Tears welled in Nicole’s eyes. She wished she could say they came because she was playing the part of a scared model, but in this moment, she was in fact a scared model. Nir’s angry voice sounded through the phone, and she desperately wished he was here with her.

But then, as Kazemi yelled at her, a new thought struck her. I don’t need Nir here to save me. I don’t need anyone to save me. If I could survive a heroin-addicted mother and a drunk grandmother, I can survive this.

Nicole’s fear transformed into anger. The officer must have seen the change in her eyes, because he slapped her again—harder this time, knocking her back into the cushions.

Now she could taste blood in her mouth. She turned, looked straight into his eyes, and swung a fist with all her strength. Kazemi, however, saw the blow coming and blocked most of its force. Still, she’d connected partially with his chin, drawing a little blood with the ring on her index finger.

“And that was with my left hand, you goat-loving camel herder,” she hissed.

He grabbed a handful of her hair and started dragging her out of the car. As she kicked and flailed, the words that came out of her mouth made it clear what she thought of him and his family heritage. She was out of control—as angry as she’d ever been.

He pulled her through the open doorway, and she could hear the two other officers laughing. This made her even angrier.

When she was on her feet, Kazemi spun her toward the car. Then leaning all his weight on her, he pressed her against the cold metal. The other two officers each took a hand and twisted her arms behind her back, making her cry out at the pain. Kazemi cuffed her, clamping the metal tight against her wrists. Then he kicked her legs wide and began to frisk her far more thoroughly than indicated in any police manual.

She squirmed and tried to move, but he was too heavy.

Kazemi made a comment in her ear as he pressed himself tighter against her body. The other officers laughed again and joined in what was obviously crude banter. Nicole whipped her head back, feeling it connect with soft cartilage and hard bone. Kazemi stumbled backward, and Nicole spun around. Blood poured down the officer’s face.

Nicole had time for one more curse before the man’s fist connected with the side of her head. Then everything went black.

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

MOSSAD SAFE HOUSE, ASTARA, AZERBAIJAN—08:15 / 8:15 A.M. AST

Why are you in Iran?” said the Mossad interpreter.