Page 36 of His Hostage

Fucking bastard.

“I’m just getting antsy, is all. I want this shit to blow over. I’m still thinking about Ash,” I say.

My heart is actually beating quite hard against my sternum.

Ash. Shit, this whole thing is fucked up to the core. There’s no good in my life right now. Not much to smile about. I can’t get any satisfaction.

I’m doomed. She’s doomed. Fuck, we’re all doomed out here with the vultures.

Jeffco knocks at the top of the wood and opens it up. “Wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey,” he smiles, holding his gun near his chest.

I hear her scream, and my body grows ice cold with adrenaline. I want to rip that bastard’s beard off and shove it in his mouth, right down his throat. Does he really think he can mess with my girl?

r /> “Aha!” he laughs, jumping down into the hole. “Scared you, didn’t I? Don’t worry, I brought your boyfriend.”

“Fuck off, Jeffco,” I say. “You think I give a shit about her?”

I say those words aloud, but they pain me to say them. She doesn’t deserve this treatment, or any of the head games.

“I’m just fucking around,” he says. “How you holding up, woman?”

“My name is Caroline,” she says, gritting her teeth.

I look down at them, making sure Jeffco keeps his hands off her, and his gun away from her.

“Caroline. Such a pretty name,” he sighs. “Well, I came to check up on you. Here’s your water for the day and some food, too. I know it’s not much, but it’ll have to do.”

“I need to go to the bathroom,” she says.

“Shit, just go against the wall. It’s fine. Ain’t no one looking,” he says.

“She needs to go to the fucking bathroom, Jeffco,” I say it louder to him, so he gets the picture. “Take her out. It won’t kill you.”

“Fuck. Okay, fine. Here you go.” He unlocks her and pushes her out.

He keeps his gun steady on her, but I motion for him to put it down.

“She’s not going to make a run for it, Jeffco,” I say. “She’s just a sheltered woman from far away. She doesn’t know how to survive out here alone.”

“I reckon you’re right,” he says. “Okay, go. Do your thing,” he says. “But we’re watching you.”

“Perverts,” she whispers.

She goes out into the desert and ducks behind a few bushes.

“Look, guys.” I turn to them. “How long are we going to keep her down there, really?”

Andy turns to me and spits into the warm dirt. “However long we need,” he says. “I’m not going back to prison anytime soon. I gave my oath I would protect your dumb ass.”

“Jeffco? What are you thinking?” I ask him.

“I don’t give a damn. She can stay down there her whole life for all I care,” he says.

Finally, he thinks about it for a minute and asks, “It doesn’t look good for her, does it?”

“What do you mean?” I ask him.

“What I mean is that she’s witnessed three murders now. Do you really think we can let her roam free ever again? She’s not like us, Rowan. She doesn’t live by the code, for Christ’s sake.”

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