Page 51 of Trapped

How long had we waited there in the half-light, silence stuffing the musty spaces where conversation had once led the way?Staring at the silhouette that I knew was Baron waiting on the other side of the suffocating cell, I had no way of knowing.Our discussion had died a natural death soon after our plan was finessed, concentration and resolve seeming more important than idle chat.If all went well, there would be time to talk later—once we had Erin and were out of our current prison.

Turning away from his place by the door, I allowed my eyes to flutter closed.A part of me wished I knew the time and could work out how long I’d been stuck in the shadows, but another accepted the answer made no difference.Whether we liked it or not, we were all working on Hawkins’ time.He’d send his goons when he was good and ready.

I just hope she can hold on that long.

My brow furrowed at the thought of Erin and what she might be going through, my hands balling as I remembered the detestable prick calling the shots.I’d had the pleasure of getting to know a strong and resilient woman, but dealing with a cancer like Hawkins was on another level.

I did this to her.

That reality hurt the most.Even though I hadn’t intended to contact Hawkins—the cretin hadn’t even been on my mind when I’d reached out to Baron—I had to accept it wasmyaction that had led us both to the dark places we were stuck in.

Fuck.I ground my teeth together in frustration.If anything happens to her, I’ll—

“I think I hear someone.”

Baron’s hushed tone tugged me from my silent melancholy and, lifting my head, my senses strained to confirm his assertion.There, through the never-ending haze of gloom, I thought I could make out the distant sound of footsteps, my heart rate accelerating as my brain decided he was right.

“Yes.”I spoke under my breath.“Someone’s coming.”

This is it.

I straightened at the unspoken certainty, years of training rushing back to me in an instant and quelling all the complaints of my weary and beaten body.True, I was cuffed and unable to provide much in the way of support except a ruse when the assholes walked in, but I’d play my part to perfection, and if Baron needed it, I would do whatever I could to bring the bastards down.

Time seemed to lengthen as we waited to see what would happen next.Sure enough, the echo of the footsteps grew louder, amplifying the energy unfurling in my muscles.After so long bound and infuriatingly powerless, I was ready to take back control.By the time the sound of the key reverberated from the lock, I had to make myself slump back into the chair and at least appear defeated.

“Room service!”

The predictable snigger resonated as the door swung open, and two pairs of boots stomped into the space.From my slouched position, that was all I could see, but I counted the feet and confirmed the number of assailants in my head—four boots meant two men—a guy with Baron’s experience could handle that.

However protracted the seconds had seemed before their entrance, it was nothing compared to the strange stillness stretching out around me once they entered the cell.Moments of heightened nothingness played out where I held my breath and waited.

This is really happening…

All that time we’d waited, and it all came down to that one moment.

“Looks like he’s a little worse for wear.”A hand was thrust out in my direction as one of the imbeciles chuckled.“You must have really given him your best, Hadden.”

“That was far from my best,” Hadden replied smugly.“He’s just a weak halfwit.”

Sucking up that insult, I knew my role was only passivity, but in my mind, I willed Baron the strength to at least put both the fuckers into hospital.

Wait.

I sent the instruction in my head as though Baron could actually hear my thoughts.

Get ready… Go!

They’d almost halved the distance between the door and the chair I’d sank into before Baron struck.He moved at the exact moment I’d have pounced, which only went to prove I’d been taught by the best.

Still pretending to be lame, I didn’t lift my head to see precisely how he took out the guy at the back, but the dull thud of what sounded like a skull colliding with metal told me Baron had probably used the open door as a weapon.

Smart.

My lips curled, knowing I’d have probably done the same.

“Hey!”The moron closest to me spun as his mate collapsed.“What the fuck?”

“I’mthe fuck.”

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