Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Adrenaline pounded as I sawed through the flimsy wood. Finally, I made a hole big enough so I could peel it the rest of the way back.
A faint glow radiated from the space below, though it was mostly dark. Took a second for my eyes to adjust, and I squinted as I made out that the room was close to bare, just a dingy mattress sat in the middle.
A woman was sleeping there, face down with long locks of dark brown hair strewn around her.
Elena.
Thank fuck.
Sucking in a deep breath, I swung down and landed with a dull thunk on the floor.
I froze when she groaned and stirred, then edged forward once she settled. Felt like a prick for what I was about to do, way I knew I was going to freak her the fuck out, but there was no other way to handle it.
I slapped my hand over her mouth as I wrapped my other arm around her waist to drag her off the bed.
Her back pinned to my chest.
Terror gripped her, and her legs started to flail as she clawed at my arm. Her terrified screams were buried in my palm. I put my mouth to her ear, hissed as quietly as I could, “I’m a friend of your brother. I’m here to get you out, but you need to be quiet.”
She stilled, but I could still feel the distrust rolling through her body.
“We have to go, right now, but first I need you to promise me if I remove my hand, you won’t scream.”
Frantically, she nodded against my hold, and I reluctantly peeled my hand away.
Not sure how she was going to react.
Her chest heaved with shallow, horrified breaths as she swiveled around to look at me.
One eye was almost swollen shut, and dried tears and dirt were caked all over her face.
Rage pummeled me through.
A rogue wave that nearly knocked me off my feet and had me thundering out the door to enact the vengeance every one of these assholes had earned.
I bit it back. Let it fester for another time.
I glanced at my watch.
Four minutes, thirteen seconds.
“Hurry,” I told her, stretching out my hand.
She choked back a whimper and took it, and I rushed her to the opening in the ceiling. I cupped my hands to make a step, and I angled my head for her to step into it.
She complied, only emitting a small yelp as I hoisted her up, and she gripped onto the edge of the hole I made. She struggled to pull herself up, and I pushed upward to assist her, my heart drumming like mad since we were losing precious time.
She finally got her elbows hooked and crawled the rest of the way up.
The boards clattered as she tumbled into the crawlspace, and I ground down on my molars, sending a look back at the door before I jumped to grab hold. I tossed myself up, quick to ascend to her side. I gestured with my chin, indicating for her to follow.
I crawled as fast as I could to the hatch that remained open.
The barest glow of moonlight spilled in, and I poked my head out.
Clear.
I climbed out onto the roof, then lay on my stomach to offer my hand.
She grabbed on, and I dragged her out.
“This way,” I grunted quietly.
Crouched low, I hauled her over to the edge of the roof to the metal pole.
Knew this was going to be the riskiest part of getting her out.
Her eyes went wide, fear taking her over as she realized how far it was over the side.
I didn’t have time to coax her into not being afraid of heights or some shit, so I gritted, “Get on my back.”
Hesitation filled her. “I…”
“You want them to find you and drag you back into that room?” I cocked my head with the warning.
She blinked, then shook her head.
I turned around and bent lower so she could climb onto my back. She wrapped her trembling arms and legs around me.
“Hold tight,” I grated, and I swung a leg over and took hold of the pole.
The muscles in my shoulders and arms strained as I eased us down, using my feet planted on the wall to balance us and hoping to God that she had the strength to hold on because this was going to be an entirely different feat if I had to hold onto her and climb down one handed.
Whimpers rolled from her as I edged down as quickly as I could. When we were four feet from the ground, I hopped off.
A wheeze of relief left her when we made impact with the ground, then I cut my attention across the grassy yard before I snatched her hand and ran us toward the hole in the fence.
We were three-quarters of the way there when I heard a harsh, guttural shout.