Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
D ana walked through the familiar building—glass walls, marble floor, sleek lines—with Zain’s arm brushing hers. It felt as if she’d been away for an eternity, even though it’d been only days.
She stepped into the elevator. Before coming downtown, they’d stopped at her apartment so she could change clothes. She’d dressed in jeans, a pale-blue blouse, and flats. Every muscle in her body hurt after the attack yesterday, and comfort was all she was going for right now.
That was a lie.
If Zain weren’t here checking her out as often as he did, she’d have worn jogging pants and a tank top.
Just walking through the door of her home had made her sick to her stomach. The air had still been charged with the attacker’s energy and the room tainted with Dana’s fear.
She didn’t know if she could ever live there again.
A place that had once been so safe and comforting was now the setting of a sordid nightmare come to life. She’d feel his presence in the walls forever.
“Which floor?” Zain hovered his fingers over the buttons.
“Um, twenty.”
He jabbed the number with a thick, long finger. And good lord, that action alone made delicious heat crawl up her neck, sparking the memory of how capable his fingers were. His gaze met hers as if he’d read the direction of her mind.
“What?” She wet her lips to offset the blush warming her cheeks.
A slow smile curved his mouth, and he tugged on a chunk of her hair. “You, that’s all.” His smile faded.
“What about me?” She poked him gently in the abs but didn’t move away from his closeness. A dark cloud of worry, or maybe it was regret, always hovered near Zain. So if she’d done something to make him smile, she wanted to keep doing it.
He brought his arm around her waist, covering the small of her back with his palm. “You made leaving everything I worked so hard for easy.” The words drifted from his lips like leaves in the wind. Soft and wistful. “And I don’t understand that.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
The elevator dinged, and a smile returned to his lips, this one more generous than the first. “It’s a good thing, babe.” The doors whooshed open, and they were greeted by the expansive space of Backcountry Protection Services.
Black walls with wainscotting and white marble counters and accents made the ambiance modern yet comfortable. Oversized cream-colored chairs opposite a coffee bar sat adjacent to the floor-to-ceiling window, creating a cozy waiting nook.
The click , click , click of Micha’s nails on the hardwood floor brought a smile to Dana’s lips. “Hiya, girl.” She patted the dog’s head then reached for the treat jar on the counter. Knowing the guys, Micha had probably already had her daily walk and treat, but she always snuck a little extra for Rami’s sweet dog.
“Nice to see you again.” Zain held out his hand, and Micha sniffed it excitedly, her tail wagging.
“She likes you. Did Rami tell you she was rescued from the cartel that took Gigi a few months back?”
“No, he didn’t. Poor thing.” He scratched behind Micha’s ears, and the dog’s tongue hung out of her mouth as she squirmed with ecstasy beneath his touch.
I hear ya, girl. He has that effect on me too .
The receptionist, Pearl, stood and rounded the front desk. Her gray hair was styled in corkscrew curls, and her black-framed glasses sat low on her nose. She ran the office like a stern grandmother. “Dana, we’re so glad you’re home safe.”
Dana gave Pearl a hug and thanked her. “This is Zain,” she said, pulling away. “I’m sure that’s the only introduction needed. Zain, this is Pearl. She’s pretty much the boss here, so you’ll want to stay on her good side.”
Pearl covered her mouth with her hands, and tears shone in her milky blue eyes. “Oh, dear. I told myself not to cry. I’m just so happy you’re here.” She sniffed. “You look so much like Rami.”
Zain smiled awkwardly and reached out to shake her hand. “It’s my pleasure, Pearl. Thanks for keeping my brother on the right track while I was away.” He glanced around with a hint of awe in his eyes.
“Well, I hear the boys are hiring, and I bet you’d be the perfect fit.” Pearl winked. “Rami’s nine o’clock just left. He’s conversing with the others, but he told me to send you in when you got here.” She looked at Dana. “Boardroom A, love.”
“Thanks, Pearl.” Dana pulled Zain’s hand and steered him down the hall. Stopping at the boardroom door, she knocked.
Several of the guys glanced at her through the window, and then the door opened. August stood there beaming. “Hey, glad you made it home.” His friendly green eyes flashed with curiosity as he reached his hand toward Zain.
“August is the one who practically insisted I take on your case,” Dana explained. “If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have had the urge to fly to Afghanistan.”
“ You suggested she go?” Taschen bolted up from the far end of the table.
Dana closed her eyes to steady her breath. Of course Taschen would be here. She hadn’t seen him before opening her mouth. He’d been working last night and hadn’t made it to their parents’ house, so this was the first time she’d seen him since getting back.
He looked just as menacing as always, the jagged scar on his cheek announcing he’d faced a knife a time or two. Not to mention the chunk of hair missing from the side of his head. He kept that area shaved. A bullet had grazed his skull while he was protecting Gigi a few months ago. Thankfully, he’d recovered and wasn’t suffering any serious long-term problems other than being a major pain in her ass.
“Let’s give Zain a warm welcome, shall we?” She glared daggers at her brother but to no avail. Taschen’s wrath was locked and loaded on August.
Dana entered the room and sat in one of the rolling black leather chairs as Zain shook hands with everyone.
“And you already met Brick,” Rami said. “ Toth here is my business partner, and Ghost only works select cases for us.”
Toth smiled, and his gray eyes sparked with welcome. “Happy to have you back, dude. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Thanks,” Zain said.
Ghost reached across the table to shake Zain’s hand, his arm long and sinewy. Tattoos embossed his skin from his knuckles to his short sleeve and disappeared beneath his white tee. He didn’t smile at her or Zain. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him smile.
His smoke-colored eyes made unease shift inside her. There was something cold and detached about the man. If she didn’t know any better, she’d expect to find him on America’s Most Wanted list. His black hair and rich, thick, close-trimmed beard accentuated his perilous stare.
Taschen came to Dana’s side and folded her into his embrace. She rested her cheek against his sternum like she’d done countless times. He’d always been so much taller than her. Funny thing was he seemed just as big to her now as he had when she was eight and he was eleven. “Sorry, sis. But please. Don’t fucking do that again.”
She patted his arm and pulled away. “For your information, nearly dying several times put a bad taste in my mouth. I have no intention of going back to Afghanistan.”
“Good,” he grumbled. He didn’t back away .
“Thanks for keeping her safe,” Taschen said stiffly to Zain. “I didn’t give you the warmest welcome, but we’re all grateful you’re alive. Rami made sure we all worked to see you return.”
Zain nodded solemnly. “I appreciate that. And if I have any say in the matter, Dana won’t put herself in a similar situation again.”
Taschen’s gaze sparked with awareness, and he dropped his attention to Dana questioningly. Before she could squirm, August piped up.
“Rami said you were attacked at your place,” August said, rolling out a chair for her. “What happened?”
She lowered herself into the seat and then waited for Zain and the others to sit before quickly recapping what had happened.
Toth leaned back, arms crossed. Taschen, Rami, and Brick all looked pissed. Ghost’s expression didn’t change, even when she described nearly being stabbed.
“Well, you’ve been back in the US for barely twenty-four hours,” Taschen said. “Clearly the attack is related to Jaysh, but what the hell? How’d they’d find you so fast?”
“That’s my question,” Zain growled. He looked at Brick. “Did you tell them about the situation with Ali?”
He gave a curt nod. “Everything. Mind you, only Rami knows Ali, and not very well.”
“We met once while I was stationed over there,” Rami said. “Didn’t really like the guy.”
Brick lifted a shoulder. “I doubted his business legitimacy, but otherwise I trusted him.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “Not anymore.”
“Obviously he was working with Jaysh,” Taschen said. “So who put the hit out on my sister? Ali or Jaysh? Because both of them had reason.”
“Ali probably has more connections in the US,” Toth said. “My bet’s on him. And I’m sure Jaysh was happy to fund the assassin.”
The men talked, throwing around ideas about how to track down the assassin before he struck again.
There was too much masculinity in the room. Dana would rather be chilling with Pearl. She also didn’t want to think about her attacker returning. Undoubtedly that was his plan, but she couldn’t stand the idea of looking over her shoulder.
A cold sweat coated her palms, and she moved her hands away from the glass tabletop before she left prints. The reality was that the assassin had a job to do and wouldn’t stop until it was accomplished.
Ten minutes later, Toth rocked forward in his seat. “Rami, Ghost, and August,” he said, resting his elbows on the desk, “I want you guys to work with Zain on locating the assassin. Taschen and Brick, stick around. We’ve got a potential high- priority client we need to discuss.”
Taschen swiveled his gaze to his boss. “Shouldn’t I be on Dana’s case?”
“Technically it’s Zain’s case, considering he’s the one who pissed off Jaysh.” Ghost lifted a shoulder as he looked at Dana. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Ghost wasn’t wrong. The reason the assassin was after her was because she’d gotten involved in Zain’s business overseas. But clearly Taschen saw only her in the path of a tornado.
“Someone tried to kill her last night,” Taschen snapped. “Maybe it’s best if she’s with family.”
Dana fought the urge to roll her eyes. Zain looked amused.
“Enough.” Rami’s command settled the room. “You heard Toth. Come on. We’ll leave these boys the room. August, Ghost, Zain, and Dana, you’re welcome to discuss this further in my office.”
The three of them stood and went to the door, but Taschen caught her arm before she could leave. “I want you to stay with me until this blows over.”
Dana let her arm hang loosely in his grasp. Discord palpitated in the air between them. Taschen was just as capable of keeping her safe as any man in this room. But she couldn’t leave Zain. Wouldn’t. Not even to appease her brother.
He must’ve anticipated her answer because that knowingness returned to his eyes, far too similar to hers. “Is that okay with you? ”
Jerk. He had her backed into a corner, and he knew it. Stifling the urge to flick the scar on his head, she turned her attention to her right, where Zain stood. Although his focus was on August, who was speaking to him, the muscle jumping in his jaw told her he was listening to Taschen.
Moving her gaze back to Taschen, she smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it. But I’m good where I am.”
His eyebrow hooked. “And where’s that?”
“At a hotel.” She cleared her throat. “With Zain.”
His head cocked a fraction. “We’ve got safe houses, Dana. Helluva lot safer than downtown.” He tapped his index finger on his phone case, watching her.
She didn’t want to let on that something was going on between Zain and her. It was no one’s business, least of all her overprotective brother’s. And she certainly wasn’t going to broadcast their involvement in a room full of colleagues. “I’m well aware of my options.” She flashed her teeth, but her muscles were stiff. “You just find the guy who tried to kill me.”
He huffed. “I plan to. But if you change your mind,” he said, lowering his voice, “let me know.”
She patted his hand. “You don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”
“I wouldn’t worry if you weren’t always putting yourself in danger. ”
This time she chortled. “Not true.”
His face hardened. “Just be careful.”
She flattened her lips and turned her head back to the conversation. Taschen could grumble all he wanted, but she was staying with Zain.
***
Zain’s stomach growled as lunchtime crept up. After more than an hour of sitting in Rami’s office, they’d made a game plan. August had called his contact at the local police department and gotten the scoop on their intel so far. He and Ghost would access the footage from security cameras inside Dana’s apartment building and surrounding businesses to get a lead on the assassin.
“How soon until we can have an ID on the guy?” Zain asked.
“Well.” August twisted his face. “He’s clearly a professional. My guy at the police department said not a shred of evidence was left behind. We’re still waiting for prints, but since Dana saw him wearing gloves, I doubt they’ll find any.”
“Great,” Dana mumbled.
“Doesn’t mean we won’t find him,” Ghost said. “Everyone makes mistakes. It’ll take only one little flaw to piece this together.”
Zain cut his gaze to him. “Sounds like you’ve done this before.”
A smirk appeared and then vanished on Ghost’s hardened face. “Let’s say I’m no stranger to finding idiots who don’t want to be found.”
A gentle knock made Zain glance over Dana’s head. Ivy cracked open the door and smiled. Her long brown hair curled around her shoulders.
“Hey, babe. Need something?” Rami stood but Ivy quickly waved him down.
“No, I’m fine. Gigi and I brought lunch for everyone.” She looked at Dana. “If you wanna leave this boring meeting, come with me.”
Rami chuckled. Dana glanced at Zain, and he gave her knee a squeeze. “Go ahead. We’re fine here.” His hand lingered on her leg for a moment, and a blush deepened the color of her cheeks.
Everyone’s eyes were on them. If anyone in the room doubted his involvement with Dana, they sure as shit knew the deal now.
Dana’s expression pinched in a cute show of embarrassment. “Um, yeah. I’m kind of hungry. I’ll make you a plate.” She stood and went to the door.
Ivy paused before closing it. She flickered her gaze toward August. “My sister’s antsy to see you. So hurry up.” She waggled her eyebrows and shut the door.
Zain frowned and looked at August. “Her sister—Wait. You two are best friends and you’re dating sisters?”
Rami’s lip lifted with annoyance and August laughed. “That’s not even the strange part. They’re identical twins. ”
“Don’t ask if they ever get them mixed up,” Ghost said with a snicker. “That really pisses ’em off.”
Zain chuckled. “Man, that’d be weird.”
“It’s only weird because it’s August,” Rami said. “Trust me, I’ve already tried telling Gigi she can do better than this oaf.”
August snorted. “I know you don’t believe that. Not after I saved your ass from getting shot and helped you save Ivy.”
“If I’d known you’d still be holding that over my head, I’d have taken that fucking bullet,” Rami said, his voice spiked with irritation and his hand balled into a fist. He shifted his attention to Zain. “And we’ve never once gotten them mixed up. Matter of fact, I could tell Ivy apart from ten identical twins.”
“Well, those wouldn’t be twins then, would they?” August crossed his arms over his chest, amusement lighting his eyes. “Twins means two, dummy.”
“Settle down,” Zain interrupted. “We’ve got more important things to do.”
Ghost sighed. “Don’t bother. They fight like ten-year-olds.”
Rami and August’s back-and-forth stopped as quickly as it had started, and Ghost began talking in detail about how they’d trace the assassin once they got a visual on him.
But Zain couldn’t take his mind away from the feel of Dana’s knee in his palm. Never in his life had he thought he’d get turned on by a woman’s fucking knee, but here he was with a rock-hard cock in a room full of dudes.
Damn, he’d have to talk to Dana about what she did to him, because this was nuts.