Free Nexus: Ziva Payvan Book 2 by EJ Fisch Page A

before choosing a select few to cut. The lights flickered a final time before shutting off, casting the interior of the station in shadows. The darkness would be unfortunate, but Ziva didn’t plan on staying long and anything was better than having the place lit up like a beacon for all to see once night fell.
    The lack of sleep the night before and the long trek that day were beginning to take their toll. Thoroughly exhausted, Ziva leaned against the wall and undid the clasps on the riding jacket, grimacing when her hand brushed over a sore spot on her side that had begun plaguing her not long after the prison transport had crashed. She peeled her sweat-soaked shirt back and examined the area in the waning light; a bruise roughly the size of her fist had formed at the base of her rib cage, and a bit of careful probing told her she’d probably fractured a rib. Her stolen supply belt held a small storage pouch, spare plasma cell, grappling cable, stun baton, and the hoverbike’s key. No caura gel or painkillers. “ Sheyss ,” she sighed.
    Keeping her back flat against the wall, Ziva sank slowly to the floor. She studied the light shining in from outside and recovered the agent’s communicator from the utility belt. She examined the locator chip again, ensuring that it had indeed been destroyed, then set a timer for a few hours. Then, tilting her head back, she allowed her eyes to shut.

-18-
    HSP Headquarters
    Noro, Haphez
     
    Zinni was just passing the doorway to the special operations situation room when a massive hand reached out of nowhere and threw her against the wall. She dropped the data pad she was holding and whirled, finding herself caught under the crushing gaze of Diago Dasaro.
    He stepped out of the situation room, keeping his meaty hand clamped over her shoulder with his thumb digging harshly up under her collar bone. The man was huge, standing taller than Ziva or Skeet by several centimeters, and his shoulders were wide enough to account for two of Zinni. The arm that held her was like the trunk of a tree, and it didn’t budge when she took hold of it hoping to relieve the pressure on her shoulder.
    Dasaro bent down closer, drilling into her with emotionless black eyes shrouded in the shadows of the darkening room. He glanced at her hands on his arm as if he couldn’t even feel them. “Where is she?” he growled.
    Zinni didn’t dare break eye contact for fear of revealing how terrified she was. She winced against the discomfort of his thumb pressing on her bone. “I don’t know,” she replied through her teeth, listening for anyone who might be nearby. It was late in the evening and many agents had already left for the day. No one seemed to be around.
    “Somehow I don’t believe you,” Dasaro said. He adjusted his grip, shifting his thumb over to her windpipe. “I think she’s got help on the inside.”
    Zinni clutched his arm, feeling panic beginning to set in as it became harder to breathe. She felt her feet leaving the ground as Dasaro’s entire palm enveloped her throat. She clung to his arm with both hands, trying desperately to support herself.
    Blackness began creeping inward from the edges of her vision just as something threw Dasaro off balance, causing him to release his grip. She slid to the floor with her head pounding and rubbed her sore neck for a moment before a gentler hand took her by the arm and hauled her to her feet.
    She found herself standing behind Skeet, who had positioned himself between her and Dasaro and now stood facing the captain with his arms crossed. Dasaro eyed them both maliciously, particularly Zinni, but then he directed his attention toward Skeet.
    “You’re lucky I don’t report you for striking a commanding officer,” he said with a smug grin that told Zinni his words were more of a threat than a statement.
    “If you’ve got a problem, Dasaro, you bring it to me. Leave her alone.” Skeet held his ground.
    Zinni felt an immense combination of