Page 63 of Rescuing Tobias

Apparently, that was enough, though, because the woman’s eyes snapped open and she jerked upright. Now that she could see the woman’s face, Isabella realized she knew who it was. It was Dawn, one of the nurses who had been with her before, and one of the two women who had been abducted.

If there had been any doubt who had done it, and as far as she was concerned there wasn't, then it was eliminated now.

“Isabella, you're awake. Thank goodness, you were starting to scare me. Here, drink this.” Dawn jumped off the bed and picked up a glass of water that was sitting on the floor between their beds.

Lifting her head enough to take a sip of water as Dawn held the glass to her lips drained pretty much the last of her remaining strength, and when she sank back down against the thin pillow, she could no longer keep her eyes open.

“Sorry they took you again,” she mumbled to Dawn.

“Yeah, sorry they got you, too. They said it was easier to take back as many of us as they could because they’ve already broken us, but I say hell no to that. I'm not broken, not in the least, and that time back with my family only made me stronger. You need a partner in trying to get out of here, then I'm your girl,” Dawn said fiercely.

Despite her exhaustion, a small smile curled up the corners of her mouth. “Glad to hear that, because I have no intention of giving up either.”

Should she tell Dawn about her pregnancy?

It would be a risk because it would give the other woman something to potentially hold over her, but she couldn’t imagine Dawn doing that. And she might need an ally. Morning sickness hadn't been too bad, but she was only six weeks along, just half-way through her first trimester when morning sickness was supposed to be at its worse.

Cracking open an eyelid, she wriggled her fingers at Dawn. “Come closer,” she whispered.

Dawn took a seat on the edge of Isabella’s mattress, her face full of concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Promise you won't tell anyone?”

“Of course, we’re in this together.”

Chewing on her bottom lip for a moment, Isabella realized she didn't really have another option. It would be more helpful for someone she trusted to know and help her cover it up for as long as possible than to take any potential risks. She really couldn’t see Dawn getting any benefit from using theinformation, and even if there was one, nothing she knew about the other woman suggested she’d behave selfishly.

“I'm pregnant,” she murmured, and Dawn’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Pregnant?”

“Six weeks.”

“So you got pregnant right after we were rescued. I thought you didn't have a partner.”

“I didn't. It was one of the men who rescued us. Was only supposed to be one night.”

“The African American guy,” Dawn said immediately.

“How did you know?”

Dawn shrugged. “Just intuition, I guess. He worked for Prey Security, right? They’re really big and you’re having his baby. He’s going to be looking for you.”

“He’s going to tear the world apart to find me,” she agreed.

Ifhe was still alive.

If he wasn't, then Prey would still look for her, she knew that. Becca and Connor would make sure of it, but it wouldn't be necessary since Prey was already invested because of Ava being one of the victims.

Not that she was giving up on Tobias. She wouldn't believe he was dead, she had to believe he was looking for her. He was her hero, and she needed him.

Don’t be dead, Tobias. Our baby and I need you.

Please be out there somewhere looking for us.

CHAPTER 19

April 26th

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