Page 140 of Blake

He couldn’t have been more than twenty-five.

Sandy hair, narrow face, and a nervous expression that didn’t quite match the pistol on his hip.

“I have your food.” He placed the tray on the table.

Devon looked at the tray. There was a sandwich and a bottle of water.

“Can you take these off?” She looked at the young man.

His gaze dropped to her wrists. “I’m not supposed to.”

“How am I supposed to eat?”

“Figure it out,” he muttered, turning toward the door.

“Wait!”

The guard stopped, and Devon forced herself to sound calmer than she felt.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

He frowned. “There’s a bucket.”

She looked toward the corner. “Come on. You really don’t expect me to have to use that, do you?”

“Not my call.” He reached for the door.

“Please.”

Something in her voice made him hesitate.

Devon swallowed. “I’ve been dizzy since they brought me here. My head hurts, and I feel sick. I just need a bathroom. Just for a couple of minutes. I’ll be fast, I promise.”

The young man studied her, and for a moment, she thought he was going to agree. Then he shook his head.

“Sorry.”

He walked out the door.

The lock turned, and it was all she could do to keep from crying. But she kept her composure, forcing herself not to give up.

The kid may not have let her out of the room, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t given her something she could use. He was young. Uncomfortable. And unlike Victor, he didn’t seem to enjoy frightening her.

He might prove useful.

She moved toward the table and awkwardly picked up the water bottle. Her hands shook as she twisted the cap. Relief made itself known when there was noticeable resistance, a sign the bottle was new.

Devon brought the rim to her lips and drank slowly, forcing herself not to gulp. Then she examined the sandwich.

Her stomach turned at the thought of eating, but she forced down a few bites, knowing she needed her strength.

A muffled thump sounded somewhere beyond the wall.

Devon stopped chewing. Voices followed. Two males. She could barely make out anything being said.

One complained loudly enough, she could hear something about them being stuck upstairs. The other man mentioned a delivery.

She listened until their voices faded.