attacker, unless it was the fear of being given to someone much worse. However, no matter which way she came at it, it wasn't just self-centered. She knew that there was something inside her, something that cried out for him.
She could understand it, she thought, the ritual of saying goodbye as if they would of course see each other again in a few hours. At the very least, it had prevented her from breaking down like she almost had.
Emily wiped her tears away furiously.
I should be glad he's gone, she thought mutinously, but she couldn't hold it up for very long. Instead, as she looked through the barred windows, she saw the sun rising, bathing the town outside with a strangely benevolent golden light.
Keep him safe, she prayed. She didn't know who she was praying to, but in the end, she decided that it didn't matter as long as he stayed safe.
***
In his car on the way to the Razorback's stronghold, Adnan found it beyond difficult to keep his head where it needed to be. No matter what, his thoughts turned to Emily and her clear gray eyes, looking up at him as if terrified.
I will come back to you, he swore silently. Nothing will keep me from you.
Roja frowned at him.
“If you cannot stay focused, we should not do this at all,” he growled. He was dressed up as a bodyguard, and his duty was solely to protect Adnan in this raid. He triple checked the gun at his side, one of many that he kept on himself at all times.
“My focus is just fine,” Adnan said shortly, but then he likely gave the lie to that statement when he hesitated. “The woman in the hotel room…If I do not return, or even if I do not return right away…find out who she is and get her home.”
Roja snorted. “Do it yourself if you are so worried. Get your mind off her.”
Adnan knew that his friend was right. Going into a situation as fraught as this one with his mind elsewhere would be dangerous not only for himself but for everyone around him. Still, he could not stop himself from thinking one last time of Emily. Her sorrow, her passion, the sweetness of her mouth and the heat of her desire.
Soon, he promised, and then the car stopped.
Chapter Eight
Emily fell asleep at some point. She hadn't stayed in bed. It felt too lonely to be in the place where he had given her such pleasure, too frightening to be there alone as the shadows shortened then lengthened again as morning moved into afternoon.
Instead, she moved to the living room, trying to read and failing utterly. She knew she should eat, but the moment she thought about food, her belly rebelled. Instead, Emily curled up on the couch, her fingers wishing that she had her guitar in front of her. At least if she could make music, she would have some company in the quiet room.
Instead, she simply sat and tried to keep her mind off of Adnan and what he was doing, what danger he could possibly be in where he needed a gun.
She would never have thought that she would be able to sleep in this condition, but somehow, between a frantic worry that ate at her mind and a fear that threatened to drive her mad, she did.
She awoke to find the hotel room bathed in darkness and the sound of boisterous men in the hall.
That's a surprise, she thought, reaching to turn on the light. It's been close to silence since I’ve been here.
The noise got louder, and then before she could figure out how she wanted to react, the door slammed open. For a moment, she was stiff with terror, but when she realized that two men had Adnan's arms around their shoulders and his bulk slung between them, she lost all caution.
“Oh my god, Adnan,” she cried, rushing to him. Surely he was too limp. Had he been hurt?
“Ah, the little beauty!” he said, and there was a slurring to his words that made her pull back.
“Put him on the couch,” one of the men said shortly. “He's too damn heavy to carry further.”
For some reason, Adnan seemed to think that that was hilarious, protesting that he could walk. When he
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