The Meeting Point by Tabitha Rayne Page A

herself off the bed just as the door opened and two women came in.
    â€œI’ve brought the nurse to check you over.” Deborah recognized the voice of the guard who brought breakfast.
    â€œI’ll be fine. I told you, I just need a rest.”
    â€œI’ll be the judge of that, 832,” said a clipped voice that Deborah assumed was the nurse. “We can’t have our biggest asset languishing in bed for weeks on end.”
    She could have reached through the bedclothes to the woman’s skinny little ankles and scratched the flesh off the bone. Her hands twitched.
    â€œIt’s been two hours so far,” said Marcus, and Deborah could hear the scowl.
    â€œI must say, you do look a little drained.” The feet moved around efficiently and Deborah imagined her taking his blood pressure and temperature, feeling his brow and tutting as she tapped the glass device. “And just how are you feeling, 832?”
    Fury seeped through Deborah’s pores once more at the use of a number for her lover.
    â€œWell, I’m exhausted. I would just like to know I could rest for a few days without having any pressure applied to me. Please. I’ve been a good and loyal servant of this farm. I just need some time alone.”
    The nurse seemed to be considering his plea and took a few moments before she answered. “Very well. I shall prescribe one week of bed rest with a sign to be hung outside your door when you don’t want disturbed.”
    Deborah could hear notes being scratched on paper and she could have reached out again to those pretty ankles and kissed the woman’s efficient little feet. A squeal of delight almost broke free, and Deborah clamped her hands to her face to keep it in.
    â€œThank you. It’s all I ask for.”
    â€œYou know we aren’t monsters here, 832. We do like to take care of our investments.”
    And with that, the two women left, pulling the trolley behind them. Deborah’s heart sank when she realized it would still be full of unfinished food.
    â€œExcuse me?” Marcus called out as the door began to close. “You don’t think you could put that sign up right now for a bit, could you?”
    Deborah grinned and hugged herself as best she could in the tight space, trying to avoid getting her hair caught in the bed springs.
    â€œI can’t just magic one out of thin air.” The feet started to retreat again. “I’ll have to get it made up.”
    â€œWait,” Marcus said, hopping off the bed and moving to the door. Deborah rolled her eyes again at how swiftly he’d sprung to the nurse. He must have realized too and checked himself, coughing a little. “Here, I was just writing one.” He passed the bit of paper he’d been toying with just before the women came in. “Can you put it up now, please?”
    â€œI’m sure that would be fine, 832. Now please rest. We will be back in a few hours to check on you.” The door closed and Deborah felt strong hands around her ankles. She was dragged out backward and up into his arms in a second.
    â€œBravo, 832,” she said, kissing him hard. “Bravo.”

 
Chapter 8
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    â€œMy legs feel like there’s lava flowing instead of blood, Angelo.” Mae’s voice was loud and whiny, but Lena was feeling the same. “When can we rest?”
    The three of them had been walking for hours. The sun was high in the sky and their clothes and riches were bundled about their bodies, making the going very slow as they hiked over brittle, heathery scrub. Lena was trying her best not to complain, knowing the further they got away, the safer they’d be, but she was exhausted.
    â€œAngelo.” Lena gave in and slumped into the jagged ground. “I can’t go another step. Please.”
    Finally, he turned and came back toward them. “Look, let’s try to at least get to the outskirts of that forest. I can’t stand