Page 82 of Zain

A rough force dragged her backward by her hair. She gasped and twisted against the searing pain. Her tailbone smashed against the floor.

Her captor leaned down, his face inches from hers. “You’re gonna wish you hadn’t fucking done that.”

Tears streaked her face. She clawed at the hand holding her hair, but he didn’t let go. Blood oozed down his neck and poured from his armpit. He’d ripped out the glass. His top lip lifted to reveal his front teeth. “Time to send your boyfriend a finger.”

“No!” Dana threw herself toward the door.

He slammed it shut in her face, nearly taking off her hand. His arm hooked around her waist and hauled her in the air. She kicked and bucked, but he carried her as if her strikes were no more harmful than a gnat.

Terror seized every atom in her body. She let out a shriek to shake the heavens.

The sound reverberated off the walls, echoing through the chambers of her hell.

CHAPTER 25

Zain followed Brickto his office. Staying mobile made him feel less out of control. “What do you have?”

Brick closed the door and motioned to his desk. Like the offices of everyone else on the team, Brick’s held personal touches. The walls were painted black and had wood accents. A potted ficus stood near the window. Unlike Ghost’s, this one appeared artificial. A large bookcase filled with books and artifacts sat behind the desk chair.

“I’ve been thinking. Maxine wants information. So give it to her.”

He folded his arms. “If I give her what she wants,” he said with annoyance, enunciating each word, “she’ll kill Dana.” Jesus, was this what he’d been called in here for? To be told to cave and lose whatever bargaining chips he had?

“I say we play offense. Tell her you got the information from a mole and if she wants it, she’d better produce Dana.”

He twisted his lips to the side. Maxine would likely believe a mole existed, given that high-level information had been shared. She’d still want the proof, though. He’d have to find a way to make her hand over Dana first.

“What do you think?” Brick pressed.

He nodded slowly. He had maybe ten minutes before Maxine’s time limit expired. She’d already refused to give him Dana—instead, she’d made more threats. He had to play this right and get Maxine where he wanted. Besides dead. That would come after Dana was home.

“I think she’s going to agree to anything and then fuck us,” Zain said. “That’s what I think.”

Brick smirked. “Did they pay you big money in the CIA to figure out simple shit like that?”

Zain chuckled. It was the closest he’d gotten to a genuine laugh all day. “Okay, brainiac. What’s the drill then?”

“The drillis you get Maxine to agree to a phone call with Dana. Leverage whatever the fuck you can, but get on the damn phone with her. I’ll do my best to trace the call. Maxine knows we’ve got intel, but she doesn’t know the skills Backcountry has at their fingertips.”

“How long do I need to keep Dana on the line?”

“A minute, give or take.”

He exhaled sharply. “I sure hope you can work with less than that.”

“Not by much. But Dana will know what we’re trying to do. She’s familiar with our equipment and software. She’ll keep the call going as long as possible.”

Zain nodded. All along, he’d been thinking about how scared Dana must be. How alone. Hurt. He hadn’t given her enough credit.

She was incredibly strong. Even in the face of terrorists, she’d kept her wits. Her smarts alone could keep her alive for a while. He just had to meet her halfway—and he’d do that if it was the last thing he did.

He pulled out his phone. “Can you tap my line and record the call?”

Brick made a face. “Toth doesn’t like us to record calls. Says it won’t hold up in court.”

“I know we can’t use it in court, but I want to make sure I can replay what she says, in case there’s any indication of where they’re holding Dana.”

“I’m game. What Toth doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Brick took Zain’s phone and copied some information into a program. Then, using his own cell phone, he called Zain’s number and conducted a test. “There we go.”

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