Page 30 of Rami

She scrunched her lips to the side. Surprisingly, she didn’t have much appetite. The fact that she’d just puked bile probably had a lot to do with that. “Water would be great.”

He snagged a fresh bottle from the nightstand and cracked it open, passing it to her. “You should try to eat. You need your strength.”

“Did you eat?” she countered.

“I had a couple protein bars and some jerky before we got to the camper. Other than that, not since supper. But I wouldn’t normally eat in the middle of the night. Taschen grabbed some stuff when he got your clothes. Let me see what there is.” He went to the lone paper bag on the dinette table and dug inside. “I’ve got bananas, crackers, and trail mix.” He cocked his head. “Anything sound appealing?”

“No.” She gave a light laugh. “But crackers might be the safest.”

“Good call.” He opened a package and handed her the box of saltines.

Gingerly, she took one of the square crackers and brought it to her lips. The salt stung her skin, but she nibbled anyway. Her stomach clenched around the food but after a few minutes seemed to accept the weight. She pulled out a few more pieces, further invoking her hunger.

Fifteen minutes later she’d had two handfuls of crackers and half a banana. More food than she’d had in one sitting in weeks.

Rami didn’t take his eyes off her. He sat in the chair near her bed, a brooding air surrounding him. The silence grew heavy with unspoken questions. It seemed he wanted to prod but didn’t dare for fear of crossing a line.

“Rami is a unique name,” Ivy said, to break the silence that had started feeling awkward. “I’ve never heard it before.” She bit into another cracker.

His mouth twitched. “It’s Lebanese.”

“Oh, you don’t have an accent.”

“Nope. My mom’s American, my dad moved here as a kid. I guess he just wanted to pay homage to his roots with a Lebanese name.”

“Have you been to Lebanon before?”

“A couple times. My parents used to visit regularly. After I enlisted, my brother took more trips there than I did.”

Interest curved her brow. “Where’s your brother now?”

He glanced away. When his gaze returned to her, it was heavy and full of hate. “My brother, Zain, was kidnapped by terrorists two years ago. He’s presumed dead, but...”

The mushy cracker thickened in her throat and compassion filled her heart. That explained Rami’s stoic demeanor and perpetual angry expression. Guilt flipped her stomach. “I’m so sorry. Here you are rescuing me when you have someone missing.”

Darkness flashed across his face. “I’d do anything to find him. I tried for over a year and then I had to come back to reality. I ran out of funds, resources, and comrades to help.” He stretched his arms over his head. “Enough about that. I’m glad we found you, and I don’t regret taking the job for a minute. Feel better?” He nodded at the cracker in her hand.

She polished it off and forced a smile. Her questions had clearly opened a wound that he’d wanted to keep concealed, but now she knew something about her dark savior. “Yes. Thank you.” She put the sleeve of crackers on the nightstand. “I’m glad you suggested I eat.”

His elbow was propped on the arm of the chair and two fingers were pressed to his temple as he stared at her. “When you attacked me with the nail,” he said. “Was that the first time you fought back?”

She blinked in rapid succession. Her chin quivered as memories washed over her.

“Sorry,” he blurted. “You don’t have to answer that,” he said harshly, as if chastising himself.

She dropped her gaze to her lap and rubbed her thighs. The cotton pants were soft beneath her hands. Nervousness made her want to crawl under the blankets and disappear.

Did he really think she hadn’t tried to escape? “I fought them a couple of times. More so in the beginning.” Her voice sounded distant to her own ears.

She kept her focus on the plaid joggers. “The first time, I used a beer bottle and hit the guy in the head. That was when I woke up in the van, shortly after they took me. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much but make him mad. He hit me... then the woman did. I—I blacked out. When I woke up it was dark. They must have swapped vehicles because I was in a trunk.”

She wet her lips and chanced a glance at his expression. His square jaw was locked, his mouth a straight line. There was murder in his eyes.

She gulped. “I tried again. I’m not sure where we were but it was before they took me to the camper. They let me go to the bathroom in a bush at the side of the road. Marty, the woman, was with me.” She practically whispered the words, as if saying them too loudly would bring the past back to life. “I tried to run, and she tackled me. Hit me a few times in the face and gave me a bloody nose. That’s when—” Her voice broke, and she pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead.

Her heart raced and her palms sweated. Waves of memories assaulted her, beat her mind like a tsunami against a sandy beach. “I can’t,” she said with a gasp.

Warm arms wrapped around her, lifting her from the bed. Rami took her spot on the mattress and settled her on his lap. Embarrassment made her want to push him away, but god, it felt too good to be held. To finally feel protected.

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