Page 78 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

It’s time for me to drop my investigation. He makes me promise I will do so. All I have to do is stop asking questions.

I lie through my teeth. Can he tell? Do the tears make me seem more sincere?

Obviously, if I don’t get out of here, I’ll not be able to betray my promises. I’m not convinced he’s going to let me go even though he talks about it.

Does he think I’ll take Edmund’s place at the warehouse? He won’t be let back on the job after what we’ve found, recorded, and have wrapped up and waiting for the right time to deliver to Warren.

Come on, Sloane, don’t let the fire show. Make him believe you’ve been beaten.

But putting on too much weakness won’t work with him, either. He’s already seen that I’m defiant. Instead, I have to look beaten and torn about it.

We stare at each other for a long bout of silence. I loathe every second of it. He’s one of the hardest men I’ve ever tried to read, so much like Alistair’s high-powered attorney friend. Blank. Unwilling to let go of any kind of control over what I see.

It’s the scariest skill I’ve ever witnessed.

And only one I’ve seen from monsters.

Mikhal stands abruptly, making me jerk back. “Why don’t we get you some food and water? A bathroom break? How does that sound?”

I nod, unable to control my voice.

“Okay, come on. Up. The bathroom is only a few steps away. I’ll be there to guard you.” He waves a hand at me, and I get to my feet.

My legs have fallen asleep, so I wobble to the door where he waits. Mikhal’s hand grasps my elbow firmly without hurting me as the door opens for him. Are they watching? Did he signal them somehow?

A big man stares down at me as we pass. And Mikhal is correct. It’s less than a dozen steps to the bathroom. It’s a single. I’m relieved when he doesn’t come inside with me.

I’m dehydrated. That much is obvious.

My breath is sour, so I rinse my mouth out and scrub my face with some water and my palms.

The door opens behind me, and the big man reveals my captor again. He beckons me with a hand, leading me back to that room. A tray with beans, rice, and a mystery meat is waiting on the bunk I’ve been using, accompanied by a spork.

I’m closed in again, so I take my time, opening the bottle of water left for me to guzzle down a few gulps.

Breathing heavily, the liquid sloshes and turns my stomach. This is going to be an experience…

I sniff the food, cringing before I slowly spoon the beans and rice in my mouth. They’re bland, but that’s probably better. The mystery meat, however, has something that makes me gag merely from the scent.

I eat what I can and put the plate on the other bunk. Sipping the water bottle until it’s half empty, my stomach churns.

When I feel it coming back up, there’s nothing to puke into except to hover over that gross plate and retch. Small chunks come up, and it doesn’t overflow the edges. Thank God.

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I scramble back to my bunk and bend over my knees.

It takes a count to ten for the door to open. Mikhal walks in, and someone follows behind him to remove the plate.

My captor crouches in front of me. He examines my face. The furrow of his brow as he works out whatever he’s looking for is the first genuine emotion I’ve seen from him. Curiosity.

That’s never ended well for me.

I just try to keep breathing, to not puke on Mikhal because that won’t help me at all. One roll of nausea has me closing my eyes and slowing my breath. It takes a new count to fifteen before I open them to Mikhal’s rich brown eyes. They’re pretty and surrounded by long lashes when he’s not threatening everything I love.

He smiles at me, and it honestly has my heart freaking the fuck out. Mikhal pats my knee and leaves me with only the bindings on my wrists.

Once I have control of my limbs again, I’m on my feet and searching the room. One full wall is rock. Thick and cold, like the floor. A cave. Right. No windows out.

I look over both bunks since they’re the only furniture in the room and don’t find anything useful. He’s left me with two bare bunks. Not even a pillow or sheet. Not that I should expect comfort.

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