Page 107 of A Captive Situation

A plan started to form.

It was a bad plan. A totally illogical and reckless plan, but when I looked at Blake again, a single tear slid down her face. She was blinking again, trying to stop that tear from slipping out, but it was too late.

Her eyes met mine. I saw the anguish there.

I couldn’t do it.

Iwouldn’tdo it.

Seeing something in me, she straightened suddenly, pushing up in her seat.

Jake and Creighton were talking, but in that moment, Blake and I were having our own.

I mouthed to her, hoping she could read my words. “I will help you.”

Her eyes narrowed before relief blazed in them, quickly masked as she began blinking again. She schooled her face back to a mask.

How was I going to do this?

Phone. I needed my phone.

And my aunts. They would help.

I risked a look at Jake.

Oh, Jake.

I was going to betray him.

My throat tightened.

He’d be okay. He’d have to be okay.

Once everything was set, I’d figure out how to help Blakeandhelp Jake and myself.

There needed to be a way. Some way.

Maybe a miracle? It was time to start praying.

I came back to the present when I heard Lane ask, “Is she there?”

Jake tugged down her gag. “Speak.”

“Blake?” Lane said through the phone.

She shifted on the seat, wincing. Her voice came out husky and soft. “Hey, Eight.”

He was quiet for a beat before asking, his voice low, “Are you okay, my little quokka?”

Blake huffed. “Oh, fuck you.” Some of the terror had fled when we’d had our understanding, but I was able to see through her now. A little bit. She was putting on a good front that this wasn’t bothering her, but I saw it now. She was quaking inside at whatever this man was to her.

More shame rose in me. I’d helped put her in this position.

“Have your hosts been treating you well?”

Her jaw clenched. “Fuck’s sake, Eight. I was kidnapped. They’re not my hosts. We’re not having Sunday brunch here.”

A low and smooth chuckle slid through the phone from his end. “I’ll see what I can do.”

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