CHAPTER SIX
Emme sat cross-legged against the rough adobe wall. A three-day reprieve and she could see out of her eye. She pushed her shoulders back against the wall and hissed in a breath. Shit, that hurt. She foresaw surgery in her future. Anuli had tried to reset her shoulder, but she couldn’t get the leverage she needed.
She stared down at the small bowl of rice in her lap, trying to fight against the queasiness enough to eat. Using her fingers she picked up two grains of rice.One-ninety-three. One-ninety-four. Guess that’s one way to avoid heartburn.What else was she going to do to pass the time?
A wave of heat washed through her along with nausea. She glanced at Anuli. “I think you should try to escape without me.” She rested her head against the wall and breathed against the urge to vomit.
Anuli shook her head, like she had the first time Emme'd brought up the idea. They’d discussed escaping together, but neither wanted to leave the other two women.
“No, Emme. They will hurt you worse if I leave.”
She shook her head. “They would hurt you if I left. They won’t do anything to me if you escape.”
The lock scraped as rusted iron slid against rusted iron. They both looked up. No one came after dinner.
The leader, who she’d started referring to as Bob the Breather, stormed into the room yelling. “Get up! Get up!” His minions grabbed her, spilling her bowl of rice. Pain shot through her as they yanked her up. She tried to get her feet under her to lessen the pull on her shoulder.
What the hell is going on?Fear turned her stomach and she swallowed back the rice that tried to find its way up her throat.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Something’s wrong.
Anuli stood and tried to stop them. Minion One hit her in the gut with his gun and pushed her down.
They dragged Emme down the hall and into the room they beat her in. Thrown into the chair, she almost toppled over. One of them tied her hands behind her back, wrenching her shoulder even more.
“What’s going on?” Why were they doing this? Even when they beat her, it was methodical. She knew what to expect and could prepare for it. This was…frantic.
Minion Two picked up the video camera and pointed it at her. Bob the Breather grabbed a rough looking machete from beside the door and hefted it as he approached her.
She struggled against the ropes that bound her wrists, her breathing rapid and out of control. “No.”
“Your government has had their chance to get you back alive. Now they will take us serious. Allahu Akbar.”
“Allahu Akbar,” his minions echoed.
No!A sob tore through her. “Please. They need more time.” It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Why hadn’t they negotiated for her release? Where was the cavalry? The inappropriate part of her brain decided to kick in.This is going to hurt like a bitch. That knife is dull as fuck.
The blade rose over her head. Another sob escaped and she squeezed her eyes closed.
Pleasegod, pleasegod, pleasegod.
God answered her prayer in a violent explosion, sending dust and small chunks of mud plaster raining down on them.
Emma cracked her good eye open and coughed from the dust filling the room. Holy crap, that couldn’t have been timed better if it had been scripted for an action movie.Thank you, god.
Her captors yelled to each other and the leader gestured Minion One out of the room. He yanked the door open and stuck his head out before going into the hall, closing it behind him. Bob and the other minion took up positions facing the door.
Thepop pop popof gunfire could be heard from the hall. Time seemed to slow in anticipation of who would come through the door.
Please let it be the good guys.
The door flew open and she hunched forward as far as possible.
Three shots, followed by two dull thuds. Silence echoed where once there was chaos. She held her breath, afraid to look.
Jordan holstered his Glock and knelt in front of Emme while Westin and Cash checked to make sure the final two captors were out of commission.
Her head drooped, her dirty, lank hair hanging like a curtain. His chest constricted.Fuck, let her be alive.
Colby flicked open a knife and cut her bindings.
