Page 86 of Zain

Rami swished his lips. “That could work.”

“It’s our best shot,” Brick added.

“Fine.” Zain didn’t really give a shit what the plan was as long as they had manpower where Dana might be. “I’m going to the house now. I’ll call you when I hear from Maxine.”

August caught his shoulder. “Maybe Rami and I should go to the house and you wait for Maxine’s call. For all we know, they could be moving Dana right now. On the off chance Maxine follows through and brings Dana to trade, you’re gonna want to be there.”

Indecision froze him to the spot. The muscles in his neck knotted. August made a valid suggestion, but instinct told Zain he needed to go to the house.

He’d done nothing but lead from his intuition for the past three years, and it hadn’t steered him wrong. Now everything was muddled because his heart was in the goddamn way. Every thought was second-guessed, every assurance reevaluated. “I’m going to the house,” he declared with conviction.

“I’m coming with you.” Taschen chimed in. “Gimme a sec.” He disappeared into the office and returned with an assault rifle across his chest, another in one hand, and a Glock in the other. Hepassed Zain the second assault rifle.

He took it eagerly. “Let’s go.”

“Wait,” Rami called. “Take Micha.”

Zain hesitated. The dog was highly skilled, but the last thing he wanted was for the sweet girl to get hurt. “Are you sure?”

“Hell yeah.” Taschen grabbed Micha’s leash from the wall. She immediately stood and wagged her tail. “Who’s a good doggy?” he crooned. “Let’s go eat some bad guys.”

Micha responded with an excited bark.

They stormed through the office to the elevator. As they passed Pearl, she firmed her lips and met his stare. “Bring our girl home.”

“I will,” he vowed. Emotion prickled the corners of his eyes. Pearl was as sharp as a tack and had likely picked up on his connection with Dana.

Taschen jammed his finger against the button, and the elevator doors whooshed open. Micha beat them inside, and Taschen pressed the button for the garage. The cart descended.

Fire singed the back of Zain’s neck. He’d been utterly useless the last couple of hours. Helpless. If it weren’t for Backcountry, he wouldn’t have had the resources. He would’ve—

He gave his head a shake. He couldn’t go there. Couldn’t think about how bad things could have—or would have—gotten. Right now, they had purpose. He was ahead of the fucking bastards.

A sharp ring from his pocket seized his muscles.The elevator door opened, and he pulled out his phone as they crossed the threshold into the concrete area housing Backcountry’s vehicles. According to signs throughout the space, the entire garage was for their parking alone.

“Is it her?” Taschen asked, just as Zain looked at his screen:UNKNOWN CALLER.

“Yup.”

“Stick with the plan.”

“No shit.” He swiped to answer. “Yeah.”

Taschen opened the back of a large SUV, and Micha hopped in, tail wagging ferociously. He gave her a pat on the head and she lay down on the dog mat.

“Well, you have your proof. Your girlfriend’s okay.”

He grunted. “Sounded like she was fucking hurt when I spoke to her.”

Taschen closed the liftgate, and they stashed their guns in the back seat. “Stall,” he mouthed.

He nodded. The longer it took him to agree on a meeting point, the more time they’d have to get to the house before Maxine attempted to move Dana.

“She’s in one piece. I promise you that.” Maxine’s chilly words weren’t very fucking reassuring.

Zain’s temper knocked against his forehead. Fucking bitch. He opened the front passenger door and settled in the seat while Taschen got behind the wheel.

“There’s something I want to know,” he said, slowly, while Taschen navigated through the parking garage. He had to keep her talking as long as possible. “Why take her in the first place? Why not me?”

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