Gripping the crossbar again, he straightened to his full height. Wrapped the chain latched to the crossbar around his waist. Locked it. “Now, if you try to get away, we’re both going to get hurt—but you won’t get far.” He started for the door.
“What’s a little pain?”
His gaze cut to hers again. “Who said anything about a little?”
She could not help the barest of smiles that defied her willpower. Even when he held her elbow again, she tensed. “Wh-where are we going?”
He side-eyed her as he led her to same door where she had seen the captain and indicated to the courtyard. “Thought you’d want to see.”
Chain rattling, she slipped closer. Peered through the glass and wrought-iron decoration on the door. Saw a beat-up blue van in the middle of the courtyard, and— She stilled. Felt an eruption of surprise and relief as she watched Raz lift a defiant Iamar into his arms. He moved toward it, and the little one looking over his shoulder somehow spotted Kasra at the door. She shoved out her arms and released a piercing cry.
Starting forward, Kasra felt the link between her and the American grow taut and knew he would not let her go out there. Would not let her leave his side. So, she shook her head, trying to encourage the little one to leave with them. Used sign language as she had taught the girls to communicate when words were not acceptable. Told her to find Yasmine.
Find freedom, little one. Far from here. Far from me.
Somehow, Raz saw her too. Inclined his head slowly, his gaze shifting to her captor beside her. His expression tightened, but he whispered to the girl who now reached for Fatina. Only as she felt the touch of her fingers against her own lips did Kasra realize what she did in front of this man—nearly blowing a kiss to Iamar. He would capitalize on weakness. All men did.
She lowered her hand, watching through tear-blurred eyes as the three climbed into the van. Watched the door close. The van pulled through a gate and stopped. Was something wrong?
The gate closed, but the van had not moved forward.
Had it been a trap? Make her think they were …
Movement on the far side stilled her frantic thoughts. Another gate … The center was a security measure. The roof of the van slowly eased away and turned left.
“Let’s go.” Rage shifted and that invariably tugged the shackles.
“They are not necessary.”
He kept walking. Down past the hall and break room. Turned left to another long hall. As they moved down that one, she glanced back. At the far end was a door. The one the captain had come in through. Was that the front of the property?
“Mapping your escape?” He’d stopped and stood staring at her. Judging.
Kasra half expected him to tug the chain as one would a dog’s leash. “An old habit.”
“Just remember, they aren’t free until you give us that name.”
“Of course,” she said with derision, “I forgot Americans only care about what they get out of things. Humanity and compassion are lost to you.”
His brow rippled. “That’s sharp irony coming from you,Madam.” He flicked open a door and nodded her toward it.
A room. Correction, bedroom. A bed with a nightstand. No lamp.
What … was he implying? She could not meet his gaze.
Irritated, he sniffed and moved into the room. The chain yanked her in with him.
“You did that on purpose.”
He grunted. “Wish I had.” Unlocking the chain, he coiled it around the bar of the bed. “You’ll stay here until you give us the name.”
Kasra started. It wasn’t a luxurious hotel, but it was a vast leap from what they had in the large warehouse. “Why am I not being put in isolation?”
“First place someone would look if they came for you.”
She snapped her gaze to his. “You believe me?”
Blue eyes tracking over her, he shifted. “No windows. No pipes you can break off and use to render me unconscious. If you want to escape, I will likely put lead between your eyes.”
