Page 101 of Zain

She smiled, and tears leaked out of her eyes. “That’s more than enough for me. But there’s one big question.”

“What’s that?”

“Will you move in with me? To my apartment.”

Relief rippled over him. In the back of his mind, he’d been worried about how they’d figure things out between them—where they’d go from here. Because the last thing he wanted to do was take her home and walk away. But he hadn’t realized how truly afraid he’d been that she wouldn’t want him around after she was free. Thatshe’d hate him for all he’d brought to her door.

With one simple question, she’d wiped out that uncertainty. He chuckled. “Hell yes, I’ll move in with you.”

She let out a light laugh, the sound so full of love and ease that his smile spread. Only Dana could make the hardest shit simple.

Despite the ache in his muscles, his heart rate finally found a normal level—one that fell in sync with that of the woman he loved.

***

Dana hovered inthe doorway of her bedroom wrapped in her thick baby-blue terry-cloth robe. There was something about being in her own space, her own clothes, her own everything that just erased strain. Some of it anyway. Over-the-counter meds had done the rest.

She’d been worried about how it would feel to be back home after the attack. But Zain’s presence removed all the anxious feelings. Allowed her to make new memories to wipe out the bad.

In the living room, Zain spoke on the phone, his voice low as if concerned he might disturb her. She should be resting. But after the longest, hottest bath she could tolerate, she felt almost human.

Although she’d gotten back from the hospital a few hours ago, it was only dinnertime, and the morning’s horrors seemed light-years away.

Her body still ached from all the abuse it’dtaken—a mild concussion, bullet graze, contusions, not to mention her battered pinkie and the knife wound on her forearm. She hadn’t hesitated to take the ibuprofen the doctor recommended, and she sure as hell was glad she had.

“That’s right. I’ll send you all the information I have. Thank you.” He hung up and lifted his head. His eyes creased with worry when he spotted her in the doorway. “Babe, you should be in bed.”

He got to his feet, but she crossed the living room and sat on the couch before he could whisk her back to her room. “I think I’ll sleep better once I know what the FBI said.”

Zain had returned her phone to her, and she’d found that Suzanne, her old colleague, had responded to her email from earlier that morning. Which turned out to be a great thing—she was putting Zain in contact with the right people; the people with whom to share everything Maxine, Roger, and the CIA had done.

He blew out a breath and lifted her legs onto his lap. “It’ll be under investigation. I don’t think they’ll disclose more than that, but by the sounds of it, they’re taking the accusations very seriously.”

A little thrill of satisfaction sparked inside her. “I hope Maxine’s squirming.”

“She must know by now her plan didn’t go as expected. I just wish I had a way of knowing how things will go down with Jabar.”

She made a sympathetic face. “I get that. Youput so much of yourself into that mission—your life on the line.”

He grunted.

She squeezed his shoulder. “You just have to trust everything will work out the way it should. For now, we’re all safe.”

“You’re right,” he sighed. His hands wrapped around her foot and massaged.

She melted. “Ohmigod. Please never stop doing that.”

His mouth slid into a grin. Although he appeared calm now, the creases around his eyes told her he’d been under intense pressure all day. “You should rest too,” she said. “How’s your mom?”

“Good. She stayed with Toth and Savannah while we found you. She’s going to live with Rami and Ivy for a while until her house is renovated.”

“I’m sure that will be stressful for her.”

He scrunched his face. “Nah, she’s tough as nails. Said she was happy to get a new porch out of the deal. Besides, she’ll enjoy Micha’s company.”

“I’m sure Micha’s getting all the treats and snuggles.”

He chuckled. “You know it.” The planes of his face hardened, and seriousness entered his eyes. “We learned something else.”

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