“I can pay you,” I offer.
“No,” Louise says. “That’s not how this works.”
“When you pee, take a jug of warm—not hot—water with you and pour it over you as you urinate. It will help it not to sting. Or pee in the shower and use the head.”
Now that he’s mentioned peeing, it’s all I can think about. The soda and orange juice have worked their way through me.
“Ideally, I’d like to get your abdomen scanned with the restriction you’ve had. There might be damage.”
I shake my head and move back against the sofa. “No.”
He presses his lips into a thin line. “Eat small but regular meals and snacks. Call me immediately if you experience any new pain or can’t stop vomiting.”
“Can I have a jug?” I whisper.
Louise stalks to the kitchen and returns to hand me a glass jug. I wrap my hands around it. She points to another door. “Bathroom. We will be right here.”
I retreat to the bathroom. It’s clean, warm, and spacious. No bath, but a large walk-in shower. All white tiles and gleaming surfaces. I run the tap and fill the jug with lukewarm water before pulling down my sweats and new cotton underwear. My bladder releases and my eyes water at the sting before the warm water from the jug joins in and dilutes it. I sigh. When I ran, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would stumble into a network of caring individuals.No more tears, Honor.
I finish up and wash my hands before I open the door. Their heads swivel to me, shock plastered on their features. I blink. Why are they?—
My gaze lands on the large flatscreen hung on the wall. A recent photo of myself and Gideon covers the entire screen with the captionDA’s Wife Missing,along with a helpline number. The screen cuts to Gideon’s upset face as journalists jostle to hear his words. “My beautiful sweet wife, Honor, has been kidnapped, taken by the worst of society. She’s paying the price that being married to a warrior of justice takes.”
He lifts his shirt, revealing the bandage over his knife wound. “I tried to stop them but failed. I just want her back. Someone, somewhere must know something. I’m offering a million dollar reward for information that leads to her safe return.”
“Fuck.”
CHAPTER 11
HONOR
Make me a fugitive, but karma sees all, knows all, and never misses.
Derek presses a button on the remote and the TV flicks off.
“You’re a DA’s wife?” Louise whispers.
“I did not see that coming,” Derek says as he rubs a hand over his mouth.
“This is who you are running from?” Louise checks.
I collapse onto the sofa. “Yes.”
“And he’s just started a national hunt for you, with a life-changing pot of gold as the prize. He’s a brilliant and determined man,” Derek observes.
A worm of worry snakes through me. A pot of gold that would persuade even the kindest of souls to give me up. I glance at the open door to the bedroom.Grab my bag and the medicine, then I can be out of here.I’ll run. Where? I’m so exhausted, I can’t think straight. I could disappear onto the streets. Sure, and get raped and murdered before the week isout. I didn’t come this far to give into the fear. I can’t give into the fear.
“You can’t leave the top apartment,” Louise utters. “I have too many unknown guests. They will recognize you.”
I bury my head in my hands. “I’ll leave. I don’t want to drag you guys into this. I’m so incredibly grateful for everything-”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not throwing you out, but you can’t wander around and we will need to devise a better plan,” Louise declares.
My hands fall from my face, and I blink at her sitting opposite me. “I can’t put you in danger. My husband is not a nice man. He will annihilate you if he even suspects you were involved in helping me evade him.”
She folds his arms. “I’d like to see him try.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Not physically. He’s powerful, Louise. Don’t underestimate his connections.”
