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Forrest should know I was missing by now. What was he doing? Did he miss me? I shouldn’t be thinking about him because that only made me feel worse. I didn’t want to acknowledge that I might not see him again.

I reined in my emotion and asked, “You want to shower first?”

“I guess.” She shrugged. “After that, I’m going to read a fucking book about how to kill kidnappers.” She didn’t keep her voice down as she headed to the bathroom and slammed the door.

I smirked at her sarcasm because there was no such book on the shelf.

While Olivia showered, I grabbed a magazineand pretended to read while a plan to escape formed in my head. They would eventually take us out of the room, so I had to look for a second escape route other than the main entrance. Was there a fire alarm I could pull? That would alert the fire department, wouldn’t it?

When it was my turn to shower, I didn’t spend nearly as much time as I normally would. Water soothed me, but I didn’t know if there were cameras in the bathroom too. So I was quick about it, facing the blank wall whenever I could. As long as I could calm myself and escape safely, they could look at my ass.

Olivia and I sat side by side on the couch, flipping through fashion magazines while wondering what was happening to us.

The sound at the door drew our attention away from the magazines. Bo entered, pushing a cart of food to the coffee table.

“Eat and go to bed,” he ordered. “Don’t worry, there’s no poison in here. We need you healthy.”

Why did he sound like a rabid fox trying to be a harmless bunny?

He probably saw my thoughts because he said, “If you don’t eat it, wewillcome in here and shove it down your throat. You want that?”

We gaped at him. He didn’t wait for an answer, leaving the room and locking the door.

Olivia and I stared at the roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks in a large porcelain bowl. They smelled so good, and my mouth watered looking at the side dishes of string beans, red peppers, and broccoli. There were two garden salads with several bottles of dressing.A plate of brownies and cookies completed the meal.

I was thirsty, but didn’t know if the bottles of water, juices, and sodas were safe to drink. There were also two cups of tea, but no coffee. Not that I drank coffee for dinner, but the setup told me someone meticulously planned out this meal.

Our stomachs growled at the same time.

“I’m hungry,” Olivia said, took a fork and filled up a plate with food. “If I’m going to die, I’m going to die on a full stomach. Besides, pristine condition, right?”

I was hungry too, but worry gripped me. Filling up my plates, I ate the salad. I got some salad dressing on my arm and went to the bathroom to wash it off. The water fromthe faucet gleamed in the light, calling me. I didn’t know why the water made me think of Forrest. The photo shoot I’ddone of him at the lake with the waterfall backdrop was one of the most tranquil places I’d ever visited. His presence had made it more special for me.

It made me realize how much I’d yearned for him, but was too afraid to admit it. It was always easier to push your issues aside until that issue stood in front of your face, demanding you respond.

How was he doing? Was he sleeping all right? Was he thinking of me?

My heart tightened, and I placed a hand over it, acknowledging the truth—I was in love with Forrest. When he brought home Chococat, that did it for me. The other gestures mattered too, but that sealed the deal. Chococat had linked us together during a traumatic moment in time, and when he gave me that adorable plush, he was offering me a way to heal myself. He probably didn’t know the depth of his gesture, but I knew, and my heart swelled profoundly.

I hoped the good luck charm found its way to him. I hoped it protected him and removed all obstacles in his way. He was a man with vision, and the world needed to see his brilliance. Why was I thinking as though I wouldn’t see him again? I should have taken the amulet and placed it in my purse. Maybe it would’ve shown me a way out of this danger.

Tears blurred my eyes, and I couldn’t keep my emotions in check. I gripped the edge of the sink as my body shook from the release. I didn’t care if those bastards were watching me. There was nothing new about a woman crying. All the women before probably wept in the bathroom too.

Despite the chaos, I also felt hope. I wanted more time with Forrest to see where this relationship could go. I gathered myself and splashed cold water on my face, shifting my mindset as best Icould.

Though I was hungry, I could live a day without food. I drank more water from the faucet, filling my stomach, and returned to the couch. Grabbing my fork, I moved my food around to make it appear like I’d eaten a lot.

After we finished dinner, we watched an old soap opera. I wanted to see the news, but there was no news channel. These criminals probably blocked them out so we wouldn’t see our faces on the screen as missing persons.

After a moment, theroom chilled. Olivia giggled at a sad scene in the show about a sudden death of a girl’s pet.

“Are you okay?” I asked, not understanding the humor.

Sheyawned. “Yeah. Just tired. I’m going to bed.”

The clock on the table read ten in the evening. The room had gotten colder from the increased air conditioner. I slid into bed too, but noticed a strange smell. It had a sweet aroma like an herb. “Do you smell that?”

Olivia answered with a snore. My body felt relaxed, too relaxed. I didn’t want to fall asleep. What if something happened to me or Olivia while I was unconscious? Though I tried my best to stay awake, my body eventually succumbed to the heavy drowsiness.