Jidda swallowed the pills with a gulp of water. “I feel better.”
The antibiotics had kicked in, and the infection was beginning to clear.
Kristi checked his forehead for fever. “I think you’ll heal.”
He caught her hand. “You are very kind.”
“I’m a nurse.” She pulled her hand away. “Taking care of people is my job.”
She wouldn’t explain that she’d cared for everyone from inmates convicted of murder to mentally ill patients off their meds to violent addicts strung-out on meth. A nurse never got to choose her patients, but all deserved the same standard of care whether they were Charles Manson or Mother Teresa.
“Do you have a husband?”
She didn’t like the way he was looking at her, so she lied. “Yes. His name is Malik. He fights with the US Army Rangers. He is probably very angry that I was abducted and eager to find me. He will be very happy when you release me.”
The hard look in Jidda’s eyes made her stomach sink.
She fought back a wave of despair. “Youwillkeep your word, won’t you? Or are you a man who makes promises he doesn’t keep?”
The chatter of the men around them fell silent.
Jidda’s gaze went cold. “Watch what you say to me, woman. I am the only one keeping these men away from you. They are lions. You are prey.”
Kristi bit back the words she truly wanted to say, his implied threat clear. If she angered him, he would withdraw his protection. And then…
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Once he felt better and the wound had truly begun to heal, he wouldn’t need her any longer.
If he doesn’t let you go, the Nigerian or US government will do something. They won’t just forget about you. They’ll come for you.
And in the meantime?
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.
Aware that the men were watching her, she did her best to hide her sudden rush of fear, drawing slow, steady breaths as she packed away the medications. Then she unrolled her bed mat, checked it for spiders, scorpions, and other creepy-crawlies. She laid it out near Jidda’s feet, putting herself in the corner, out of reach of his hands and far from the other men. Then, exhausted, she lay down on her side, careful not to poke herself with the scalpel, which was still in her pocket.
God, please get me out of this. Please help Jidda keep his word.
Kristi wasn’t a religious person, but she’d take any help she could get.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, a hand was sliding up her thigh. Her eyes flew open, and she sat upright, smacking the hand away and coming face to face with Peter. She kicked at him, her words coming in an angry hiss. “Get your hands off me!”
He grabbed her wrists, tried to force her back, hatred and lust on his face.
This time she shouted. “Let go of me!”
“Peter!” Jidda sat up. “Let her be.”
Peter glared at Jidda, then leaned close to Kristi. “He will not let you go, whore!”
“I’m not a whore!” she shouted back. “I’m a married woman and a nurse.”
“Quiet!” That was Jidda again. “Peter! Sleep now.”
Peter made his way back to his own bed, his gaze on Kristi as he stretched out on his mat, his rage at her palpable.
Kristi let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.