Page 76 of Zain

“Hold on aminute.” Rami covered Zain’s phone with his hand before he could dial Maxine’s number. “What the hell are you gonna say?”

Zain shooed away his brother’s hold and clamped his hand around the device. His gaze pulsed with ferocity. He’d once respected the oath of secrecy he’d taken, but that was blown to hell now. The CIA had killed innocent people, murdered his unit. And now they had Dana.

A week ago, he’d have known how to tackle this situation. But that was before he’d met Dana.

Before he’d endangered her. Before they’d fucking taken her.

Before he’d fallen for her.

Not only was Dana—a goddamn innocent in all of this—in danger, but he also had the moral responsibility of exposing the information Ghost had uncovered.

The CIA had murdered his fellow unit members, and he wouldn’t stop until he’d avenged their callous deaths.

“I’ll tell her if she doesn’t give Dana back then everything I know will be on the news.” He reached for the sheets of paper Ghost had brought in moments before and snapped pictures of each.

It might not be enough.

“Maxine told me Jaysh was planning a massive terrorist attack,” he continued. “That’s why I wassupposed to locate their leader, Jabar. I was scheduled to meet him just days after Dana arrived. If I’d made it to the meeting and gotten the information they wanted, she’d have sent in a team to kill Jabar—and she’d have fucking murdered me along with him.”

Rami’s expression turned grave. “I’m sure that’s how things would’ve gone. The mission would’ve been a success, the CIA heroes, and you a prisoner casualty. Easy out.”

Zain nodded. “Right. Only I fucked everything up by leaving. Not only did they not find Jabar, but I’m alive to speak about the hospital bombing and the men in my platoon who survived the IED.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t show your hand,” Rami said. “We’ve already got a name on the assassin who took Dana. If we can track his plates and find out where he took her, we could take this a different route.”

Zain pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t fucking think. Inside his head a clock ticked, warning him that he was running out of time. “We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. If Maxine sees I’m a threat, she might let Dana go.”

A cloud of worry crossed his brother’s face. “Jesus, man. This is fucking dangerous.”

He nodded. One wrong move and this whole thing could blow up in his face. He pulled up Maxine’s private number and hit the call button.

The line rang in his ear, the strident tone enough to make him want to beat his head against the wall.

“Zain, why are you calling me?” Maxine’s voice was low, her irritation clearly high.

“I think you fucking know why.”

A long pause. “I assure you I don’t. Nor do I appreciate your tone. I’m doing everything I can to help find your girl—”

“You killed my unit.” The resolute accusation fell like lead from his mouth.

Maxine’s sharp breath whistled in his ear. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t deny it. You’re wasting my time, and Dana’s. I have proof the CIA hit the hospital. You admitted as much to me after my rescue, but everything else you said was a lie.”

“Zain—”

“You killed innocent people. Recruited me and lied to me so I’d do your bidding. I’m going to expose you—unless you bring me Dana.”

Silence.

Zain clicked the speaker icon and quickly sent Maxine a text containing one of the documents from Ghost.

“I want confirmation you have Dana. Now.” He had her in a corner. The sooner she knew he wasn’t bluffing, the better.

“How did you get this information?” she screeched, her tone obliterating any doubt left inZain’s mind. He could practically see her stern exterior melting into a puddle of makeup and hairspray.

“I have my sources. You’ve got five minutes to give me proof you have Dana or this, along with several other documents, is sent to a reporter.”

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