Page 55 of Zero Hour

She cleared her throat. “When he first left, I called his office, but they hadn’t seen him. Then, he called me, out of the blue, and told me not to worry. He said he was working on something important and would be home soon.”

She paused, memories flashing through her mind. “He sounded a bit strange, but he’d gone away for work before, so I didn’t think much of it.”

Pat’s expression darkened. “What happened then?”

“Two weeks later, he came home. He was a wreck. Gaunt, exhausted, paranoid. I knew then that something was terribly wrong. When I pressed him, he finally told me the truth.”

She swallowed hard. “They’d taken him. Threatened him. Said they’d kill me and Ryan if he didn’t make an explosive device for them.”

Pat’s grip on his beer tightened. “Bastards.”

“He was terrified. Said he had to finish the job, but he didn’t think they’d let him live afterward.” She hesitated. “He wanted to run. Said we should flee, together.”

Pat stiffened. “You didn’t want to go?”

“I was in shock.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think the situation was that bad. I thought if we went to the police, we could fix it.”

Pat scoffed. “You didn’t know who you were dealing with.”

“No,” she admitted. “I didn’t.”

Silence stretched between them.

When she carried on, her voice was hoarse. “The next day, I came home and found him hanging from the banister.”

Pat let out a low hiss. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” She gulped, then looked away. “It was the shock that got to me the most. I fell out of love with him long ago, but he was still my husband.”

Pat’s gaze flicked over her face, lingering just a little too long.

“After Adam died, they came for me,” she said softly. “They wanted to know what he’d told me.”

Pat’s jaw tightened. “They kidnapped you?”

She nodded. “That’s why I had to earn their trust.”

“It was a good plan.”

For the first time since they’d sat down, she became acutely aware of the way his thighs stretched against his jeans, of the solid strength in his forearms, the way his presence filled the entire room.

And the way it made her feel… protected.

“They were going to kill me,” she whispered.

Pat frowned. “How do you know that?”

“Amir said their business was almost done. That after this weekend, they’d be moving on.”

Pat shot to his feet. “He actually said that. That they’d be moving on?”

“Yes, I think whatever they’re planning is going to be this weekend.”

His gaze blazed. “Saturday.”

She nodded. “Like the note said.”

He pulled out his phone, already shifting back into mission mode. “Excuse me.”

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