Chapter Six

Nancy felt as if she was drowning as she tried to climb her way back to consciousness. Darkness seemed content to keep her cocooned in its hold, and while she longed to stay that way, a voice was telling her it was wrong. She needed to wake up, no matter how difficult it may be.

Letting out a soft groan, her eyes fluttered open only to close again as bright light assaulted her eyes. She tried to move her hands to block away the intrusive light, but they refused to cooperate. Thinking it was just her muscles refusing to listen to her brain, she tried again only to be met with the same result. It then occurred to her that it wasn't any fault of her own—something soft was fastened around each of her wrists.

She turned her head slightly and opened her eyes, an unfamiliar room coming into focus as she blinked groggily.

Where am I?

Everything suddenly came crashing back—Max kidnapping her, the flight to San Diego, Randy's leering face, Max leaving her, Randy bringing her up to the room before drugging her. Letting out a gasp, Nancy saw she was lying in a bed, her hands and feet strapped down. She began pulling at her restraints, not surprised when they barely budged.

Okay, you have to calm down, Nancy. There's a way out of this—you just have to get a grip and figure it out!

Wiggling up as far as she could, Nancy maneuvered the blanket away from her chest so she could look at what was holding her prisoner. Medical restraints—wool along the inside of the cuff, leather on the outside, and a large buckle that adjusted the tightness. She'd gotten out of them before. She just had to have patience and not panic.

"Easier said than done," Nancy muttered. But she took a deep breath anyway and began testing each of them, feeling them give just a bit. "Great. At this rate, I'll get myself free in a couple of days or so."

Letting out a sigh, Nancy fell back against her pillows, glaring up at the ceiling. That kind of negative thinking wasn't going to get her anywhere. But why shouldn't she be negative? After all, the last twenty-four hours had been one frustrating event after another. Not one single thing had gone her way so it didn't leave her feeling too optimistic at the moment.

Nancy was broken out of her depressing thoughts as a key scraped up against the lock. She quickly closed her eyes, trying to even out her breathing, wanting the unwelcomed visitor to think she was sleeping. Maybe they would just leave her alone if she pretended to be asleep all day.

Unfortunately, her stomach betrayed her as the aroma of bacon and eggs filled the room. Opening her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar man walk into the room, holding a tray filled with food, along with a cup of coffee and orange juice. He was of average height with light brown hair that curled at his temples, making him look young. He wore blue jeans with a light blue linen shirt and dark frames surrounded his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said softly as he set the tray down on the bedside table to her left. "I didn't know if you were awake or not."

Nancy didn't say anything as she stared back at him.

"My name is Travis. I brought you some breakfast, if you would like to eat."

"I think that's going to be a little difficult." Nancy pulled against the restraints. "It's a little hard for me to do much of anything right now."

"Oh." Travis frowned as he glanced at her thoughtfully. "I'm afraid I've been instructed not to release you, but I can free one of your hands in order for you to eat."

"Instructed by whom?"

"My boss."

"Randy is your boss?"

Travis nodded as he lifted Nancy up and propped the pillows behind her back so she was sitting up. Then taking the tray, he set it across her lap. "Are you left handed or right handed?"

"Right." Nancy's eyes followed Travis as he walked around to the other side of the bed and released her right hand. She let out a soft sigh as she felt instant relief in her wrist, flexing it as she tried to work the circulation back. "Thank you."

"I should warn you if you try to do anything, I will have to drug you again." He waited until Nancy nodded before flashing a shy smile. "I hope you don't mind if I sit in here and wait for you to finish your breakfast."

"I'm thinking I don't have a choice either way."

"No."

Nancy picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. "Have a seat then."

Travis walked across the room and took a seat in the chair next to the window. For the first few minutes, Nancy watched with slight amusement as he shifted in the chair, darting his eyes around the room as he tried not to stare at her as she ate. She got the feeling he wasn't entirely too happy with babysitting her.

"How long have you worked for Randy?"

Travis looked like a deer caught in headlights at the sound of her voice. "What? Oh, six months or so."

"Why did you start working with him?"

"I needed the money and he pays very well. I'm trying to pay back student loans and he's helping me do that."

"You mean he's actually capable of doing something nice?" Nancy rolled her eyes as she washed a piece of toast down with the orange juice.

Travis frowned. "He's not a bad person."

"I think you and I would have to disagree with that statement, considering he has me as a prisoner at the moment." Nancy frowned at Travis. "Doesn't it bother you to see me like this?"

"A little bit."

"Then why aren't you calling the police?"

"Because I know what Mr. Wolfe is capable of."

"I thought you said he wasn't a bad person."

"He's not…unless you betray him." He smiled at Nancy grimly. "And I have no plans to betray him."

Nancy let out a sigh as she put down her fork, her stomach content. She didn't miss the slight hesitation to his voice as he spoke about Randy. It was clear that Travis was afraid of him, and Nancy couldn't fault him for that considering her past experience with Randy. But maybe—just maybe—there was some way she could get through to Travis, make him see what Randy was doing was wrong.

"How was your breakfast?" Travis asked, watching her carefully.

"It was good," Nancy admitted. "But I am curious about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you feeding me? I thought I was a prisoner and if I'm going by their usual diet, I should be getting nothing but water and stale bread once a day. Not a meal like this."

Travis shrugged as he stood up and moved the tray away from her lap. "It was Mr. Wolfe's orders. He said you were to be fed and kept healthy. I don't know anything other than that."

"So, you have no idea what he has planned for me?"

"Sorry. Just because I happen to work for him doesn't mean he tells me everything." He gently took Nancy's hand and fastened it back into the leather cuff. "I know this must be very hard for you and I really don't want to see you get hurt. You seem like a nice enough woman."

"Then why are you helping him do this? Why can't you help me?"

"I told you why. Your life is not the only one at stake here, Nancy. If I refuse to do what Mr. Wolfe asks of me, then he'll kill me as well."

Nancy shook her head as she stared at Travis, her eyes pleading. "I can help you, Travis. I can help you get away from him. I can make sure that he never finds you, if that's what you're afraid of."

"Now, now, blue eyes. There's no point in promising Travis something you can't deliver on." Randy sauntered into the bedroom, giving Nancy a chilling smile. "Especially since you have no chance of getting out of here alive. And really, what is it you think you can do chained to a bed?"

Travis jumped away from Nancy's bed, gathering the tray in his hands. "I-I wasn't going to do anything, Mr. Wolfe."

"I know you weren't, Travis." Randy kept his gaze on Nancy, refusing to look at the younger man. "You can leave us now."

"Yes, sir." With an apologetic glance at Nancy, Travis scurried out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"I trust you slept well," Randy said, sitting on the edge of Nancy's bed.

Nancy tried not to flinch as he touched her leg. "No thanks to you." She pulled against the restraints. "Is all of this really necessary?"

"Only the best for you, blue eyes."

"Stop calling me that."

"Why?" He trailed his hand along her leg, smiling as she shivered under his touch. "Does it remind you of our time together? You haven't changed much—perhaps gotten even more beautiful. I didn't think that was possible."

Nancy bit her bottom lip, refusing to allow herself to be baited by him.

"You don't agree with me?"

"What do you want, Randy?"

"You." His green eyes flashed with hunger as his gaze traveled the length of her body before coming to rest on her face. "I only want you, blue eyes."

Nancy shook her head in disgust. "You seriously went to all this trouble just to get a girl? And then knowing that she wouldn't give you the time of day, you had to tie her to a bed. That just makes you pathetic."

Randy let out a low growl. Before Nancy could comprehend what was about to happen, he was leaning over her, his hand gripping her throat. "Would you care to repeat that?"

"Get your hand away from my throat and I will."

"This is why I couldn't wait to find you, Nancy." He leaned forward until he was only inches from her face, his grip remaining on her throat. He didn't blink as he stared down at her. "You're the only one brave enough to challenge me. No one here has the nerve to talk back to me."

"Maybe because they refuse to see what a psychotic ass you are."

Randy ignored her. "Are you afraid of me, Nancy?"

"No," Nancy lied, keeping her eyes on his.

"Yes, you are. I can feel your pulse beneath my hand." He leaned closer until his mouth was beside her ear. "If you try to talk Travis into helping you again, I'll kill him and make you watch as I do it. Do you want that?"

Icy fear gripped her heart as she shook her head. She didn't care what happened to her at this point, but she would not let someone else get killed because of something she had done. It didn't matter if they were working for Randy or not. Besides, she found herself liking Travis, even though she'd only spoken to him for a short time.

"I can't hear you, blue eyes."

"No," she whispered. "I won't say anything else to him about it."

"Good girl. I'm glad we understand each other." He lifted his head, brushing his lips against her jawbone until he reached her mouth. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut our visit short, blue eyes. I have a very important charity function to attend tonight." He pressed his lips against hers. "Can I trust you to behave yourself?"

Nancy resisted every urge to turn her head away from him, knowing it would only make him angry. "Yes…"

Randy kissed her again, tugging gently at her bottom lip with his teeth. "I don't think I can. Who's to say you won't try anything while I'm gone?"

"I won't. I promise."

"But I need to be sure, Nancy."

Nancy shuddered beneath him. "What are you going to do?"

"What would you like me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything, Randy. I won't try anything, I swear."

Lifting himself up, Randy stared down at her before slowly smiling. "All right, Nancy. I'm going to give you a chance."

Nancy let out a small sigh of relief as he pushed himself away from her, feeling herself relax now that he wasn't on her. She didn't realize how afraid she'd been that he would try something until he'd moved away. She watched as he went over to the closet and walked inside, emerging a few moments later holding a silk scarf.

"What are you doing?" Nancy asked as he slowly made his way back towards her.

"I'm giving you a chance, blue eyes." Randy frowned as he tilted his head to the side. "You didn't think I was about to trust you completely, did you? I know you told me you wouldn't ask Travis for help again, but I can't take that chance."

Nancy tried to move away as he pulled the fabric taut in his hands. "Randy, please…"

"It's either this or I keep you drugged."

The last thing Nancy wanted was to be drugged again. "No drugs."

"I didn't think so. Lift your head." Randy put the scarf into her mouth before tying it tightly behind her head. "And just in case you're wondering about eating, you will get another meal when I return tonight. I wouldn't want you to tempt fate, after all."

Nancy grunted angrily through the gag as Randy walked away from her to the door.

"No need for an attitude, blue eyes. I would suggest you get some more sleep. I hear it makes the day pass by quicker."

With that, he turned off the light and closed the door behind him.

Sorry for not updating sooner, but I've been dealing with a hurricane all this week. We got a lot of rain, wind, tornado warnings, and power outages, but luckily, no damage. Ah, the perils of living on the Gulf Coast.

Because of all of that, this is a shorter chapter. I had to end it here though or it would have gone on forever—and I don't like endless chapters.

Now, to thank my faithful readers and reviewers: MCR-1993, Angelvie S, Michelle Gallichio, George99, SC15, Alicia Hardy, and lys. I appreciate your support so much!

I apologize for any mistakes I may have missed!

And not to worry about Max…he'll ride to the rescue in the next chapter. (And no, that doesn't mean the story ends there!)

Until next time!