The thought of food sent a charge through her. She reached out and snatched the bar from his hands. His chuckle wasn’t surprising. She tore open the top and took a bite, chewing slowly as she closed her eyes.
He was right. It didn’t taste great, but it felt good going down. After she swallowed the first bite, she met his gaze.
“I know I have to slow down. It would be bad to shove the whole thing into my mouth.”
“Did you get much to eat while you were in there?”
She shook her head as her stomach tightened. It had been brutal. "Not really. We were given some water and a little food, but not enough."
She took another bite of the bar and chewed it more slowly this time. He offered her some water, and she drank a little, taking breaks after each sip so she wouldn’t end up tossing the whole thing up when her stomach rebelled because she was too full.
“Do you think you’ll be ready to move after you finish that bar?”
She rolled both ankles, wincing at the pain. “Sure. I won’t be fast, though.”
“I understand. I want to see what’s beyond the door and figure out how far we can go without running into trouble.”
If they moved, where would they go? They weren’t going to blend in here. He exuded military bearing, and she would stand out, too.
“I’m worried,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“We look like the American military, and I can’t move fast.”
He nodded. “I get that. But I promise I won’t put you through more than you can endure.“
“I fear your faith in me is misplaced.”
He shook his head. “You’re a Marine, you’re tough.”
She shrugged and pain traced through her. The blow to her head had thrown her for a loop. “I am, but the injuries are making me slow. My head still hurts. If it’s bright out there, I’m going to be screwed.”
“I’ll make sure you can keep up. Trust me, we’ll get through this.”
She held his gaze, believing him. Worry rose, but she would trust him. What other choice did she have? They had been through hell, but he seemed to be capable of getting her out of trouble. Hopefully, their luck wouldn’t fail.
Chapter 4
Link slowly opened the door,listening for any noise on the other side. He was prepared for someone to rip the door open or maybe start shooting, but nothing happened. No one was moving about or shuffling around. He didn't hear any breathing or talking. If someone was in that room, they were being awfully quiet.
“Stay here unless you hear someone coming up those stairs. I’m not going to go far, just far enough to get an idea where we are and what to expect.”
Ansley nodded. “Okay. I won’t move.”
He hoped she would keep her word. He believed she would, but people were chaotic. It was one reason there was conflict. He was convinced that if everyone would just calm the heck down, the world would be a much better place, and he would be out of a job.
He loved his job, but he didn't love the reason the job had to exist. It was a weird headspace when he started thinking about it, so he pushed away the thoughts and focused on the task of figuring out where they were.
He needed a break. Maybe after this mission, once he got home, he would head to Hawaii. He had a few Navy friends he could visit, or maybe he could head to the mountains and just sit outside a tent and rest. Or he could go to the beach. Watching the waves always calmed him, and his condo at the beach was empty this month.
The room was clear, and he relaxed a little. Then a noise sounded to his right and slowed as he approached the covered window. He took his time positioning himself so he could see out the window and not be vulnerable if someone came in through the door.
At first glance, he didn't see much because the sun shone so brightly that his eyes couldn't adjust. It took a moment, then he adjusted to the brightness. He was at street level. There was a busy market outside the door, which meant they could get food.
Could they stay in this place? It seemed to be an empty office building. He'd passed a bathroom, so he assumed the place had running water. Having food and water, even without a cooking surface, was nice. He'd been stuck in plenty of places where the best food he could get was rats and snakes he killed. This experience would be close to a vacation for him.
After checking the rest of the place, he headed back to the door that led to the stairs and the tunnel. The rooms weren’t spotlessly clean, but it was a perfect location for their situation.
