpit.

He screamed and cursed, stumbling. They both slammed into the concrete, Dana landing inches away. She scrambled to her feet, but he caught her ankle before she could escape.

Her head banged against the stairs. Fingers of darkness danced in front of her closed lids, but adrenaline was quick to dispel them. Heat singed her face as she kicked at her captor.

He was too fast. Too strong. He had her in a chokehold as he hauled her to her feet. Then he shoved her toward her cell.

She gave a wail of despair. Fear electrified her senses, shutting off her awareness of the heinouswords he spat against her ear. Nothing he said could make her more terrified than what she already knew—he was going to torture her.

Time to send your boyfriend a finger. His earlier promise rang in her head, and she instinctively curled her fingers into her palms. His rough hand shoved the back of her head. Dana landed against the cement wall, her shoulder taking the blow.

She sank to her haunches and watched the monster in front of her radiate with fury. Blood continued to run down his neck. The gash was thin and wide. Not deep enough or he’d be dead. But the gaping wound beneath his ripped T-shirt promised more blood loss.

Ire sparked from his hollow eyes. He still had enough energy to inflict a whole lot of pain on her.

His chest heaved, and he took a step forward.

Dana shuddered and shielded her face. Any minute he’d strike her again. He’d rip off her fingernails and then her fingers—god, maybe even her eyes.

Her body shook in waves.

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