Taking her to the bathroom meant untying her. Even though she promised not to run-and even if she did, he could easily catch her-untying and re-tying her was a hassle.


    But then he considered it. It had been several hours since he''d knocked her out. She probably really did have to go.


    If she ended up peeing in the chair, the smell would be unbearable for him, and even worse for his employer when she arrivedter. It was better to just let her go.


    He squatted down and began to untie the ropes. "You better not try anything funny,” he grumbled. "Or I''ll have to hurt you."


    Amara nodded, letting him work.


    The moment she was on her feet, a wave of pain shot through her body. Her limbs felt like they were about to fall off, and the ces where the ropes had been burned with a raw, stinging pain. The skin was probably broken.


    She stretched her stiff muscles, her voice sweet. "Thank you. Lead the way."


    The man led her outside. They walked for about a hundred yards to a small alleyway. "Go in there," he said. "I''ll turn my back."


    He couldn''t deny that the girl was gorgeous, and he was tempted. But then he remembered who she was-Mr. Everly''s ex-wife. He couldn''t bring himself to disrespect her, so he fought down his urges.


    Amara walked slowly into the alley, her eyes scanning her surroundings.


    It wasn''t so much an alley as a wide, dead-end space, enclosed on three sides by walls. The only way out was the way they hade, where the man was now standing.


    Seeing that he had turned his back, Amara crept further in and squatted down, her hands feeling around in the grass.


    Her first n had been to find something short and sharp-a broken branch, an old knife, anything she could hide in her sleeve and use to attack him when he wasn''t looking.


    But it was winter. The grass was bare, and the ground was clear. There was nothing sharp to be found. There were a few dead branches, but they were too long and thick to be used as weapons.


    Still, the situation wasn''tpletely hopeless. Her second n was still viable. Amara began to prepare.


    After waiting for a while with no sign of movement, the man grew impatient. "Are you done yet?" he called out.


    "No, I... my stomach hurts! It hurts so much!"


    A pained cry came from behind him. The man turned to see Amara curled up on the ground, clutching her stomach. She looked like she was in genuine agony, beads of sweat dotting her forehead.


    He walked over and nudged her with the toe of his boot.


    "Stop faking. Get up. No matter how good your act is, I''m not taking you to a hospital."


    "A hos fears help," Amara "It''s cramps The doctors ca


    gasped, tears welling in her eyes.


    do


    anything for them."


    The man stared at her, his expression souring. "What are you trying to pull?"


    He didn''t really believe her, but


    curled up on the ground like that et


    she didn''t look like she was capable ofing any trouble.


    So what was her game? Was she hoping he''d go buy her some pads?


    The absurd thought crossed his mind and was just as quickly dismissed. What was wrong with him?


    Her cramps weren''t his problem. Even if she died of pain, his employer wouldn''t me him. He didn''t need to get involved.


    With that thought, he roughly pulled Amara to her feet. "Knock it off. Let''s go."