Page 17 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Naomi, check on Ms. Harlow. Make sure she doesn’t die.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Jada saw the wiry man leave with the much smaller woman. Then she watched Naomi crouch in front of her.
“Let’s get these restraints off of you. You’re locked up and in pain, the least I can do is take these off.”
She pulled out a knife and cut through the zip-ties. Jada hated the fact that she had no feeling in her hands or arms and couldn’t take the knife from her. And add that to the fact that the kick to the back of her shoulders and her thigh had pretty much incapacitated her for the next little bit. So much for ‘overcoming’. Dad would not be impressed.
Naomi stood up and left the room, leaving the light on. Jada listened but didn’t hear the door being locked—maybe she’d have a shot at escaping in a little while, after she could move again.
The door opened again, and Naomi came back inside. She was holding some kind of blue tarp.
“I know it’s not much, but it’s something.” She laid it over Jada like someone would a blanket. “It’s going to get cold here tonight, can’t have you freezing to death. Sweet dreams.”
This time when she left, she turned off the lights and locked the door.
“I am not frifurious,” she said as she spit out the rest of the uck that remained in her mouth.
No, I’m getting seriously fucking frightened.
Think, Jada, think.
Try as she might, she couldn’t. She winced in pain at the thought of trying to move, every part of her body now hurt.
Was it possible that Gideon might be looking for her? He’d sounded so cavalier when she’d called, but he’d come, wouldn’t he? He was a hero, that’s what heroes did.
The dark room started getting hazier, but she didn’t want to go to sleep. Butch might break his leash and come back, so she needed to stay alert. If only Gideon were around, then she’d be safe.
Safe, and held in his arms.
Her bottom lip began to tremble.
Stop that!
Think of something good. Something happy. Think of Gideon. That first time in Kentucky, not the last time. Their very, very first time.
She closed her eyes. She just needed to rest her eyes for a moment. Just a moment.
