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“What’s her name? Do you still see her? What’s she look like?” Grateful for a topic other than the horror we lived in, a smile pulled at the corner of my mouth.
“Nadia. She’s a regular client, along with her husband.”
I wasn’t used to hearing about couples bringing someone into their bedroom, but maybe it wasn’t much different than Holden’s sex club. One thing that was definitely different, no one here was giving their consent. We were being forced against our will.
“Does she ever come alone?”
“No, it’s always with him.”
I wiggled in my seat. Reid wasn’t offering details unless I asked him, so maybe this conversation was off-limits after all.
He must have sensed the awkwardness. “She’s thin, blonde, in her late thirties. She and her husband own a successful technology company. I get the impression they have a ton of money. Well, all the clients do. I mean, we’re either bought or hired and the prices aren’t cheap. The younger the kid, the more money is charged. Like millions.”
I slapped my hand over my mouth and darted to the toilet, dry heaving. Apparently, I didn’t have enough food in my stomach to puke up anything of substance.
“Are you okay? Is it the baby?”
“I don’t know. The idea of a kid …” I retched again. “Fuck.” I rose slowly and made my way to the sink and rinsed my mouth.
“River, do you have a toothbrush?”
“No.” I wiped the droplets of cold water off my face with the back of my arm. “And do not under any circumstances fuck somebody to get me anything else.” I crawled into my bed, willing my stomach to stop churning.
“As I mentioned before, the guards will rape you, or you can find some common ground and trade for items. It’s just how it goes. You’re pregnant, so sleeping with someone ... it was best that I slept with him instead of you.”
I pursed my lips, tears burning my eyes. “I don’t know how to process what you’re telling me, or what we’re living through.”
“I wish you didn’t have to,” Reid said softly.
Unwilling to bring up Nadia again, I stretched out and pulled the blanket over me. I was suddenly depleted of any energy. Maybe I’d been foolish to exercise without any food.
As if reading my mind, Reid asked, “Did anyone show up with breakfast for you?”
“No. I guess I really pissed off Barrett.”
“I’ll see the guard tonight, so I’ll get some snacks for us.”
My eyelids grew heavy. “Make sure it’s for you, too.” I stifled a yawn.
“It is. You sound tired. Grab a nap while you can.”
“Sounds good.”
***
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep, but the sun had started to shift to this side of the building, which told me it was late afternoon.
“Reid?” I called out. No answer. How had I slept through him leaving? The cell opening always woke me. I sat up and swallowed, my mouth tasting bitter. I needed food and to brush my teeth. Hell, I’d probably kill someone with my breath. I snorted. At least I had a weapon against Barrett if he returned.
I walked over to the small sink and turned on the faucet. Cupping my hands, I drank the fresh water, then used my finger to brush my teeth the best I could. Cool droplets dripped from my chin down my bare stomach, trickling over my skin. Too fucking bad I didn’t have a towel, but the back of my arm would work.
The creak of the door caught my attention, and I turned off the faucet. Footsteps approached, but these sounded different than Barrett’s or Reid’s guard’s. I sucked in a sharp breath and remained rooted in place.
A small black boot appeared in my line of sight first. My gaze traveled up the slender body, then landed on a familiar face. My mouth hit the floor, then I slammed it closed. No fucking way. I hadn’t hallucinated after all. I was staring into the same pair of eyes owned by the person who had tried to drown me … and failed.
“You look surprised to see me.” She offered a malicious grin as she unlocked my cell.
“Are you back to kill me this time?” Anger, fear, and red-hot adrenaline pumped through my veins. Maybe this was my chance to get free.
