You’ve been through worse than this asshole can dish up.
Domik stayed slumped on the ground, looking up through half-lidded eyes. If they thought him weak and overcome, they might leave him alone.
No such luck.
The man smiled, his lips pulling back to show a missing tooth. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “So. Who are you, and what are you doing with this?” The man lifted the lifeless wrist comm from his pocket.
Domik’s brows knitted in confusion.
“Don’t think we don’t know where this comes from. Those aliens think they can just come here and bribe us with toys like this and we’ll do whatever they want? They leave us little ‘presents’ and we just go along with their enslavement of the human race?” Tom’s face twisted into an ugly smile. “We’ll die before that happens.”
Is he insane?
The man stepped forward. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? Those aliens. The ones spreading the lies about Earth being attacked. You’re here to take us all away.”
Domik blinked, not answering. Even if Domik could reply, even if this man could understand him, he was making no sense.
The man kept ranting, his voice loud in the small space as he stalked closer to Domik. “Are you going to tell me what you’re doing here? Or do I have to find out from that woman of yours? I’ve got men are out there now, they’ll find her.” He grinned, a gap showing where he was missing a tooth.
So they hadn’t found CJ…yet.
Domik fought to not show any emotion. Who knew how they would use it against him?
He’s insane, and he is looking for CJ. I have to stop him.
He tensed, muscles primed as much as the bound hands and feet would allow, ready to spring. The man’s words faded into noise.
One more step closer.
Domik willed the man to move closer, his foot lifting.
That’s it. A little further and I’ll have you.
Just as the man moved closer, the door opened, and he turned away.
Domik cursed under his breath as he watched the older woman, Georgina, carrying a tray into the room.
“Ah, Tom. They want you back at the house,” she said with a smile, as if the ranting she must have been able to hear had not occurred.
Tom scowled at her, turning his back on Domik.
Domik smiled and prepared to launch himself at Tom, but Georgina shook her head, hiding the gesture with a brush of her hand to her hair.
“What do they want?” Tom asked, stepping toward the door, now out of Domik’s range.
“How should I know? You’re the boss, aren’t you?” She moved toward Domik and placed the tray on the floor.
Tom left the room with a harrumph, leaving the door open as he did so.
Georgina stood still, waiting until the sounds of footsteps in the hallway had passed before turning to Domik.
“You don’t have much time. There’s a knife under the napkin. The door at the end of the hall opens out of view of the main house. There will be a truck parked near the shed on the other side of the main house. It’s the best I can do.”
Domik nodded, wishing he could express his thanks.
She straightened. “Not all humans are like those fools. Remember, that one helped you.”
He nodded, watching as she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
