Page 110 of Ruthless Beast

“Yeah. The men in my family aren’t worth much. They do more harm than good. What about your baby’s father? What’s he like?”

That’s an excellent question. I used to think that Lucas was the most amazing man I'd ever met. I trusted him with my life. Now, I’m not so sure.

“Honestly, Maria. I’m not sure anymore. It seems that he’s brought nothing but pain and loss into my life.”

“I know the type. Do you think he’s looking for you?”

“I hope so. If he isn't, I’m pretty screwed.”

“We don't need men. We’ll figure this out.”

I’m about to answer Maria when there’s a loud crashing sound outside the window. I have such a fright that I drop the pin.

“What the hell was that?” Maria gasps. “Can you see anything outside?”

“No. The window is too far away.”

“What else can go wrong?”

“This could be a good thing. The commotion may give us a chance to slip out unseen. If only I can get this bloody lock…”

Against all odds, the lock pops open.

“Wow! You’ve got this, Emily,” Maria shouts above the chaos.

I pull free from the chain and move over to Maria so I can start working on her lock. I’m eerily calm, which is crazy considering the situation I’m in. Perhaps I’m just fed up with being afraid. And, most of all, I’m pissed off! I’m pissed off with David for dying, beyond pissed off with Damon for betraying me, and most of all, I’m pissed off with Lucas for leaving me out to dry.

The second lock clicks open.

“Okay. Let’s figure out a way to get the hell out of here,” I say.

“Check over at the window. What’s happening out there?”

“Not much to see on this side,” I say, my heart beating out of my chest. “It’s an alley.”

“Fuck! So I guess we won't be sneaking out the window.”

The noise outside is getting louder, and I imagine that whatever is going on is escalating. I have to get Maria and myself out of here before we end up hurt or worse.

“Is the door locked?” I ask Maria, thinking that because we were securely chained, our captor wouldn’t have bothered to lock the door.

Maria goes over to the door and turns the knob. The door doesn’t budge. Damn it!

“No, we’re not getting out of this so easily,” she says.

Oh, come on! One break. Just one small break from the universe would be so much appreciated around about now! Just one!

The door flies open, and in runs a man with a gun. Maria and I are terrified. Who is he? Friend or foe? These days, it seems impossible to tell at face value. I get my answer soon enough when the man rushes toward me and grabs me by the hair.

“Ouch!” I scream as he shoves me around like a rag doll. “Let go!” I scream at him, but it’s no use.

He’s afraid of something—or someone.

Maria is yelling at him in Spanish to let me go. She’s pleading, but he yells obscenities at her and tells her to shut up. What happens next makes my heart leap into my throat. A man rushes into the room and points a gun at the miscreant pulling at my hair.

It’s a face I’d recognize anywhere. It’s Lucas! Can it be? Am I hallucinating? Nothing at this point would surprise me. They say the human mind does crazy things when under intense stress. This certainly qualifies as one of those situations. I mean, what is more stressful than having a gun jammed into the back of your head while a brutish Mexican is screaming profanities?

I close my eyes tightly and open them again. I blink a few times too, just for good measure. ItisLucas! It really is him. Oh, thank you, God! I’ve never been so happy to see someone as happy as I am at this very moment. But I’m far from safe with this gorilla manhandling me.

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