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“Thank you for sending him away,” Lauren said weakly, fully aware of the irony of thanking this man, and equally aware that he couldn’t understand a word she was saying

“You’re welcolish “Marko has the ”

Lauren started “You speak English”

He nodded, setting the tray on the nightstand

“You’re weak You htened But soon we’ll get ant, and this will all be over”

“What is it you want?” Lauren couldn’t control the tears any longer, and they spilled down her cheeks “Money? Call my father Please He’s very rich He’ll wire the ransom to you today”

“It’s being taken care of I have no doubt that your father will cooperate” Bashkih talk”

Lauren fell silent, scra the tray on her lap The food s that her father was being contacted He’d wire the money to them in an hour

She’d be free

With a resurgence of hope, she tasted the soup “This is delicious” She hadn’t realized how hungry she was “Thank you”

“You’re welcome”

She uncapped the bottle of water and began to greedily drink It was the first substantial amount of fluid she’d drunk in four days She was badly dehydrated and her body was desperate for renewal

“Slowly,” Bashkim cautioned “You want to keep it down”

Lauren nodded, placing the bottle on the tray He was right The taste of cholorofore onslaught of fluid

She paused for aslowly and thoroughly before she sed