Page 274 of The Reluctant Hero

His eyes crinkle as he frowns. Then he straightens to look at his buddies.

“Let’s start then,” the swaggering middle guy taunts.

“Sure,” my lackluster reply gives him pause. He shakes himself and starts in with questions.

“Do you know who I am?”

“No. But I’ve nicknamed you Loudmouth if it makes you feel better.”

I’m expecting a punch to follow my bland words. They stand frozen and look at each other. I take advantage of the distraction to work on the miniature saw in the card. I need to be working, not just glaring.

“You’re a smart ass, huh?” Brass says with a chuckle that slowly spreads from one man to the next.

“More like a dumb shit,” Killmefirst grins.

The saw finally bends into place. I fumble with it, my hands slick with sweat as I hold it to start cutting through the tape. The first cut is a loudriiiiiipin the silence. I freeze up and the three glance around to locate the noise.

“Excuse me,” I say flatly. “Stress makes me gassy.”

Killmefirst rears back in obvious disgust. The other two don’t know what to say.

So, I can get myself out of my tape bindings but it’s going to be loud as hell. Action movies have lied to me again. There is no stealth in escape. On the plus side, the tape has gotten very loose. My hand movements aren’t as awkward, and my arms are more comfortable. How sharp is this damn thing? Not that I’m complaining.

If I slow down and time my cuts with talking I’ll be out in no time. My ankles will still be taped to the chair, though. If I answer all their questions with a lot of attitude, I might get free and have them leave me alone out of pure confusion. All I have to do is be patient and endure whatever happens.

Neither of those things is my strong suit.

Running my mouth is, though.

“Can we get on with it? My show is on,” I say as loud as I can to cover up the sound of the saw as I make a more gentle cut. Still making a sound, but more subtle. Brass is watching me warily. Here’s hoping my ‘gas’ forces him to bail out.

“You don’t seem very stressed,” the last guy’s voice I recognize. He’s Killmefirst.

“I’m in shock,” I assure him mockingly.

“Where is themoney?” Loudmouth asks me angrily. He takes a step forward as if to threaten me, but he doesn’t have the brass knuckles on. It’s a little weak.

Brass is too busy watching me in disgust at the soft sound of the saw at random intervals.

“In my shoes,” I tell him with a raised brow. “For safekeeping.”

“She’s joking, right?” Killmefirst mutters to him.

“Take her fucking shoe off and check,” Loudmouth snaps and gestures to my feet.

“Come on, man,” Killmefirst whines in return. “There’s no way she has a couple mil stuffed in her shoes.”

“I closed my account days ago, and all that’s left is in my shoe.” True facts, but not what they’re looking for. Shade closed that one, and I might regret that a little right now.

I wonder if Jake put a tag on me to locate me. That would be nice, but I’m not seeing it pan out.

They have a brief, quiet argument while I try to be stealthy with my saw. Almost there. I’m sweating with nothing to show for it so far. This is getting frustrating as hell. Break already!

“Look, you can have what’s in my shoes if you want it,” I interrupt belligerently. “It’s all I’ve got.”

“Bullshit,” Loudmouth snarls. “Where is the money?”

“In. My. Shoes,” I repeat slowly.

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