Page 80 of Deserving Cora
And yet, here she was. Feeling just as nauseous and out of sorts as she had back then.
But she didn’t remember going out. Or drinking anything.
Then in a flash, her memory returned.
Lara. Coming to Arizona. Making love to Pipe.
The house. Creepy Guy. The locked door. Feeling dizzy and confused and then…nothing.
Cora opened her eyes and stared up at a dated popcorn ceiling. She curled her lip. Here she was in a freaking mansion, and they had old, nasty popcorn ceilings? It was ridiculous.
She slowly sat up and looked around.
To her immense relief, she saw Pipe lying to her right. Then she panicked when she couldn’t see his chest moving, only for relief to swamp her again when she finally realized he was breathing. The quick seesaw of emotions made her even dizzier.
Looking to her other side, she saw Owl lying in much the same condition. They were on a concrete floor, and she shivered as she realized how cold it was.
As her gaze went around the room, Cora decided they were likely in a basement. There were windows, but they were tiny and at the very top of the walls. The room wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t a cell either. There was a door on the wall opposite her, and a bathroom—without a door—on the far right.
Moving slowly because every muscle seemed to hurt, Cora crawled over to where Pipe was lying. She put her hand on his chest to double check that he really was breathing. When his chest rose and fell, she sighed in relief. He looked different like this, unconscious and vulnerable. Cora didn’t like it. He’d done all he could to protect her when they were locked in that room, but even her badass special forces soldier couldn’t protect her from an unseen enemy like poisonous gas.
Honestly, she was completely shocked they were alive right now.Anythingcould’ve happened while they were unconscious, or the gas itself could’ve killed them. In fact…why were they moved at all? If Creepy Guy was going to kill them, did it really matter where he did the deed?
Looking around the room again, she spotted something she hadn’t before, several feet away from Pipe.
A drain in the floor.
Her entire body shuddered when she considered its purpose. And it answered the question of why CG had bothered to move them.
No.They weren’t dying today.
She vowed to do whatever was necessary to protect Pipe while he was unable to help himself, even as she suspected it was probably a stupid thought. What could she do? She was a fairly short, chunky, not-very-educated chick. But then again, hadn’t people told her all her life she should probably be a drug addict or homeless by now?
She was neither of those things. She was hardworking, resourceful, stubborn.
Her resolve strengthened. She wasn’t helpless, and no way was she going to let an asshole like Ridge Michaels harm her or Pipe.
A quiet noise startled Cora so badly, she jerked, then spun so fast the room swirled for a moment. She blinked when she focused on the object behind her. A bed. Since she was on the floor, she couldn’t see who or what was on top, if anything. She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out. If Ridge thought he was going to use that bed to do anything sexual to her, he’d find out she wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Moving slowly and as quietly as she could, Cora stood. Trepidation filled her as she stared at a lump under the covers. She must’ve made a sound, because the lump suddenly moved. Whoever was there turned their head, dislodging the covers, which had been pulled up over their face.
Cora blinked, not believing what she was seeing.
Then she made a strangled noise in the back of her throat and leapt toward the bed.
“Lara!” she practically yelled.
Her friend languished on the mattress. Her blonde hair was limp on the thin pillow. She had a vacant look in her eyes, but it was Lara. Alive.
Tears sprang to Cora’s eyes. They’d found her. She never would’ve admitted it out loud, but Cora was beginning to doubt that she’d ever see her best friend again. She’d never get to talk with her, laugh, enjoy dinner together. But here she was.Alive.
“Lara!” she said again, as she sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled the blanket back.
Her friend didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. Simply continued to stare blankly as if she didn’t even see Cora sitting there.
Cora heard Pipe and Owl beginning to stir on the floor, but she couldn’t take her eyes from her best friend. Tears welled up and ran unchecked down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Why wasn’t she responding?
She put her hand on Lara’s shoulder and shook her gently, but Lara’s eyes still didn’t focus.
