The Bodyguard (Hosie)

Chapter 16

Josie's body was aching when she woke up. Being bound all night made her shoulder and arm muscles sore and even though her bodyguard was keeping her warm from behind, the cold had attacked her stiff legs.

"Things getting real cozy back here."

Josie was taken aback by a pair of worn out trekking shoes came to a stop in front of her face. Her eyes followed up the dirty green pant legs and met with a mobile phone in the hands of her captor.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Taking a picture."

Josie blinked in confusion. "Why?"

"Have to prove I got you." Maya clucked in disgust. "There's no trust these days."

Falling silent, Josie contemplated the woman. She didn't seem to be as scary as she had thought at first. But it was dangerous to assume too much about her. A groan from behind distracted her from those thoughts. Hope was only just waking up which struck her as strange. Her bodyguard was usually alert and her conversation with Maya should have woken her up from the start.

"Hope?" Josie tried to turn. An overly warm hand covered her arm and Josie was alarmed. "Hope, you feel hot."

Her bodyguard groaned again as her eyes opened slowly. "I have a headache," she moaned.

"Oh no, do you have a fever?"

Maya came forward and pressed a hand on Hope's face. "Fuck. You're sick."

Hope coughed in reply and tried to sit up. Maya helped and leaned her against the wall. "Thanks," Hope croaked.

"Fucking piece of shit."

"I'm sorry," said Hope.

"Don't fucking apologize." Maya stepped away after palming Hope's neck and made a call to someone. "Get me some meds for fever before you come back."

"I'll be okay after some rest," said Hope. "It was probably too cold last night."

"Still stubborn like a loyal dog," said Maya, making it sound like an undesirable quality. "You better not die on my hands and mess up my plans."

"I won't die."

Josie stared, open mouthed at the exchange between their captor and her bodyguard. Did she just witness an old lovers' quarrel? There was definitely a lot of history lurking under the surface tension and she did not like it much. She wasn't going to say anything right now but once they were left alone again, her bodyguard was in for a grilling.

Growing accustomed to the restraint on her wrists and ankles, Josie learnt how to work with her fists on the ground and managed to push herself to Hope's side after Maya went back to the other side of the shed.

"Lean on me and rest," she said to her bodyguard.

Hope lifted her head from her arms and smiled at her. "You're going to be really sore if I do that."

"But you got a fever because you were keeping me warm."

"I got a fever because it was cold. It's not your fault." Hope patted her shoulder. "Are your arms sore?" she asked.

Josie nodded. "Do you think you can ask her to untie my hands?"

"I don't think I can ask her to do anything," Hope replied while positioning herself to massage Josie's arms.

"But she's your ex. You know each other."

"She owes me one but I won't call for the favor yet."