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Suddenly, Beth’s body jerks, and she lets out a strange gurgle before falling silent All I can hear now is the sound of , a pool of blood spreading out fro the knife on his pants, and faces the cauerra," he says, s it out too et me what I asked for Of course, if I don’t receive it, the next shoill bea step toward er down ht even let my men play with her before I start"

This time I can’t control e to turn my head to the side before the contents of my stomach empty out onto the floor in a series of violent heaves

Chapter 23

After the caain Beth’s body is dragged away, and the floor is carelesslybehind several reddish-brown streaks I stare at theish, as if I’h an occasional shudder still wracks my body My stitches ache dully, and I wonder if I tore any of the through own, soso in Arabic while rubbing their crotches suggestively I alh, so they get to ‘play’ with h, they mercifully leave me alone I am even allowed outside for a uy as before--the io into the bushes I think he’s nowhim Toilet Guy

I name some of the others, too The one with the black beard down to the middle of his chest--I call hi hairline is Baldie The short guy who led the raid on the clinic--he’s Garlic Breath

I do this to distract hts of Beth I can’t allow myself to think about her yet--not if I want to reet out of this alive, then I will mourn the woman who had become rieve, to rage at the senseless violence of her death But right now, I can only exist fro on the s to keep ht of brutal reality

Time ticks by slowly As darkness descends, I stare at the floor, the walls, the ceiling I think I even nod off a couple of tih I jerk awake at the least hint of any sound, er pangs in h I’rateful to still be alive--a state of affairs I knoill not continue for long, unless Julian coh with the weapon

Closinga book on the beach I try to io back to the house and find Beth there, prepping dinner for us I try to convince myself that Julian is siain soon I picture his s the hard masculine perfection of his features, and I ache for hi eradually drifts toward an uneasy sleep

A large hand cla h leand then I hear a fa in my ear, "Shh, Nora It’s htly,with relief, and the hand leavesbesidehis chest and shoulders, and his face is painted with black diagonal stripes There is aacross his shoulder, and an entire array of weapons is clipped to his belt He looks like a deadly stranger Only his eyes are faht in his paint-darkened face

For a second, I’ here, in this warehouse in theto me Not when his ene, I cast a quick, frantic glance around the warehouse

The men in the other corner appear to be asleep, stretched out on blankets on the floor I count eight of theuarding the building I don’t see the Suit anywhere; heh the ropes at et in here?" I whisper, staring at hi up at me "Be quiet," he says, his words alet you out before they wake up"

I nod, falling silent as he resu my ropes Despite our perilous situation, I am almost dizzy with joy Julian is here, with ratitude is so strong, I can barely contain it I want to ju hi rid of the re ropes