Both thumbs were bleeding at the edge of the nail by the time she gave up. She’d managed to untwist one of the wires halfway down but couldn’t finish. She was too nauseous and weak.

Being careful to bend the part that was now sticking out so it wouldn’t poke through, she replaced the mattress. She hoped if she slept for a few hours her morning sickness would be gone when she woke up. But she wasn’t overly optimistic, doubted it would go away if she didn’t eat.

She’d barely closed her eyes when she heard the telltale rustle on the other side of the door.

“Hello?” She rolled off the cot, nearly tripping in her haste to reach the slot as it opened.

“Give me the tray.”

Her captor had spoken, but she didn’t recognize his voice, which was odd. For someone willing to risk a lengthy prison sentence by abducting her, she felt they should have some shared history—a vendetta between them like the one she’d had with Jasper. It was the man she’d seen before, however. She could tell because he was wearing the same camouflage pants and black T-shirt.

“Now,” he barked. “Or you’ll skip dinner.”

She grabbed the tray that held the seeds from her apple and slid it through the opening.

He responded by giving her a bottle of water and a plastic bowl of oatmeal.

“This looks more like breakfast. Is it morning?”

“It’s nighttime, for your information. But this isn’t fucking McDonald’s.”

“How am I supposed to know what time it is?”

“You don’t need to know. You just eat what I give you.”

“Fine. Okay. No problem.” For the sake of keeping her hands free and preserving the meal, she put everything on her bed before rushing back to the opening. “Will you tell me what I’m doing here?” she asked. “What I can expect? Is this a ransom situation?”

He didn’t answer.

“Who are you?”

He gave her a banana, which she eagerly accepted. She was hungry enough to eat almost anything, but she had no idea what the oatmeal would taste like and figured fruit could only make it better.

Although he started to close the slot, she put her fingers in the way—and prayed he wouldn’t simply crush them. “Wait! I’m going to need more water. This isn’t enough. I’m carrying a baby. I have to have enough water.”

When he walked away and returned with another bottle, she took heart. This was the first time she’d been able to improve her situation. “Would it be possible to get another banana?”

“Move your hands or you won’t have any fingers left,” he growled.

She pulled back, and he slammed the covering and rammed the bolt home.

“Bastard,” she whispered as she slid to the floor and twisted the top off her water. Fortunately, she could feel somewhat confident that what she was about to drink was clean, since it had been previously unopened. It turned her stomach to remember the substances Jasper had forced down her throat when he held her captive in that shack. He’d taken such pleasure in her revulsion, in his power over her.