Page 81 of Hunted, Season Three

Wonder if my engagement ring could double as a weapon or a tool.

My thumb immediately goes to graze the band only to touch nothing.

They took my ring?!

They took my fucking ring?!

“It’s not a heated horse stable,” Curtis informs on a small shiver, interrupting my mental outrage.“That’s bad for the horses.”He defeatedly rests his arms on the edge followed swiftly by his chin on top of them.“I’d know.I grew up with them.”His head tilts just the slightest.“I always wanted some of our own but Beverly…”

Whatever the end of the sentence is dies in his own head.

Although, it’s not hard to figure out.

She controls him the way Brad controlled me.

We’re possessions.

Not people.

“Thirsty?”quietly leaves Curtis prior to him revealing a bottle of water.“I heard the pharmacist tell Beverly that his new knock out formula would leave you with a really bad case of dry mouth, which she believed worked in her favor.You’d need water, and she’d have the perfect opportunity to begin drugging you like normal.”The clear object is extended in my direction.“That’s why I got you a fresh – completely sealed bottle – from the mercs supplies.They didn’t even notice.It means you’re gonna have to fake being drowsy.”He dangles it a little more playfully.“If I had to venture a guess, I’d say you remember how.”

I wanna smile.

Reminisce.

Thank him for what he’s done for me in the past and is currently trying to do for me now.

I wanna put these in the “good human” column yet can’t deny that that would be an oversell.

Good humans don’t help captors kidnap or keep victims…especially not pregnant ones.

“Drop it,” I command in a hushed tone, grateful when it’s immediately done.“Back.”

Curtis eagerly nods and retreats.

Gives me the space I need to carefully crawl closer to grab the supplies waiting for me in what I imagine from her yelling was meant to only be a temporary cell.

From a safe distance he watches me collect and scurry away to the furthest wall before resuming his previous beside the bars position.“Because I helped you escape once,” he begins in a whisper, voice shaking in sadness and fear alike, “just know that she’ll be watching me harder to make sure that I don’t do that again…”

An undeniable knot of tears and dread begins to grow in my throat.

“But please remember that just because I can’t save myself, Bunny, doesn’t mean I have to harm you.”

“Preposterous!” bellows Beverly upon her reentering of the space prompting Curtis to cower.“Utterly!Preposterous!”

The Devil does wear Prada.

And Fendi.

And Cartier.

And Valentino.

And every other high dollar label or haute fashion designer she wants to use to help remind the outside world that she’s better than them.

Wealthier.

More powerful.

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