Page 47 of Lacey's Fight

Was that all she was good for?

Sex.

Feeling worse about herself than she had the night Ben had made her feel cheap and like a whore, Lacey threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Wasn’t like she was going to get any sleep anyway.

As she tossed on jeans and a T-shirt over her sleep shorts and tank top she tried to analyze her feelings and figure out why Ben’s rejection bothered her so much.

It wasn’t like she had been expecting a marriage proposal or anything.

Didn’t want one either.

Maybe it was just that she thought he was different. Thought that maybe even though he didn't like her all that much, he at least respected her. The sex they’d had was different than her usual given Ben’s problems, and even though it hadn't started out that way she thought they had shared … something.

The headache that had dissipated when Ben told her to turn around and proceeded to undress her was back now, and at full strength.

Fresh air.

A little fresh air would make her feel better.

Lacey knew she would be watched, but there was no reason for anyone to suspect that anything was wrong. Likely they might think she and Ben had had a lover’s quarrel and she was going in search of him to clear the air.

Which is what she should do, she thought as she wandered through the halls and out into the spacious grounds.

So, Ben only wanted one thing. She was being a drama queen because she had been the one to offer that thing, and at first, he hadn’t even wanted it. She was the one who had changed the rules, not Ben. Really, he hadn't done anything wrong, even if he had been a little unnecessarily rude to her since they’d been here.

The fresh night air curled around her, clearing away a little of her pain and disappointment. The soft breeze lightly ruffled the leaves of the trees as she walked amongst them, and the sky was a smooth, velvety black, dotted with thousands of glittering stars.

So much beauty.

Nature was and always had been her happy place. As much as she loved being surrounded by people there was a peace that only the trees, the sky, and your own company could give you.

She had no idea why this was hitting her so hard, or why she cared so much, or why it even mattered. After this mission, they wouldn’t see each other again anyway, and The Master was here so he’d get caught in the raid. Then her nightmare would finally have some closure, and maybe she could move forward.

Although she had no idea what moving forward actually looked …

Pain jolted through her body like she had suddenly been set on fire.

Her joints locked.

Limbs no longer supported her.

Lacey dropped to the ground with a muted thud as the dirt and grass muffled the sound.

Panic followed the pain as it lanced down her veins. She was out in the grounds. There were fewer cameras out there.

No one was coming to help her, and that was assuming that their cover hadn’t been blown and this wasn’t Amelia and her men.

Just because Prey maintained dozens of detailed covers ready to be used in any conceivable situation, it didn’t mean they were infallible. Raven Hathaway and Olivia Oswald were amongst the best of the best when it came to hacking and anything technology-related, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone better out there.

A shadowy figure moved above her, and then another jolt of unimaginable fiery pain shot through her and the world faded away.

Something was wrong.

That was her first thought when she blinked open heavy eyes to find herself in a small, dark room. A dim light came from somewhere behind her, providing just enough brightness to make out concrete walls and a concrete floor beneath her.

Beneath her?

Tilting her head back she glanced up to find her wrists tied together with rope and then suspended from a hook in the ceiling.

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