Page 52 of No Way Forward

“Wait.”

He slammed the door, and she heard a key turn in the lock. This small, sparsely furnished space wasn’t exactly a panic room, but as far as she knew it was the only room in the house with a key to the inside and outside of the door. The narrow windows in two walls were situated near the ceiling. Even if she could get through them, she would have trouble getting up there.

She hugged herself, wondering if Zaid was the one who set the boathouse on fire. If he did, he had come back for her at last. Her hope was that he would get past the extra men her dad hired to secure the property. Perhaps before nightfall, she could be with the one she loved once and for all.

Chapter 23

Zaid had wanted to wait for nightfall before he made his move. He knew he was taking a risk waiting so long, but he kept an eye on the mansion. If Richard decided to leave before he was ready, he would have made a move. Now he had no choice but act because of all the activity.

He watched as men scrambled over the property, headed toward the lake. Black smoke billowing in the air made him hesitate. If he didn’t set the fire, then who did? The person must have done it to create a diversion. Some of the guards may have stayed near the house, so he took his time working his way around to the north side of the mansion.

Making it to the kitchen door was a nerve-wracking adventure. He shot off a text, and the reply came immediately. The door opened, and the maid stepped back to let him in.

“Mr. Zaid, please hurry. He’s locked her in one of the rooms, and he says they’re leaving now.” The maid’s voice shook, but the steady light in her eyes told him she wouldn’t betray him.

“I appreciate the help,” he whispered and stepped farther into the kitchen, straining to catch the sound of anyone approaching.

“Of course. I’d do anything to help you.” She twisted her hands together in the apron she wore. “You were the only one who believed in my brother and helped him out of that trouble. Mr. Richard wouldn’t even give me a chance to tell him what happened.”

Zaid knew the maid’s brother wasn’t a high enough profile to warrant Richard’s attention, and his pockets weren’t deep. The maid’s anguish had gotten to Zaid, so he helped her with a few connections of his own. Not the legal way, but he’d done what he could. His actions meant the maid owed him. Today, Zaid called in that favor.

“I would help anyway,” she said. “Ms. Novette doesn’t deserve this. He doesn’t treat her like a loving father should. If my dad—”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t stick around. I’ve got to get to Novette. Do you know which room he’s put her in?”

She told him, and Zaid stepped into the hall. Footsteps nearby sent him running toward the only open door on the opposite side from where Novette was being held. She must have heard him run by because she banged on the door.

“Daddy, let me out of here. Do you hear me? I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m done!” She kicked the door.

Zaid grinned. That was his girl, always fighting. His arms ached to hold her and comfort her. While she defied her dad, he heard the fear in her tone as well. He needed to get through that door and let her know she was safe.

The person he heard stepped into the hall as soon as he ducked behind the door across the hall. He held his breath. That wasn’t Richard’s tread, but it might be one of the guards. He coiled to attack as soon as the man got close enough. The best thing to do was to quietly strike from behind because no matter how good he thought he was, he couldn’t take on more than one at a time.

“Who are you?” Richard demanded from the other end of the hall. “What are you doing in here?”

Richard bellowed for his guards just as Zaid stepped into the hall behind the intruder. He reached for the guy. Three shots rang out. Richard fell, and Novette screamed.

Zaid’s hand landed on the man’s shoulder. Two more men appeared at the other end of the hall. More shots, and the intruder slammed against Zaid and knocked him to the floor. Zaid’s ears rang. He shoved the man off him and struggled to his knees. It was obvious the man was dead.

The bodyguards he lived with and trained with ran down the hall, but they didn’t try to take him. One of the men knelt down next to the intruder to check his pulse. Zaid ran a hand over his face. “Don’t bother. He’s dead. What about Richard?”

“Novette,” came a weak cry. Zaid hardly recognized it as Richard’s.

“Get her out,” Zaid demanded.

While one of the men phoned for an ambulance and the police, the other searched for and found the keys for the room where Richard had locked Novette. Zaid snatched them from him and unlocked the room himself.

Novette bound out, spotted him, and threw herself into his arms. Tears wet her beautiful face, wrenching his heart. He crushed her to him, dreading the moment when she would see Richard lying in a pool of his own blood on the floor.

“Novette,” he began.

Her dad coughed, and she drew back from Zaid, going pale. She jetted to her dad and dropped to her knees. The tears fell in earnest. “Daddy!”

Zaid took his time joining them. If Richard hadn’t been such a hard case about everything this wouldn’t have happened. He wouldn’t have hurt her.

“Hold on, Daddy,” Novette pleaded. She took his hand and looked up at Zaid. “We have to get him to the hospital, Zaid.”

“We’ve called an ambulance, but it might not get here in time. Let me get him.”

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