Page 135 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

“To the missiles.”

“That’s ridiculous, you don’t work for Black Tech you wouldn’t know them.” He said.

“I told them that but it didn’t make any difference.” She replied and he heard it then, the pain in her voice, the hint at what she had gone through and he pulled her in tighter kissing the top of her head.

He shook his head thinking it over. These people should have known, should have understood the difference between BlackWater and Black Tech, the fact they didn’t, the fact that they’d even taunted them with that hostage video said more about them than they’d realised.

He glanced down at Maddie, her eyes were shut now. How much had they tortured her, he wondered. And for what? It didn’t make sense. He held her tightly, hearing her breathing slow, and realised she had fallen asleep again.

He watched her in the semi-darkness for a few moments and wondered whether he should leave her to sleep or not. He hadn’t wanted to force the issue, he hadn’t meant too, intending to give her some space but when she pushed him he’d pushed back without thinking it through.

She shifted slightly and he shook his head, deciding that it didn’t matter now anyway. He picked her up and she remained asleep as he carried her back to his room, back to his bed.

He laid her down gently and climbed in beside her listening once again to her breathing before he eventually fell back asleep.

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