Sarah
I pretend to be asleep.
I've noticed they only take Graham when I'm fast asleep. Whether it was coincidence or they preferred to take him at night, I wasn't sure, but I did know one thing. I wasn't sleeping through it again no matter how tired I was. I couldn't let them keep beating on him when there was a chance I could help.
Graham would be mad about my plan. That was exactly why I wasn't telling him.
He was being cautious, too cautious, and I had a feeling it had to do with me more than himself. He seemed like a man of action, and if it weren't for me, he would've tried to escape by now. I couldn't be the reason they continued to beat him senseless.
When the wooden door opened and the man leaned down to grab Graham, I pounced. Not very well and I sure as hell missed the mark when I didn't take into account the second person who usually accompanied the first.
Before I could do more than scratch our captors, I was thrown back onto the ground. My body landed first followed by my head. It hit the semi-hard ground with athwackthat made me see stars.
I heard Graham scream my name followed by the door slamming back down.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Graham was so close I could feel his breath on my face.
"I wanted to help. You weren't doing anything and I feared it was because of me, so I wanted to show you I could be of assistance."
A lot of good it did me though. Not only did I whack my head, but they didn't throw down food like they normally would when they came at night.
"I haven't done anything yet because I was watching their patterns and seeing if they messed up."
"Ohhhhh . . ." That actually made sense. "Sorry I messed that up."
"It's fine. How's your head? You hit it pretty hard when he pushed you down." I could hear the controlled anger in Graham's voice and I wondered if he was mad at what I did, or what happened to me.
"I'm fine. I didn't hit it that hard. My body took most of the punishment."
"Don't lie to me," Graham snapped.
I was tempted to snap back but that would've only made the slight headache I felt coming on that much worse. I touched his arm and did my best to sound reassuring. "I promise, I'm fine."
I wasn't fine. Especially when Graham pulled me into his lap. I was definitely not fine when he gently probed my head. I wasn't used to this man being gentle or kind, and I found that my heart and body liked it.
Maybe a little too much.
Grumpy Graham was hot, but Caring Graham took it to a whole new level.
"I feel a small lump." I tried not to hiss when he touched the area he was talking about. "You might have a concussion."
Probably, but I wasn't about to admit it. Stubborn could be my middle name when I wanted it to be.
"I don't think it's that serious."
"Let me be the judge of that," he said softly.
So I did. I lay there in his arms and let him take care of me. I was lulled into a fantasy world where he played with my hair and I got to imagine nothing bad was happening to us. And I didn't care in that moment how long it lasted because I'd never felt more safe as I did in Graham's arms.
CHAPTER NINE
Graham
If my calculations were correct, it was going on thirty-six hours since Sarah attacked the men and not once had they returned.
That was thirty-six hours without food, water, or any more beatings for me. While my body appreciated the reprieve from the pounding of fists, I was starting to get concerned that our captors no longer felt they needed us and were going to leave us to starve to death.
I couldn't let that happen.
