Page 49 of Hidden Falls

Lei stumbled inside and made her way to one of the queen beds as Cruz addressed Harry in a hushed voice. “We have a lot to fill you in on. Lei’s bushed, though. Let’s talk in the lobby.” He led Harry out.

As Lei burrowed under the covers, still in her street clothes, she felt nothing but gratitude.

She’d be lost on this case, and in dealing with Harry, without Cruz.

23

DAY FOUR

Malia

I woke up to the feeling of a cold cloth on my forehead and a thumping headache. My eyes felt gummed shut, but I pried them open with a moan. “Ow.”

“Shh, just rest.” Noella said.

I removed the cloth from my forehead; there were ice cubes inside that shifted around. Those darn things were so cold they hurt more than the goose egg hiding in my hair. I batted away Noella’s hand as she tried to put the ice back. “That hurts.”

“It’ll bring down the swelling.”

I submitted reluctantly. Unbelievably, my stomach rumbled—I hadn’t eaten in a very long time. Yeah, I couldn’t partake at that farce of a family dinner, but I needed food if I was going to execute my plan of escape. “Can you get me something to eat?” I blinked up at Noella, looking as pitiful as I could. “Please?”

“He said you weren’t to have dinner.” Noella bit her lip, clearly conflicted.

“And I’m pretty sure he didn’t want me clocked on the head with a gun either,” I replied. “Someone’s going to be in trouble when I tell.”

Noella’s plump lips thinned in annoyance. “Okay. But you stay here. And leave that ice pack on.”

She rose from the chair she’d been in beside my bed and headed for the door, shutting it quietly behind her. Outside in the hall, I heard a murmur of voices. Was a guard posted there now?

I’d probably lost my privileges of roaming the whole top floor of the house after making a run for it.

My eyes prickled and stung; my nose filled. A hoarse sob escaped my throat. “I just want to go home!”

I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow, ignoring my sore head as I let out the pain in my heart, sobbing.

I missed Mom, Dad, and Kylie. I missed Blake. I even missed school.

Yeah, I hadn’t been kidnapped by a human trafficker and sold to a brothel; this whole thing could be worse. But it sure as heck looked like I’d been kidnapped by my biological family, and there was something shady about my father or he wouldn’t be in a house surrounded by armed guards.

I cried until I felt empty and wrung out. I slowed to a hiccupping halt, wiped my eyes on the pillowcase, and rolled back over.

“Are you done?” The man I’d met at dinner was sitting right beside me in the chair where Noella had been. A tray rested on his knees with one of those covered plates on it.

I sat up and snatched the white linen napkin off the tray. I wiped my eyes again and honked my nose vigorously. “Now I’m done.”

“Noella said you were hungry.” His eyes were kind. His voice was soft.

“She also said you told everyone I could go to bed without dinner.”

“I’m the boss. I get to change my mind.” His smile was barely a twitch of the lips, but I recognized his mouth—I saw it in the mirror every morning when I brushed my teeth.

The man transferred the tray to my lap, then sat back and folded his hands.

I wanted to refuse it, to knock the tray into his face—but I remembered my plan:take care of myself so I can stay strong. Look for my chance to escape.

“I’m very hungry. Thank you.” I took the cover off the plate of food that had been placed before me at that long, fancy dining table. Someone had heated it up; the rice, meat, and tortillas smelled delicious. Without looking at him, I dug in.

“You must have questions,” he said eventually. “I’ve decided to answer them.”

---