Page 46 of Trapped

“The only question now is what are we gonna do about it?”I fired the query at Baron as though it was an accusation.“I’m not spending the rest of my life rotting in this place, and Erin’s out there, Baron.She needs me.”

“You really like this woman, don’t you?”Fixing me with a stare, his expression was solemn.

“Yes.”It was oddly cathartic to admit so out loud.“I like her, but regardless of my feelings, she doesn’t deserve Hawkins’ bullshit.”

Baron nodded.“We can start by getting the hell out of here, then.”

That was his best answer yet.

“Good call.”I smiled.“Suggestions, sir?”

It had been a long time since I’d shown deference to anyone, but there were few people in the universe I respected more than Baron.That was why he’d been the one I’d reached out to when we’d been in trouble in the woods.We might not have stayed in touch, but deep down, I still trusted him.I knew he’d have my back.

“Can you take a look at the knot holding this rope?”He yanked at his right wrist.“I can’t see shit from here, but it might be possible to untie it.”

“I’ll try.”The light in the cell was intentionally awful, but determination simmered in my blood as, ignoring the complaints of my screaming muscles, I lowered to examine the binds.“The knot seems pretty basic.I’m guessing the person who locked you in here wasn’t counting on you having a cellmate.”

Baron’s face lit up.“Are you saying you can undo it?”

“With the use of my hands?No problem,” I answered.“But like this…” I gestured to my cuffed wrists.

“But youdohave your hands,” Baron countered.“You just won’t be able to see what you’re doing while you use them.”His eyebrow arched, as though he dared me to defy him.

“It’s not so easy to untie someone if you can’t see the rope, boss.”My tone was unnecessarily sarcastic, but Baron matched my grin without protest.

“Not easy, no, but you were the best damn operative I ever had, Commander.You eat ‘easy’ for breakfast.If you can get this hand free, I reckon I can release the other one myself.”

My head rose at his praise.It had been a long time since I’d been showered in it, but I sensed myself bloom and was already turning on my knees and aligning myself with his bound hands as best I could.“I’ll give it a go.”

“Good man.”The old enthusiasm I remembered was back in Baron’s voice, oozing from him as he encouraged me.“Find the knot with your fingers and do what you can to loosen it.We might as well put all this endless time to good use.”

Kneeling there in the gloom and tackling the knot wasn’t exactly the most comfortable task I’d ever been commissioned to endure, but he was right; I was capable.I’d dealt with a hell of a lot worse when I’d been out in the field.I guessed I was just out of practice.Either way, as I balanced on my screaming knees and tugged at the wound rope, I pushed my concerns for Erin to one side and focused on what Icoulddo.

I could loosen the knot and I could get Baron free.

After what seemed like an intolerable amount of time, I finally felt the loop of rope loosen, and one end fell free.

“I think I’m getting somewhere.”Twisting over my shoulder, I assessed the state of the knot, buoyed to see the progress I’d made.There was still one small knot to conquer, but things were promising.

“I knew you could do it, Rosen.”His tone was nostalgic.“I wasn’t blowing smoke up your ass.You really were the best.”

“I bet you say that to all the boys.”Chuckling, I envisioned the obstacle in my mind’s eye as my fingers went back to work.Mentally, I visualized them resolving the knot with ease, my hopes rising as I felt the rope shift between my fingertips.“I think I have it.”

“Let’s see.”

Shuffling around on my knees, I turned in time to see Baron tugging at his right hand.I watched in slow motion as the rope that had confined his wrist unraveled, cheering when he was finally able to yank his hand free.

“Great work!”Elation echoed in his voice as he reached across his body and started work on the opposite wrist.“Give me a minute, and hopefully, I’ll be able to start work on getting out of here.”

“I’m not sure it’s going to be so easy for me.”Easing myself to my feet, I tried to stretch out my shoulders.“Unless you have a key to these cuffs in your pocket?”

“’Fraid not.”His voice was muffled as he twisted his body to focus on the task at hand.“But we’ll figure it out.One of the goons in this place will have one.Maybe we’ll get lucky and the next one who walks through the door will be one of them.”

“Maybe.”I liked his more optimistic tone, but I still wasn’t sure how being cuffed was going to help me wrestle the key from whatever moron currently had one.“But I’m not going to be much use in a fight.”

“Don’t worry about that.”Satisfaction radiated from him as he pulled the rope free and rose from his chair.Spinning to face me, he looked every inch the capable guy I recalled.“I’ve got two hands, and I’m not so old yet that I can’t fend off a couple of Hawkins’ minions.”

“I don’t doubt it.”A quick scan of his body confirmed his confidence was well-founded.Baron seemed like he still spent hours in the gym every week.“I’d just like to lend a hand.”

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