This man was military through and through. How had she missed it?
“Suit yourself.”
She moved over to the entrance of the cave, needing a glimpse of the sky, and Lee snorted. “You can sleep at the back.”
Nhiari inhaled deeply, but without complaint she changed direction and found a spot nearer the back. Her skin tightened and she focused on her breathing. Lee was biding his time with her, probably still deciding what to do, otherwise he would have taken her straight to his main camp. There was no trust lost on either side.
She didn’t blame him. The second he fell asleep, she was out of here. She couldn’t stay here in this cave, couldn’t continue being his hostage.
“Take this.” Lee handed her his day pack and she used it as a slightly lumpy pillow.
Lee laid out his mattress between her and the entrance and there wasn’t a lot of room on either side for her to pass by.
But she’d manage it somehow. She turned her back to him and pretended to go to sleep.
They’d travelled about ten kilometres from the cave where Jordan and Cody had been held. Still too far away to hike into town overnight. Her parents lived south of the ranges, but she didn’t want to risk them coming into contact with Lee. He might view them as collateral damage.
So her other option was heading for the coast, which was only a couple of kilometres away. Camp sites dotted the shoreline, and though they were quieter at this time of year than during peak season, they always had campers. She could borrow a car and be in Retribution Bay within the hour. She could return with backup, arrest Lee and force him to give them his information.
Lee switched off the torch and the cave plunged into darkness.
Nhiari stared into the dark and slowly the pitch black faded to grey and shapes were discernible.
Her escape would have to be timed perfectly.
Lee would disappear the moment he noticed she had gone and it would take more manpower to search the ranges for him.
She hesitated. Would she lose a vital opportunity to learn things about Stonefish by leaving?
Lee’s steady breathing seemed loud in the cave, but it lacked the heaviness of someone who was asleep. The sound reminded her of their night together, of lying wrapped in his arms, sated from their lovemaking, feeling as if she had finally found someone who understood her.
Her stomach cramped.
Wrong again.
Too desperate or idiotic to realise no one wanted to be with her. Not the boys at high school who only noticed her early-onset boobs. Not the men at the academy who were threatened by her competency. Not this man lying only a few metres away who had just wanted her information.
Nhiari itched to get up and run. To get as far away as possible from this man and the emotions he made her feel.
He was holding her against her will.
Though he’d tucked the gun away after they’d arrived here and promised her information.
If she could sneak out, she might return with backup before he woke. She needed to end this. Stonefish had harassed her town for far too long.
She smothered her groan at her indecision and turned so she faced the exit. Lee was just a lump on the ground, but outside was far lighter. The moon had another week before it was full, but it still lit the night, giving trees and shrubs shape.
Nhiari watched Lee, looking for a sign he’d fallen asleep. He was well-trained—she suspected military, but her queries to both the Australian and Singaporean governments had revealed no Lee Slater had ever enlisted. Which meant he had either lied about his name, or his training had been less legitimate.
He would be foolish to fall asleep immediately—if at all—and he wasn’t foolish. She would have to be quick. Her hand closed around a fist-sized rock. Her heart quailed, but she ignored it. She wasn’t planning to kill him, just knock him unconscious for long enough to restrain him.
“I won’t attack you in your sleep, Nhiari.” His warm voice slid over her skin like a blanket. Another reminder of the night they’d spent together. Talking late into the night, sharing their hopes and dreams.
Lies, all of it.
At least on his side.
She’d opened up to him and told him things she hadn’t even told her best friend, Dot. He’d been so open, so sweet in his desire to learn all about her.
