Page 109 of Into the Gray Zone

He took out his anger on Nadia, smacking her around until she’d curled into a ball on the floor, Annaka shouting at him to stop. He did, and then stomped out of the room, leaving them with the two security men from the hotel attack. Annaka collapsed into a deep sleep on a couch. Nadia slept fitfully, waking at every small noise only to find one of the security men hovering over her.

The feelings of helplessness and fear angered her, making her want to lash out, but she knew that wouldn’t help their predicament. Now, seeing the security men turning the room into a death trap and Jaiden pacing with the cell phone, she knew they were reaching an endgame. Lashing out might be their only option.

Jaiden saw she was awake and came to her, expecting to see fear. She showed him defiance. He raised his hand, but she didn’t flinch, and, as expected, it angered him.

He balled his fist, but held it back, saying, “You’re lucky someone cares about you.”

Confused, she said, “Everyone has a mother and father. Even you.”

He said, “Who are you, really?”

That raised the hair on her neck. Had he discovered where she worked? She said, “I’ve told you who I am.”

“Then why do they care about proof of life for you? They’re demanding to see both you and the American. I understand the American, but why you? Riva Thakkar doesn’t even care about his own daughter, but the government representative I spoke to on the phone has demanded to see you alive. Why?”

She slowly shook her head, knowing it was the RAW trying to protect one of its own. She was genuinely amazed, but realized the concern was perversely putting her in more danger. She said, “You’re surprised the government is concerned about one of its citizens?”

“It’s more than that. I told you before I only needed Thakkar’s daughter, but apparently that’s no longer true. I can’t have you screwing up what I have planned.”

She glanced at the security men still working around the room, now unspooling what looked like thick twine, but she knew from her training it was detonation cord.

She said, “Whatdoyou have planned?”

“You will find out along with everyone else. In the meantime, I’m going to give the government what they want. You show your face on this camera, tell them where you are and today’s date, and nothing else.”

He dialed the phone and turned the camera toward her, saying again, “Nothingelse.”

The screen connected and she found herself facing a young man in a military uniform, a scrum of other uniforms behind him. His face was stern, as if he’d prepared the expression before answering the call. He said, “This is Lieutenant Johar. Who am I speaking with?”

“This is Nadia Gupta. I was at the pre-wedding party with Annaka Thakkar and am now being held in Riva Thakkar’s residence.”

“How do I know that’s who you are?”

Good point.She couldn’t very well say, “Ask the RAW. They have my photos and fingerprints.” She said, “Show this video to Riva Thakkar. He’ll confirm.”

The lieutenant said, “Let me speak to Jaiden.”

She said, “Please talk sense into him. Get us out of this explosive situation.”

She saw Jaiden’s eyes widen and he jerked the camera away from her, saying into it, “You have your proof of life.”

“What about the American?”

“It’s coming.” He hung up the phone and slapped her hard enough to bring her to her knees. He leaned over her in a fury, saying, “I told you what to say.” She recoiled from him, scrambling backward to the couch. He stomped away, bringing up the cell phone again, this time using it for a voice call.

She sat on the couch, finding Annaka awake. Annaka put her arm around her shoulders and said, “What happened? Why did he hit you again?”

“I had to make a video like you did last night. I tried to warn them about what they’re setting up in here.”

“What do you mean?”

Nadia whispered, “They’re emplacing explosives around this room. They’re setting a trap, and I think we’re the bait.”

Nadia saw Annaka’s eyes widen, and she said, “So that’s why we’re not in the safe room.”

“What?”

“My father built a safe room in this house. It’s basically a bedroom inside a vault, with food, water, and its own power source. Jaidenknows about it, and I thought for sure we’d end up in it, if he wanted to keep us safe.”

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