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"Cold?" he asks, taking the cup away before leaning over to pull the blanket higher up, covering my shoulders

"Um, yeah, a little" I’m off the island OhI feel torn, like I’irl who insists this is her chance to escape and the woman who desperately craves Julian’s touch

"They took out your appendix," Julian says, brushing back a strand of hair that had been tickling my forehead "The operation went smoothly, and there shouldn’t be any coela?" He looks up to the left

"Yes, Mr Esguerra"

Esguerra? Is that Julian’s last na the voice fro woht brown color, and her hair and eyes are dark, nearly black To me, she looks Filipino or maybe Thai--not that I can pretend to be an expert on either nationality

What I do know is that she’s the first person I’ve seen in fifteen months who is neither Beth nor Julian

I’m off the island Oh my God, I’m off the island For the first time since my abduction, there is a real possibility of escape

"Where a nurse I can’t believe Julian is letting soirl he kidnapped

"You’re in a private clinic in the Philippines," Julian replies when the wo assistant ill be looking after you"

At that moment, the door opens and Beth walks in "Oh, look who’s awake," she exclai?"

"Okay, I think," I tell her cautiously Holy shit, I’ot you here just in ti down next to o They cut it out and sewed you right back up, so you should be right as rain"

I let out a nervous chuckleand i at the stitches in ives ela, he orders, "Give her more painkillers"

"I’m okay, just a little sore," I try to reassure hi I want is soht now I’ure out what to do I’ all ofstupid Freedom is so close, I can practically taste it

"Of course, Mr Esguerra" Angela co with the clear bag that’s feeding into htly kisses me on the lips "You need to rest," he says softly "I want you healthy Do you understandheavy as I feel theto work For a one, and then I’ain, I’h the clear large s and several plants are bloo merrily on the sill It’s actually quite cozy If it weren’t for that hospital sht I was in someone’s bedroom Whatever this private clinic is, it’s quite luxurious--a fact that I didn’t have a chance to really appreciate before

The door opens and Angela walks into the roo me a wide s, Nora?"

"Okay," I reply, a little warily "Where is Julian?" So way, and I can’t quite figure out what I know she’s probably my best chance to escape, but I don’t know if I can trust her For one thing, she could easily be in Julian’s euerra had to leave for a couple of hours," she says, still s at me "Beth is here, however She just went to the restrooe I have to tell her that I’ve been kidnapped I siht be loyal to Julian, but I still have to try because I ela comes up to the bed and hands o," she says in that sa you some food in a bit"

I lifta little as the ulping down the water I really, really need to tell her to call the police, or whatever the local law enforcement officials are called, but for some reason, I don’t Instead, I drink the water and watch as she walks out of the rooroanwith me? Freedom is a real possibility for the first ti I tellcautious, because I don’t want to risk anyone getting hurt--not Angela and certainly not anyone back ho as freedo I’ve been a captive for so long that I actually long for the co here in this unfamiliar room makes me stressed, anxious, and there is a part of ular routine Most i Julian, and I can’t bring myself to do that