MAFIA COLLATERAL (Mafia series #2) SAMPLE

Chapter 16

'Keep dreaming, Mr. Sheikh. But that's never going to happen.....Pakistan army.....does not negotiate with terrorists.'

Her words made sense now. Where he was so confident that nothing would happen, he was left surprised.

As his anger fuelled him, he didn't realise that he walked out of the control room and straight to the underground where she was being held.

No more mister nice guy. He thought, getting closer.

Snatching the keys from the wall, he unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Sadia was sitting by the wall. She jerked in her place when she heard the door being forcefully open.

But before she could react, Zameer was already in front of her and pulling her harshly by the arm.

"Wha-"

"Not a word from you!" Zameer growled. Before Sadia could figure out what was happening, she felt Zameer's hand grasp her neck tightly. Her hands came up and wound around his strong wrist as she began to choke, her air supply being cut off.

"Why the hell did you act out of line?"

Sadia struggled to breath, her hands trying to pry off his from her throat but the instant she heard him say that, she stopped moving and looked at Zameer. Even in the dark, his eyes gleamed maliciously. And the anger that he felt, she could feel it roll off of him.

She had never seen him lose his composure before. He was always calm around her. He was always prepared.

It surprised her. But what he had just said didn't come as a surprise.

Zameer was choking her. He knew that he needed to stop but he couldn't. Not when he had lost and that caused him to tighten his fingers around her neck.

But as soon as he saw her look at him, the realisation flashing in her good eye, he felt his anger simmer down for a second and that second allowed some clarity which led him to see that she was choking, her eye rolling back into her head. He quickly let her go. Sadia fell to the ground, coughing and rubbing her neck. However, she couldn't help but smile.

Zameer looked down at her. His anger was growing with each passing second so before he could do anything reckless, he turned his back and headed for the door but Sadia's chuckle stopped him dead in his tracks.

Sadia continued to chuckle until it turned to a low laugh. Zameer could clearly sense the emotions in it. I was provoking and condescending. She was laughing in victory, thus openly mocking him.

"I was right." Sadia murmured under her breath as she sat straight.

He felt his anger rise. He turned to face Sadia.

"Don't get too confident. It isn't over yet." He hissed through clenched teeth.

Sadia smiled. "It is." She whispered.

There was silence between them.

Zameer was getting irritated. Sadia wasn't afraid at all. And the way that she was looking at him now, so calm and relaxed, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. She was feeling smug. He didn't understand. Didn't she realise what this situation meant for her?

But then again, she had made herself very clear the other day. She wasn't afraid. She had already embraced her fate.

"I hope you're ready for what's coming for you." Zameer said, his tone cold.

Sadia inhaled deeply. "Yes, I am."

Her replies continued to surprise him.

Zameer wanted to spite her. Where was the scared little girl that he had abducted? Who was this woman who was this brave? Who was this woman who was not afraid to die? He couldn't believe that it was the same Dr. Sadia that he knew. No, she had changed. Or rather, the circumstances had changed her and prepared her.