She climbed under the blanket, lying on her side. Even though she was on the tiniest bit of mattress, her back instantly warmed. It was against the naked length of him. Not thinking about that right now. This is for survival purposes. She needed to do whatever it took to keep them alive and safe. Staying healthy herself was a good start. She pulled the blanket over her shoulders, clutching it to her chest. Much better.
“I can’t do that again,” he whispered.
“Do what?”
“Protect you,” he said. “They’ll think we have an alliance, or that I have feelings for you or some bullshit like that. It’ll make it more difficult for you in the long run. The slayer female is here now, things are about to get rough around here.”
Paige frowned. “She had them bring this blanket. She’s the reason we got to brush our teeth. I know it’s her who organized hot meals for this evening as well. I know she’s still bad news, but things have improved.”
“Don’t be lulled into thinking everything is going to be fine from here on out. It’s not.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess it’s wishful thinking.” Stupid of her!
“Be on your guard and stay strong. I’m sorry if they end up hurting you.” His voice was gruff. “Your friends too,” he tacked on, reminding her that this wasn’t personal. They may have saved each other’s lives a couple of times but they still weren’t friends. Despite being pressed up tight against his naked body, she’d never felt more alone. She fought the tears that threatened to fall. This was no time to cry. It was time to be stronger than she had ever been in her life.
Chapter 12
The next day…
The guard swiped the card attached to the lanyard around his neck. He pushed the cell door open. “Come with us.” It was the same guard from the day before. The one who had brought the supplies. “The boss wants to have a word with you.”
They’d just finished eating breakfast. Boiled eggs, toast and a juicy plum. The food immediately turned to cement inside her stomach. “What does she want to talk about?”
“I don’t have a clue. Come on.” He glanced over his shoulder down the hallway. “We don’t want to keep her waiting.”
Paige nodded, she followed the guard. Another one stood just outside the cell. It was the fourth guy from the helicopter. She couldn’t recall his name. It felt like forever ago since they were first captured. Paige looked back to where Flood was lying. Dark eyes met hers for a split second before closing again. She’d also seen his frown lines. Flood was worried. He didn’t move though. Didn’t try to intervene. Then again, it wasn’t like he was in a position to help her. Even if he wanted to and even then he’d made it clear that he wouldn’t. The wounds on his chest were healing up nicely. His hip still had a way to go though. A silver bullet had broken bone and pulverized flesh. It had been blood loss on top of more blood loss. Flood would be ‘man down’ for a couple more days.
She allowed herself to be led down the hall. She glanced left, catching the quizzical gazes of the other women. There was no time to talk. They led her through a set of white double doors into a small room. There were two doors on the far side. The guard headed to the door on the right and knocked twice. Everything was stark white, from the vinyl floors to the walls.
“Come in.” Paige recognized the feminine voice.
The guard opened the door and they all filed into a cramped office. It was small but well appointed. The desk looked like hardwood teak.
"Sit." She gestured to one of the chairs. They were covered in soft, white leather. Hanging on the wall behind her was a large abstract painting. It was colorful and drew the eye. The boss lady was wearing a form-fitting red dress. It had a thin black belt that clasped just below her breasts. Her lips were the same color red. Paige was sure that if she looked under the table, she'd be in stockings and heels. Her ears were adorned with simple solitaire diamonds that probably cost more than Paige made in a year.
Blood money.
The woman wrinkled her nose. “There are showers in the cells.” She turned to the guard. “Did you give our guests those toiletry items like I requested?”
Guests. Paige had to hold back a laugh. Yeah right!
The guard nodded. “Yes, they all received their supplies.”
“Why didn’t you use them?”
Paige licked her lips. “Thank you for the supplies.” She’d better play nice. She’d first see where this was going before digging her heels in. She knew it was stupid to be hopeful after talking with Flood, but…she couldn’t help it.
The woman sat back in her chair, her arms folded across her chest. Her hand concealed. Maybe it wasn’t a tattoo of an eye. Maybe she wasn’t one of those slayers. Maybe this had all been a misunderstanding. Any second now this woman was going to tell them that they could go. Paige knew she was being silly to think along those lines but she still couldn’t help herself. “I’m sure you noticed that the cells are open. Anyone can walk by and,” she paused for a few seconds, “look in and well, I share with a guy. I don’t know him. I…”
The woman laughed, she covered her mouth with her hand and an eye tattoo starred back at her.
An eye.
It was an eye.
Shoot!
She was a slayer. This wasn’t a misunderstanding. She and the others were in grave danger like Flood had said. This woman was attractive, she was well-dressed and well-spoken, but appearances could be deceiving. They very often were.
Paige quickly looked the other woman in the eye; if she stared at the ink, it would give her knowledge away. Not that she knew much. She knew something though, which could be misconstrued. Her stomach gave a lurch and she touched a hand to her belly, trying to hold back the nausea.
“Sit down, Paige. You may call me Alex.”
“Short for Alexandra?” Paige asked, wanting as much info as she could on the woman. They were getting out of there. They were! They had to. When they did, she wanted information to pass on.
Alex cocked her head and folded her arms again. The picture of calm. “Not short for anything. My father hoped for a boy. He planned on naming him after my grandfather. There was no boy! Just me. Alex isn’t short for anything. Now, you do know that shifters have no misgivings about being naked. There are no cameras pointing directly into the cells. You have no excuse for not showering.”
“No cameras that we know of. Look—”
“You have my word there are no cameras facing directly into the cells,” Alex interrupted.
Her word. Huh! Didn’t count for much.
“You will shower,” Alex went on, narrowing her eyes as she spoke. Then she pressed her lips together in disdain.
“What’s the point if we can’t even change our clothes?” This was a farce.
“You make a good point.” Alex nodded once. “Organize clothing,” she ordered the guard, flicking her eyes his way for a second.
“That’s easier said than done,” he said. “Items will be too big for the women and too small for the shifter.”
“Forget about the shifter. He can stay naked. It will make our interrogations easier with all of his skin bared. The women can roll up the sleeves and pants or go without.” Alex looked pointedly at her.
“We’ll roll up the sleeves,” Paige conceded.
“I’m willing to meet all of you halfway. I want your stay with us to be comfortable.”
Paige choked out a laugh. “I’m sorry.” She put up a hand. “You’re keeping us prisoner. We’re not guests. This whole situation isn’t comfortable.”
Alex smiled and cocked her head. “Trust me when I tell you that things are very comfortable right now. You’re being treated with nothing but kindness.”
“I almost got raped!” Paige yelled. She couldn’t help herself.
“An unfortunate oversight.”
“Oversight.” Paige couldn’t hold back. “That’s not an oversight…how would you feel if three men threatened to…each take turns fucking you against your will? How would that
make you feel? Why is Tim even still on your payroll? Gus too?”
That look of disdain was back. “I’m not stupid enough to allow myself to get into a situation like that.” A tiny shake of the head.
“Excuse me?” Paige couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This woman was too much. “I didn’t get myself into a situation. I was kidnapped.”
“You put yourself in a position to be taken in the first place. You’re lucky I arrived when I did.” Alex shrugged like it was no biggie. “The fact of the matter is that you are here. As my guest.” She put emphasis on the last word. “That can change in a heartbeat though. My staff were all hand-picked. They know how to follow orders. Mostly. None of them are squeamish. Not in the least. In fact, a couple of them revel in dishing out pain and heartache. That’s why Tim and Gus are still on the payroll. They were acting as expected. Speak with your shifter.”
“He’s not mine and he’s still out of it.”
“That’s why you’re so afraid of showering.” Alex rolled her eyes.
“He might wake up.” Paige’s voice was shrill but she couldn’t seem to make herself calm down.
“Sure, he’s badly injured. Quite frankly, I’m surprised he survived the silver bullet to the chest. From the accounts I received, he was dead for some time. The bullet lodged inside him. You obviously have some skills. He would have been well on the road to recovery when he stood up for you.”
“No, he had barely even gained consciousness up until then.”
“That’s nonsense. He came to your defense because the two of you had conversed. Developed a relationship.” She smiled.
“No!” she said too quickly. “You’re wrong!” Calmer this time.
“Thanks for confirming my suspicions.” She clapped her hands together. Looking like the cat who had got the cream.
“You’re wrong,” Paige added, this time with no conviction. “He told me he doesn’t care what happens to us. He won’t talk to you.”
Her smile turned to a frown in a second. “You’d better hope and pray that’s not true.” She leaned forward, clasping her hands on the desk in front of her. “I’m going to put him through untold pain.” Her face was completely deadpan. “Pull out his nails from the quick. Cut off his fingers, his ears, his lips.”
Paige tasted bile, it was bitter on her tongue. Made her throat burn.
“Hell,” Alex leaned back, folding her arms again, a smile playing with the corners of her mouth, “I’ll cut off his arms and legs. I’ll cut him to ribbons. You can nurse him back to health.” She smiled. “I know you’ll rise to the occasion. I have an order in for some medical supplies.” She said it like she was doing them a favor. “Before you leave, you should make a list, in case I forgot anything.”
This chick was a fucking psycho.
“I would suggest you work on him. Get him to tell us what we need to know. It’ll make it easier on all of us.”
Paige swallowed thickly. She didn’t answer though.
“Know that my patience will only last so long.” Her eyes hardened, turning an icy blue. “When I get bored of cutting up the dragon and watching it regenerate, I will turn to you. You won’t be as lucky. You’re a human after all. You won’t heal as quickly. Your limbs won’t regenerate. Your teeth won’t grow back. At least Tim won’t be tempted to rape you anymore once you’ve gone a few rounds with me. You’ll have that going for you.” She shook her head. “I don’t really want to do that to you. To any of you. Best you have a talk with your shifter.”
“I told you. He’s not mine. I don’t know where you got that idea. He won’t listen to me. We’re not even friends.”
“Best you change that. You’re a beautiful woman. Use what you have. Convince him! Once I have the information I need, namely the locations of the lairs as well as the mines, you can go. You have my word.”
Not that her word was worth anything. Once these hunters had the information they needed they were all dead.
Paige wanted to tell Alex that she was wasting her time but she refrained. Instead, she nodded. “I will see what I can do.”
“Good. Don’t take too long. We are going to start on him in two days. I don’t want him reaching full strength. You have until then.”
“Two days isn’t very long.” Paige shook her head.
“It’s all you’ve got.”
“I need more.” Paige pushed out a sigh, surprised at how real it sounded. “But I guess it will have to do. I doubt this will work, but I’ll give it my best shot.”
“You can achieve anything you put your mind to.” With a wave of the hand, Alex dismissed her.
Paige was unnerved when she returned. She told him everything the slayer had said. None of it shocked him. They were in deep shit. He was getting stronger but not quick enough. Not nearly quick enough.
Two days.
The slayer female was right. He wouldn’t be at full strength yet. Thanks to the allergy immunotherapy he’d been receiving, he wouldn’t be as weak as she expected either. The hunters would be armed to the teeth. He’d be shackled with silver-infused cuffs.
“The good news is that we don’t have to hide that you’re awake. She gave me two days. You just need to come across as being very weak.”
Flood snorted. “No need to pretend there. I feel like a helpless, day-old lamb.”
Paige frowned. “Do you need to rest first?” she whispered. Although they didn’t have to be as sneaky about him being awake, they still didn’t want the hunters knowing too much about him. They might just change their minds about two days and make it one.
“No.” Flood shook his head. “I was just thinking about what we spoke about when you came back.”
She nodded, the look on her face grave. “You’re worried?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“I am too. She’s crazy. Calling us guests. Recommending that I seduce you so that you’ll talk.” She rolled her eyes like the idea was absurd.
Which it was, of course, since he wouldn’t fall for crap like that. “We have two days before all hell breaks loose.”
“I’m sure we’ll come up with a plan. Maybe I can convince her to give me more time to work on you.”
He shook his head. “I doubt she’ll change her mind. You have two days. You’d better start getting to it.” He made a pathetic joke.
Paige didn’t smile. In fact, she chewed on her bottom lip. “I’d better take that shower. You won’t look?” Her blue eyes were wide.
Flood shook his head. “I swear I won’t. I’ve seen naked females before—”
“I’m sure you have, and I know you said that nakedness is normal for shifters, but it’s not normal for humans.” She shook her head. “I really want a shower. I do stink to high heavens.” Paige sniffed herself and crinkled her nose. “I wish there was a curtain or something,” she whispered
“What I was going to say was, that I have no need to sneak a look at you. Females are mostly afraid of me but there have been enough who have shown interest, and I’m sure there will be more who do so in the future. I’m not desperate.” He knew, given the circumstances, that he shouldn’t feel offended but he couldn’t help it. Did she think him so terrible? So hopeless when it came to females that he would resort to spying on her?
Her shoulders slumped and she pushed out a deep breath. “I know. I’m just being silly. I’m sorry.”
Something eased in him. Flood nodded. “I will listen out for anyone approaching and will give you plenty of warning should someone come. You can shower in peace.” He knew the reason for his irritation was because a female like Paige would normally never have looked at a male like him. She was sweet and kind and rather timid and would have been put off by the way he looked. It was his own stupid hang-ups.
“I will help you sponge bath when I’m done.” She smiled, trying to be nice. As was her nature.
Then he thought about what she had just said. “What is a sponge bath? There is no tub in this cell.” Flood frowned.
; “No, silly.” She giggled softly, holding a hand over her mouth to smother the sound. “I’ll wash you with soap and water, using the cloth and bucket. It won’t be perfect but I’ll do my best. I cleaned you up quite a bit after you were shot the second time.”
“That’s when you checked me out.” Flood winked at her. Why was he flirting with the human? Why did the idea of her looking at him naked appeal to him in ways it shouldn’t? She was attractive but this was not the time nor the place. Not for any of this type of thinking.
He watched as her cheeks turned pink, enhancing the pink of her lips and the blue of her eyes. “I really wasn’t checking you out.”
“I know.” He smiled. “I’m only joking. I enjoy how flustered you get. I know you weren’t checking me out.”
Her cheeks reddened up some more and she looked away.
Flood decided to change the subject. He couldn’t be friends with the human but he didn’t want to alienate her either. “Go and shower. I will keep my eyes shut.”
She nodded.
He listened as she moved around, fetching the things that she needed. Then he listened as the water spattered to life. He could hear her undress even though the noise from the water hitting the tiles was loud.
Flood bit back a smile when he realized she was rushing. As much as he would love to see Paige naked…water cascading down her body… Fuck, he was getting hard just thinking about it. He needed to think about something else because he wasn’t looking. No damn way! It also wasn’t like that between them. Maybe if they made it to safety…maybe…when they made it to safety. Maybe then. He wouldn’t hold his breath though. A timid thing like Paige would prefer a male who was less crude. He’d also been called brooding by human females. Brooding, scary and bad-tempered. Some females liked it. Most did not.
He was reminded of the time that one female had wanted him to tie her up and hit her with a belt. It hadn’t worked for him in the least.
Captured Dragon (Water Dragons Book 2) Page 8