However, the sexual tension dissipates when he shifts and hisses, his expression contorting with pain. The gravity of our situation crashes over us like a bucket of cold water.
He sighs, the sound heavy and filled with regret, and turns back to the garage door. “I’ll get you out of here. Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure you survive.”
I remain silent.
I hate that he doesn’t sayus, like he’s not expecting to survive this. But I’ll be damned if I let him sacrifice himself for me. Whatever happens, I’m going to make sure webothget out of this alive. No matter what.
A Pleasant Conversation
Rhys
Inever thought I’dallow myself to be open and vulnerable with another person again. Not after everything that happened with the explosion and then my divorce.
And yet, here I am, bruised and battered, allowing someone to wash me. To take care of me. To see me weak.
And instead of sprinting for the hills, I want more.
There’s still a part of me that wants to run and shut down my increasing affection for Ollie. But it’s easy to ignore. Especially when she opens up to me about her own shitty experiences with past relationships and doesn’t treat me any differently after seeing me in thisvulnerable state. It’s a weight off my shoulders I didn’t know I was carrying; to know that she understands me and why I am the way I am.
Although I can tell she’s not happy about my promise. Not that it matters. Regardless of what she thinks, Iwilldo everything in my power to keep her safe. No matter what.
Both of us lull ourselves into a light sleep. However, with the sun gone, the temperature in the room has plummeted, and the blanket does little against the chill, making our sleep restless. Plus, Ollie is plagued by nightmares, constantly jolting herself awake with muffled whimpers and gasps. My entire body is throbbing in agony with each breath, making sleeping for any length of time almost impossible. I’m certain I’ve broken at least a few ribs, and my left cheekbone is particularly painful, leading me to think it’s been fractured.
Luke’s thugs certainly did a number on me, even more so when I refused to answer his questions. Haven is already in deep danger from the unidentified traitor in its midst, so there’s no damn way I’m saying anything that could make it worse and risk more lives. My only saving grace is that neither Luke nor his thugs seem to have any idea how to effectively torture someone.
So I’ll continue to refuse until I have no choice but to trickle-feed less valuable information until I can get Ollie safe. That is my number one priority.
It’s still dark out, so I’m not sure how much time has passed when the dull thuds of shoes on the other side of the door jolts us awake. Ollie immediately tenses, her heartbeat mirroring my own and thundering against my back.
“Wrap yourself in the blanket and move closer to the garage door,” I tell her as the footsteps grow louder. My stomach tightens with fear and dread, and it takes everything in me to keep them from bleeding into my expression.
“What about you?” she asks, not moving.
“Don’t worry about me, princess, justmove.” I snap the blanket from around me and practically throw it at her, gritting my teeth as my body screams at the movement.
The temperature is so low in the room that the freezing air burns my skin, but I ignore it. Right now I need to get her away from me and covered before those thugs come in. The less they focus on her, the better, because Luke’s interrogation tactics are only going to get more brutal.
I grimace at the thought of more pain, but I’d much rather be the one to take it. “And remember what I said before;don’t react.”
Finally, Ollie gets moving. She wraps herself in the blanket and scampers to the far side of the room. She looks terrified, her emerald green eyes wide and her face pale. There’s a slight tremor in her hands as she clutches the blanket, but then her face hardens as the lock snicks and the door flies open.
Luke, the smarmy bastard, and his two sidekicks waltz into the room, acting like their shit doesn’t stink. Just like before, they’re only armed with knives. Not that they need them when they can use their steel-toed boots and fists. I’m pretty sure I’ll have a permanent imprint of their boots on my ribs.
Luke stops in the middle of the room, those dark eyes sweeping across the room with a calculating gleam. “Well, I never would have thought you’d be a cover hog, freebie, or I might have been generous enough to give you two blankets.”
Ollie and I remain silent.
He sighs, acting disappointed even though I can spot the sadistic spark in his gaze. The prick loves nothing more than breaking people, so this tiny act of defiance excites him. Unfortunately, rising to his taunts will only do the same. At least if we stay silent, there’s less chance for either of us to spill any information by accident.
“And here I thought our fun from earlier would have loosened your tongue,” he says as he steps towards me.
I have to fight not to tense and remain passive, but it’s hard. Especially when your body knows pain is coming and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop it.
Luke’s hand snaps out to grab my hair. He wrenches my head back, my scalp, neck and back screaming at the unnatural angle.Motherfucker. I allow myself a small reaction and grit my teeth.
A triumphant smile stretches across Luke’s face, and he tightens his hold on my hair. I’m pretty sure he’s ripped some strands out. “But don’t worry. I’ve come up with a better, more interesting way of convincing you to have a pleasant conversation with me.”
My stomach plummets with dread at the sadistic glee in his voice. What the fuck is he up to?
