Page 66 of Rescuing Tobias

So she was going to have to balance carefully on a tightrope.

Act enough like she had before, because she had no doubt that they’d been told about her and how hard she’d been to tame, and even what tameness they’d managed to get from her was minimal. But not act too defiant because she wanted to avoid any bad beatings, ones her little one wouldn't be able to endure.

“Vaguely,” she answered, keeping her tone even. It wasn't that she hadn't been afraid every single second of the seven months she’d been held, because she had been. All of it. Terrified in fact. But she’d been equally angry, and she’d just chosen to focus on that.

Like she was going to do now.

Because she was furious with these people. For everything they’d done. Playing God with people’s lives just for money was disgusting, and she hoped there was a special place in Hell for them. If they’d killed Tobias, there would be no limit to her rage. She would do whatever she had to in order to kill them.

Just because she’d never taken a life before didn't mean she wasn't ready and willing to kill all of these men. They deserved it for all the evil they’d done, all the pain and suffering they had inflicted.

“You're needed, we have a new arrival,” the guard told her.

Isabella shrugged. “What part aboutvaguelydid you not get?”

Sure, she was technically on her feet, but it was the first time she’d been standing since she woke up there and she was wobbly at best. If she hadn't been drinking so much water in an attempt to rehydrate and try to undo as many of the effects of the concussion as possible, then she’d still be lying down. This was a call of nature and nothing more. Certainly not an affirmation that she was ready to do anything but sleep and try to manage her pain. It was just lucky that the room they’d been locked in had its own toilet. While she didn't like peeing in front of others, she probably wouldn't have made it if the bathroom was any further away.

The guard shrugged back. “Orders were to collect the newest nurse and take her to attend to the newest arrival.”

When she saw Dawn was about to volunteer herself to go in Isabella’s place, she gave a small shake of her head at the woman. Dawn had been watching over her, taking care of her, and since she knew about the pregnancy was going to want to step in and try to protect Isabella as much as she could.

But that would give them away. And it would place Dawn in more danger. She’d go and just pray she could handle it.

“Fine,” she huffed as she made her way toward the door on legs that felt as weak as a newborn kitten’s. “But you should know I have no intention of being a good, cooperative little nurse. Surely you were informed about my disgust at your whole operation.”

As soon as she was within reach, the man snapped out a hand, wrapped it hard enough around her bicep to leave bruises, and dragged her out of the room, locking the door behind him.

The sudden movement sent waves of dizziness through her, and if the guard wasn't holding her up she would absolutely be on the floor right now. Curled up in a little shaking ball, probably crying and definitely struggling to contain the pain.

She didn't have a choice, though.

It was contain the pain and function or risk her baby’s life.

Giving her a shake that made her brain feel like it was quite literally rattling around inside her skull, the man gave a harsh chuckle. One that sent shivers rocketing through her. It was an evil sound and one she wished she hadn't heard before.

“We heardallabout you, little nurse. Heard you like it rough, heard you were the guards’ favorite. Also heard there was only one way to keep you in line. Or maybe two.”

He held something up and she recognized it immediately.

It was a shock collar much like the one that had been locked around her neck last time.

Her body tensed, remembering all too well the white-hot agony that engulfed it every time the shock collar was activated.

If it was just her, she would suck up the pain and deal with it, but she had no idea if her baby was able to withstand the torture. When she started reading up about pregnancy, a baby’s ability to survive torture hadn't been on her mind. She’d thought she was safe, that her biggest problem had been Tobias not wanting to be part of their lives, and then her fears that her demons would destroy her happiness before she got a chance to grab hold of it.

When the man released his hold on her, she wobbled precariously but somehow managed to remain standing. She wanted to run, every atom inside her screamed at her to escape, to get herself and her baby away from these people who would do nothing but hurt them and probably eventually kill them.

But the truth was she wouldn't escape.

This man wasn't the only one there, and they’d capture her and punish her.

So she stood there and allowed the man to lock the collar around her neck. It weighed heavily against her, and it took all her remaining willpower not to reach for it and try—fruitlessly—to pull it off.

Watching her with cold, assessing eyes, the man then smirked as he lifted the small remote control that would activate the shock collar.

A second later, vicious pain tore through her body.

There was no way Isabella could stay on her feet. Her legs buckled, and she went down hard. Automatically, one hand pressed to her stomach, willing her baby to hold on, not to give up on her just yet. She’d figure something out. She’d even play along if she had to, but she didn't want to lose this baby.

---