Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
Z ain studied Dana’s friend. What kind of name was Brick anyway? He could only imagine the fun people had cracking jokes, but Zain had long since lost his sense of humor.
Brick gave a friendly smile and shook his hand. “We’re happy you’re okay, man.”
The guy seemed nice. Sincere. Zain flicked his attention from Brick to Dana, and a seed of jealousy rooted itself in his gut. Was she with him? Their embrace seemed platonic. But the fact that there could be more going on between them made hostility heat his skin.
Christ, why did it matter? He’d known Dana less than a day. Had no reason to care if she was with someone or not.
Yet he did. And when the timing was right, he’d find out if she was off-limits. Because for some reason he needed to know. Normal curiosity about an intriguing woman—nothing more. “Thanks.” His tone was flat, emotionless. He didn’t have it in him to tell Brick what he and Dana had screwed up. She could fill him in on that later.
Warmth reached Brick’s eyes. “Rami’s going to flip when he hears we found you.”
At the mention of his brother, emotion churned in Zain’s chest. He’d put his family out of his mind for so long. He hadn’t forgotten them but had forbidden himself to think about them. Doing so, knowing his brother and mom would be bereft, would’ve only made Zain’s mission that much harder.
“Can I talk to him?” Urgency rushed forward. The opportunity to connect with his brother was almost too good to be true.
Brick clapped him on the shoulder. “’Course. Let’s get to Ali’s first. I think we could all use a rest.”
Zain nodded. “I’ll follow you.”
Brick looked at Dana. “You can ride with me if you want. Tell me what the hell happened.”
Zain’s hackles rose. He balled his hand into a fist to stop himself from overstepping. She had every right to be close to her friend right now, so why the fuck did Brick’s suggestion bother him so much?
Dana smiled wearily. “Thanks, but I’ll stick with Zain. We’ll chat more at the house.”
He relaxed his hand. Her words were like aloe vera gel on a fresh sunburn: calming and... welcome.
Interest sparked Brick’s eyes, but he didn’t appear affronted by Dana’s refusal. “Sounds good. It’s about a twenty-minute drive.” With that, Brick strode back to the SUV and got in.
Zain waited for Dana to get into the passenger seat, then passed her a bottle of water before shifting into drive and following Brick onto the main road. “You okay?” he asked, after several minutes of silence.
Maybe his people skills were improving.
He flicked his attention her way as she dropped her head back against the seat.
“I feel oddly alert. Exhausted, but I don’t think I could sleep.”
He brought his focus back to the taillights ahead of him. “That makes sense. You’re still running on adrenaline. Probably in shock.”
“Do you think Jaysh will continue to pursue us now that we’ve crossed the border?”
The same question was nestled in the back of his mind. He wanted to reassure her, but there was no knowing to what depths Jaysh would go to find them. Not only had he killed off a chunk of their team in one night, but he’d been working undercover. He’d bet his head was their top priority. And Dana’s—collateral damage. “I think it’s wise to assume they will. The sooner we get back to the US, the better off we’ll be.”
Dana sighed, and her hand covered his. “You mean that? You’re coming home?”
He scrunched the corner of his mouth and had to fight to keep his eyes off the hope dancing on her face. “What else would I do?”
She shrugged. Her hand stayed on his knuckles, and the cool softness of her skin made him want to turn over his palm and fit her hand in his. “I dunno.” Her tone suggested she had a theory in mind.
He raised his eyebrows. “Go on. What’d you think I was going to do?”
She wrapped her long, dark locks behind her ear and tucked her chin. Once again, he tore his gaze back to the road before he rear-ended Brick’s SUV.
“I didn’t know if you’d want to leave.”
“Well, if I had the choice, I’d finish my mission. But that’s not the hand I was dealt. So I’d be stupid to stay here when everyone on the street—and probably some crooked law enforcement too—wants my head on the chopping block.”
She scoffed, and it sounded like a hiss. “Don’t talk like that.”
“It’s true. But it’s not going to happen.”
“I won’t let it,” she stated solemnly.
He turned his head away a fraction so she wouldn’t see the smile her vow had invoked. Hell, it was the first time he’d smiled genuinely in a long time, and it felt good. Human. Imagining this cutie going toe-to-toe with Jaysh was unsettling at the least. But her desire to protect him—that was endearing as hell. “That reminds me.” He let his gaze drift toward her earnest eyes. “You’ve got quite the fighting skills. Where’d you learn that?”
This time, she was the one who steered her face away. “Um, well. That’s a long story. Prior to working for Backcountry, I was an FBI analyst.” She inhaled. “And before that, a field agent. So I’ve had training. Honestly, after that fight I think I need a refresher course.”
“You did fine.” FBI. Interesting. With the skills he’d witnessed he’d assumed she had some type of law enforcement background. But picturing her as an FBI agent both agitated his nerves and made his dick hard.
She scoffed. “I was on my ass with a gun to my throat before you showed up.”
He grunted. “You did better than most. But if you want, when we get stateside, we can spar a little.” The suggestion made desire swim inside him.
The thought of seeing Dana in less clothing, sweaty and swinging at him, made his dick twitch. It was too dark to read her face, but her lowered eyes told him her thoughts might have gone in the same direction.
Or he’d made her uncomfortable. Fuck.
“Sure. But I hope never to fight for my life again.”
Zain clenched the steering wheel. Dana must have a guardian angel watching over her. She’d fought for her life more times in the last twelve hours than any woman should have to.
And if he stuck around, she’d never have to again.
***
“It’s just for one night.”
Brick’s placating tone was wearing down her patience.
She was grateful to be alive. Grateful he’d met them and had a safe place for Zain and her to regroup. But she wouldn’t feel safe until Jaysh was across the ocean.
“There’s just no way I can sleep. It seems careless to just... hang out when we could be putting distance between us and the men who want Zain dead.”
Well, Zain and her, but she didn’t say that. She’d already told Brick everything but the nitty-gritty details about Rakesh attempting to rape her. He was a smart man and had probably deduced enough from what she’d said.
“If you rest your eyes, you’ll feel better.”
She puffed out an exasperated breath. She wasn’t getting anywhere. Brick was insistent that they all spend the night and arrange for a private flight out of Pakistan the next day. From his perspective, it was a logical request.
“Fine.” She crossed her arms over the clean tunic Ali had provided, a beautiful afghan he apparently kept on hand for guests—although it was after 2:00 a.m. and she really didn’t care what she was wearing. They were in a high-tech mansion in the mountains, and her brain was still struggling with the contrast. From damp, haunting caves to a stunning property and massive, impersonal house in a matter of hours. It was almost too much for her system.
“You’re beat. Go to sleep.” He squeezed her shoulder. “The guards lock female guests’ bedrooms. It’s for your own safety. And, uh—” He glanced over his shoulder. “Every bedroom has a camera. So if you want privacy, be sure to use your bathroom.”
Unease scampered over her skin like the legs of a centipede. She fought off a shudder.
“I’m right across the hall and Zain’s next door. Safe as a baby.”
She grimaced at the reference and lifted her gaze to the glassy eye watching her from the ceiling. The soles of her feet itched to hightail it out of here. Zain’s words about a wealthy man in this part of the world careened through her mind.
Ali had been more than accommodating and polite, but his men, who all resided on the property, made her uneasy.
She’d met two—exhaustion prevented her from remembering their names—and they’d treated her like some of the men in Afghanistan had: as if she were invisible and her presence was unwanted.
News flash, dudes. I don’t want to be here either.
“Go to bed.” Brick drifted to the hallway as Zain appeared at her door.
“You can come in,” she said.
In the bright fluorescent lights of the home, Zain’s tall stature and sharp jaw line stood out more. The dirt on his skin seemed like a permanent coating, and blood splatters that she hadn’t noticed in the dark decorated his forehead. “I just wanted to check on you before I call Rami.”
She gave him a tight smile. “I’m all right. But I’ll be better when we’re home.”
He dragged the tip of his thumb along the hairline of his beard. “Same.” He stepped farther into the room, drawing short of touching her toes with his. His gaze raked over her face. She’d showered before putting on the clean clothes and had seen the bruises on her face. The sight of her reflection had brought tears to her eyes. Not because she looked like shit, but because the markings were a constant reminder that she’d come close to dying.
“Those must hurt.”
Touching the spot beneath her eye that still throbbed, she stifled a wince. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, his expression now stoney. “I just wanted to tell you... the promise I made you earlier. It still stands.”
She drew her eyebrows together. Fatigue made her thoughts muddy and slow. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He stepped closer to her, blocking the camera with his back. Leaning in, he withdrew his hand from his pocket. His fingers brushed over the material of her pants, and he slipped something inside her pocket. His lips dipped close to her ear, his breath warm and teasing on her skin. Her body temperature rose and her loins clenched at his closeness. Despite her response to him, his actions lacked sexuality. “As long as I’m here, no one will hurt you.”
Her eyes flickered, and she leaned into him. His words caressed her battered soul, and she swallowed the emotion clogging her throat. She gripped his shirt for the simple reason that she needed to touch him. Needed more of whatever promises he’d give, empty or not.
He stilled at her touch, his body going rigid. He pulled back an inch, just enough so that his face hovered near hers. The amber coals of his eyes glistened with uncontrolled attraction.
She gripped tighter. “You don’t think we’re safe here.” Her words were barely a whisper.
“I don’t think we’re safe anywhere.” He brushed his fingers across her forehead, and heat radiated through her core. God he was tempting. Dangerous. Hot. “But I want anyone watching to know that you’re protected.”
Oh .
She wet her lips, not breaking eye contact. He wasn’t coming on to her. Who was she kidding? Of course he wasn’t. They’d been through hell and back the last few hours, and he wanted to follow through with his promise. That’s all this was.
His closeness; his tantalizing scent; his warm, gentle touch; the watchful flare in his eyes—all nothing more than him wanting to stand between violation and her.
Her reaction to him? Well, that was an entirely different story, and one she wasn’t going to unpack while running on fumes and sleep deprivation.
“Time’s up.” A guard appeared in the doorway. His authoritative voice made Dana jump, but she didn’t back away from Zain.
Zain sent the guard an annoyed glare. Once again, he brought his mouth close to her ear. “If you need me, scream,” he whispered. “Don’t hesitate. And use what’s in your pocket if you’re in danger. I’ll take care of the rest.” He pinched her chin and backed away.
Her body ached at the lack of his contact. It was all she could do to keep her feet rooted and not follow him. “Sleep. You’re safe.” He reached the hallway, and the guard shut the door.
But not before Zain’s penetrating gaze locked on hers and sent her heart into palpitations.
The lock clicked.