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Forcing my eyes away from the door, I looked back into the mirror. I braced myself and finished resizing the gag in one go. My knees buckled under the searing pain from my face, battered throat, and broken ribs. Panting, I leaned on the sink for support, fighting the need to pass out.
The gag fell in the sink with a clinking sound. The throbbing in my face was excruciating, especially in front of my ears. My chin and lower lip were numb. Drool and blood mingled on my chin. I couldn’t close my mouth properly. I had to hold it shut with my hand, except to spit in the sink so I didn’t choke. For a moment, I considered trying to set my jaw. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much then. But I couldn’t handle any more pain.
A quick glance at the door showed me Gerwin had already cut through one-quarter of the left side of the door. This was too fast. I watched with morbid fascination as he chipped away at my last defenses.
The sizzling stopped. The muffled sound of Gerwin’s voice talking seeped in. I wanted to curl up in a corner and give myself over to terror, but I willed myself forward. Taking support on the wall, I lurched to the door and placed my ear against it. The cold metal surface soothed my throbbing face.
“…you mean they want to board us?” Gerwin’s voice asked. “Why the fuck are we still docked?”
Anton! They found us!
Tears of joy, relief, and hope flooded my eyes. I couldn’t hear Samuel’s response. Brandon came through for me. I both laughed and cried as my hand found its way to my stomach again.
“Daddy’s coming, honey. Daddy’s coming for us. We’re going to be ok,” I whispered.
“You tell them we’ll kill the bitch if they come anywhere near the ship,” Gerwin said, then paused for a while, listening to Samuel’s answer. “Listen to me, you stupid human,” Gerwin wheezed, “they’re not coming onboard for a routine check. They’re here for the girl.” Silence again. “Fine. Do it your way! But if Myers gets onboard with the security guards, kill the girl.”
The implant… Fuck!
Anton would be with them, I’d bet my life on it… literally. The damn implant needed to come out now. Heart pounding, I stumbled back to the sink and rummaged through the cupboard. A toothbrush toppled into the sink. There was nothing of use, not even an antiseptic. A quick look around the bare bathroom confirmed my fears – no blade. I banged my hand against the mirror, but it was glassless. The sizzling sound resumed as Gerwin went back to work on the door.
Bracing against the sink, I realized my fist still clenched around the hairpin. Blood and gore covered the long golden pin. Turning on the hot water, I rinsed it. I eyed its blunted tip with dread. It wasn’t sharp enough, but that’s all I could use. Trent would detonate the implant without remorse. I remembered the coldness in his eyes. This thing would come out, even if I had to maim myself getting it done. My baby deserved to live. Blocking out the sound of the laser torch, I caressed my tummy.
We’ve come too far to fail now. Mommy’s going to be strong.
Taking as deep a breath as my broken ribs allowed, my fingers explored the location of the implant. I stabbed the hairpin into my flesh. My throat too raw to scream, I squealed in pain. Blinding tears blurred my eyes. The pin’s rounded tip forced me to stab with more strength than wisdom dictated. My hands were shaking, and blood made the pin skid off my skin. I prayed I wouldn’t hit an artery.
The stench of blood mixed with burnt metal was nauseating. I felt lightheaded. The shallow breaths I took to spare my ribs weren’t enough to help me stay conscious. I slid down the wall and sat on the cold, hard floor. Sitting on the toilet was too risky. If I passed out, which I believed would happen soon, the fall might do even more damage. Blindly, I kept tearing the skin at the base of my neck and pressing it between my thumbs to try to push the implant out.
The door glowed red as the cut lengthened. Some heat emanated from it, warming my naked flesh. But it couldn’t fight the insidious cold from the floor. I vaguely realized the sizzling from the door was getting drowned by a rushing sound in my ears. It grew louder while a tingling feeling spread throughout my body.
I’m going to faint.
Not now… please not now. I continued plucking at my neck until nothing but darkness remained.
Chapter 23
Anton
As I raced to the hovercar William dispatched for me, I saw Marcus approaching Risqué. He carried a gift box. A pretty, if somewhat slutty-looking, strawberry-blonde walked by his side. Relief and fear warred within me. His presence meant Grace wasn’t running away with our baby. But that also meant whoever took her truly had evil intentions.
Maybe this is his alibi, and he’ll join her later.
I made a beeline for him.
“Where is Trent taking her? Where are you taking Grace?”
Marcus recoiled, confused. It seemed genuine.
“Trent who?” Marcus asked. “What are you talking about?
“You’re going to tell me the man who took Grace to the spaceport isn’t yours?” I asked, ignoring the blonde’s stare.
Marcus blanched. Whatever suspicions I held evaporated. He turned to look in the general direction of the docking bay.
“Grace…” he whispered. “We need to get her back.”
He shoved the gift box at his companion. She gasped, almost dropping it in surprise.
