Never again.
I slammed my bound wrists into my middle. This time, there was a pop, and then blessed relief. My hands were free. Tears spilled over my eyelids and down my cheeks.
My gaze traveled in fits and starts around the room. I needed a weapon. That was the only thing that would even the playing field between Garrett and me. He hadn’t had a gun or knife when he entered the room earlier. He clearly thought he had beaten me. He hadn’t.
My eyes caught on the chair. It was so old. If I tried to hit Garrett over the head with it when he came back into the room, it would probably dissolve into pieces without doing any real damage. An idea flashed in my mind.
I looked from the chair to the door and back again. Then my gaze traveled to the bed behind me. I pulled the old, wool blanket off the mattress and moved towards the chair. Laying it on the floor, I tipped the chair over onto the fabric so it was lying on its back.
I took an edge of the blanket and wrapped it around one of the chair’s legs. Carefully, I placed one foot on the chair’s back while my other remained firmly planted on the ground. My body protested each movement in a pattern of sharp pains and dull aches. I ignored it.
I gripped the chair leg as tightly as possible through the fabric and pulled. The wood cracked with a satisfying sound. Splinters fell to the ground. And just as I had hoped, I was left with a jagged piece of wood in my hands.
I stilled, listening to see if Garrett had heard any of my activities and was coming to check on me. I heard nothing but a single muffled voice from below. He was still distracted by his phone call. I let out a sigh of relief.
I lifted the piece of the chair to my face to inspect it more closely. I could work with this. But I could also make it better. I eased myself to the floor, opening my mouth in a silent scream as my muscles cried out in pain.
I inhaled slowly through my nose and out through my mouth, giving my body a chance to calm. But I couldn’t take long, time was running out. I leaned against the wall and brought the chair leg to my side. It had broken off in a jagged point, but I needed to make the point sharper, stronger.
I began filing the piece of wood against the floor. The planks beneath me were rough and worked almost like a nail file. When my palms began to bleed, I tugged the wool blanket closer, wrapped the end of my stake with it, and resumed filing.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed as I worked. I kept my eyes focused on the task at hand and my ears strained for any sound of approaching footsteps. I lifted up the chair leg, studying it. It looked sharp. I tested the point against the palm of my hand and winced. The key would be surprise and enough force.
I braced myself against the wall and pushed myself up. Surveying the room, I decided the best place for me was to the side of the door. Hopefully, Garrett would step into the room before he realized that anything was amiss, and I would have my opening.
I would have one shot, and one only. If I missed, if Garrett fought off my attack…I was as good as dead. I wouldn’t miss. I couldn’t.
I positioned myself beside the door, my back to the wall, and waited. Time seemed to drag on forever. My back screamed. My skull pulsed in a vicious throb. I wanted so badly to give in to the call of sleep. Each time it beckoned, I replayed Garrett’s words in my head. His fists.
Loud footsteps sounded, and I straightened, tightening my grip on the wood in my hands. The whole world slowed as I heard a key in the lock. Blood pounded in my ears. The knob turned.
The door swung open. Garrett stepped through.
I didn’t hesitate. I thrust the stake in an upward motion, catching Garrett in the back, right below his ribs. I used every ounce of strength I possessed, forcing the spike higher. I thought of my mother and everything she had done to fight for me. I thought of the Coles and all they had done to try and protect me. I thought of Liam and the beautiful life I wanted with him. I fought for all of them. But most of all, I fought for myself.
Garrett howled in pain, whirling on me and causing me to lose my grip on my weapon. “You bitch!”
He tackled me to the floor, grasping me by the throat and squeezing. “You. Are. Going. To. Pay. For. That.” Each word was punctuated by a wet wheeze.
I kicked as hard as I could, tried desperately to work my hands under Garrett’s arms so I could break his hold on my neck. The adrenaline helped, but not enough. I was fading. Dark spots danced in front of my eyes.
Garrett began to cough, and blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering on my face. His hold loosened. With a sputter, he collapsed on top of me. Too late. The darkness was claiming me. And there was only one word on my lips.Liam.
46
Liam
Ihad never felt so powerless in my life. Sitting in Walker’s truck, watching as the SWAT team divided into three groups and began their approach to the cabin. I couldn’t see the house from where the cars and command station were located. I just prayed that Tessa was there and that she was unharmed. That I would have her in my arms in a matter of minutes.
I watched as an older man studied the map laid out on a folding table the team had assembled. He listened to a radio I couldn’t hear from the truck, even with the window open. My ears strained to pick up any stray word, but all I got was the squawk of static when the radio clicked in and out.
I trained my eyes to the woods that stood between the house and the truck. Between Tessa and me. The SWAT teams had disappeared. I had to move. I couldn’t sit here a minute longer, I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin.
I pushed open the truck’s door, and the SWAT team leader’s gaze shot to me. “Get back in the vehicle.”
I wanted to pop him one, but I kept my tone even. “I need to stretch my legs. I’m going crazy in there. I promise I won’t bother you.”
The man, whose name I didn’t even know, shook his head and returned his focus to the map and the radio. I edged closer to his setup—slowly, so he hopefully wouldn’t notice. Still, I couldn’t hear much. The whole operation was much quieter than I’d thought it would be. I thought there would be yelling, maybe even a flashbang. But there was nothing, only the occasional location update.
