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He wanted to tell her she would be fine. That they wouldn’t hurt her again. But the fairy tales were over. The time to face the music was coming.
“Listen, Cat. You’re right, they will try to use us against each other. And when they do, I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
“But what can you do?”
“You let me worry about that. I just want you to fight as hard as you can and know that we’ll figure a way out of this for you. Okay?”
“But what about you? How are you going to get out?”
“Don’t you worry about me. Can you come closer?”
“Yes.”
He heard some soft shuffling and knew she’d scooted as close to his side of the wall as she could get.
“Put your ear against the wall.”
“Okay. I’m here.” She sounded both breathless and nervous.
“Here’s what I want you to do.”
He kept his voice low. They might be able to pick up a word here or there, but the mic shouldn’t be strong enough to detect every word. The things he shared were a blend of moves he’d told his sisters to help them protect themselves and some other methods he’d learned in the military.
“But what…”
“Hold on. There’s more. If they ask what I’ve told you, tell them I haven’t told you anything yet, but you’re sure you can get what they want from me.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
“I know you don’t, but tell them you know you can make me talk. Tell them you’ve created a bond with me and to give you a chance to find out what they want to know.”
“To buy us some time.”
She was catching on.
“Yes.”
“Will they believe me?”
“You’re an actress. You can make people believe anything you want. Hey,” he added with a smile in his voice, “you’ve got a part of me believing there really is a Caldoria.”
She didn’t laugh as he had hoped she would. Instead, she said something that broke his heart. “I’m scared, Lion.”
“I know you are, but there’s no shame in being afraid. Fear gives you the edge you need to survive. And you will survive this. I promise you.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“Because you’re strong, Cat. Stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Yes, I do. When people tell stories, they give a little of themselves in each one. I’ve been sitting here day and night learning the real you. You’re an incredibly brave and strong woman. You’ve got a light inside you that no one can extinguish. You were meant for greater things than this, Cat. You were created for a purpose, and it isn’t to die in a cold, filthy prison in Syria. You’ve got a long life ahead of you. Trust me on this.”
“You’re not afraid?”
Yeah, he was, but mostly for her. He’d faced death more times than he could count. And he’d know
n fear lots of times, but letting it stop him from doing his job had never been an option.