Page 52 (1/1)

I don’t want to leave the ht of the police co to arrest him, but I feel horrified instead I don’t want Julian behind bars I don’t want to be separated fro my eyes, I tell myself that I’m a fool, a brainwashed idiot, but it doesn’t matter

As I lie there in that hospital bed, I co captive Instead, I as to me

I recuperate in the clinic for the next week Julian visitsseveral hours by ela takes care of h a couple of doctors have dropped by to view e

I still have not told anyone about being a victi to do so anyet the sense that the clinic staff is paid to be discreet Nobody see in the Philippines, nor are they inclined to question ela wants to knohether I’ry, or need to use the bathroom I’m pretty sure that if I ask her to call the police for ive uards stationed in the hallway outside the roolimpses of them when the door opens They’re armed to the teeth and look like scary sons of bitches, re who beat up Jake

When I ask Julian about them, he freely admits that they’re his employees "They’re there for your protection," he explains, sitting down on the side of ht?"

He did tell er before According to Beth, there is a suards stationed at and around the clinic, all protecting us from whatever threat Julian is concerned about

"What ene at him "Who is after you?"

He sently, but there is so beneath the warmth of his smile "I will deal with them soon"

I shudder a little, and hope that Julian doesn’t notice So ho the topic "The doctors said you’ll need to take it easy for the next feeeks, but there is no need for you to stay here You can recover at ho with a mixture of dread and anticipation Hoe interlude at the clinic--so close to freedoain

Chapter 21

Pop! Pop! The explosive sound of a car backfiring jerks , I jackknife up to a sitting position, then clutch at the stitches in my side with a hiss of pain

Pop! Pop! Pop! The sound continues, and I freeze No car backfires like that

I’unshots Gunshots and occasional screa from the monitors hooked up toso the door It occurs tothere with a bull’s eye painted in the , I pull the IV fronore the pain I’ barefoot toward the door, I open it just a tiny bit and peek out into the hallway My stoht; the hallway in front ofa frantic glance around, I look for a hiding spot, but the only cupboard in the room is too small for me to fit into There is no other place to conceal et out, and I need to do so now

Pulling the hospital gown tighter around myself, I cautiously step out into the hallway The floor is cold underto the icy chill inside me Out here, I feel even er Spotting a bunch of doors on the other end of the hallway, I choose one at rando it carefully Tothe door quietly behind unfire continues at rando closer each time I step into the corner behind the door and plasterpanic I have no idea who the gunmen are, but the possibilities that occur to

Julian has ene theine him injured, dead, and the coldness insidedeep intobut that I would sooner die than lose hi, and I feel cold sweat sliding down unfire has stopped, and the silence isnoise from before I can taste the fear; it’s sharp and ue, and I realize that I’d bitten the inside of h to draw blood

Time moves at a painful crawl Every minute seems to stretch into an hour, every second into eternity Finally, I hear voices and heavy footsteps out in the hallway It sounds like there are several e I don’t understand--a language that sounds harsh and guttural to my ears