Page 79 of Zain

“You have your proof,” said Maxine. She was likely calling from a secure line. “Now I want to know who gave you that information and how.”

“You’re not in a position to make demands.”

“Neither are you.” Each word was punched out harder than the last.

“I’ll tell you my source when Dana’s safely with me. For all I know, you took that picture then killed her.” A beat passed. “Why’d you do it? If you’d left things alone, I never would’ve looked so hard at the bombings. Never would have discovered what you’d done to my unit.”

Silence stretched for miles. “This wasn’t personal.”

“It’s very fucking personal.”

Maxine sighed. “I’m just doing my job.”

“Roger ordered the hit on Dana?”

She paused, seemingly weighing her words. “I don’t make those kinds of decisions.”

“But Roger does.”

No response.

A few seconds ticked by. “If you want the woman returned in one piece, I suggest you send me every shred of information you have, as well as how you obtained it.”

“I’m not negotiating until—”

“This isn’t a negotiation. It’s an order. And if we find out Dana knows more than you’ve disclosed, your entire family will suffer the consequences. You have thirty minutes to send me everything you have, including your source.”

The line went dead.

“Goddammit!” Zain roared.

The door opened, and August and Taschen walked in. “What’s going on?” Taschen’s voice shook as if he feared the worst.

Zain couldn’t respond. He couldn’t do a fucking thing but pace. There was no way out of this. He wouldn’t fall for Maxine’s bullshit. They’d already tried to kill Dana twice—the likelihood of them letting her goafterthey’d kidnapped her, and he had proof, was zero.

If he gave Maxine everything Ghost had obtained, she’d still turn around and kill Dana. He had to find Dana without Maxine’s help.

But Dana could be anywhere by now.

Grabbing his phone again, he brought up the picture of Dana while Rami explained to Taschen and August what had unfolded.

Their angry voices gave Zain a little peace. For some reason, knowing he had a herd of pissed-off alphas on his side gave him hope.

Staring at the image of Dana brought fresh emotion to his eyes. He wanted to reach through the phone and rip off her bindings. To pull her through the screen and save her from another second of agony.

I’m coming, baby. I promise I’ll find you.

Dragging his gaze from her haunting face, he examined the room around her. She sat in what appeared to be a basement. There was a window about four feet above the ground and a piece of plywood in front of it. Cement walls boxed her in, and she sat on an ugly brown blanket.

There wasn’t anything else in the picture except a filthy floor and cinderblock walls.

Come on, give me a clue.

Taschen strode up and leaned over Zain’s shoulder. “Jesus.” He snatched the phone and gazed down at the photo of his sister. “Those fucking bastards.”

August appeared and he, too, looked at theimage. “Send that to Ghost.”

Taschen forwarded the image. “I don’t know what information he can get from this. It’s just a basement.”

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