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I’m so pissed at myself for allowing that motherfucker to get the jump on me.

Lexie sits up.

“Don’t try to talk. Give yourself a minute,” I encourage.

“How are you here?” she rasps while rubbing her neck.

I pull her shoe off and show her the tracker under the liner.

Most women would punch a guy for that, but she lunges at me, hugging me close. “I’m so scared,” she whispers.

My hand runs over her body, making sure she’s not hurt anywhere as she clings to me. “I need you to tell me as much as you can about what’s going on. Hurry before he comes back. He might separate us.”

The way she tightens her grip around me breaks my heart, but if I’m going to get us out of here, I have to be honest with her.

“I know it was wrong. He’s a married man, but we used to hook up. It’s been less and less over the years, but even though I saw him less, it escalated,” she says, her voice trembling as she holds on to me.

The way she relays the story tells me she feels responsible for all of this somehow. This asshole is nothing more than a pedophile, but I don’t have time to explain that to her right now.

“He likes to play games.” She buries her face in my neck.

“It’s okay,” I tell her.

“I didn’t come here with him willingly. He put something over my face, and I passed out.”

I rub circles over her back. “I know you didn’t. Did he say why he brought you up here?”

“He’s going to make me run from him.”

“He’s done this before?”

She nods. She doesn’t have to tell me what happens when he finds her.

“But he’s never had a gun. When he left, he said we should get some sleep. I think he’s going to make us both play tomorrow.”

Icy fingers wrap around my heart, hardening it for the mission ahead. She’s told me enough.

“Everything’s going to be okay. I really need you to trust me right now. Lie down and get some rest. You’re going to have tokeep up with me tomorrow. I’m going to search the room for anything that might help us.”

I can feel her reluctance to let go of me, but she does. Once I have her on the bed, I scour the room. “Tell me everything you know about this place. Inside or out.”

I’m surprised by how much she recalls since it’s her first time here, but unfortunately I don’t find anything that will be of help to us. It doesn’t matter; I’ll still get us out of here.

“Scoot over,” I tell her, climbing under the covers with her. She’s shivering. “It’s going to be okay, Lexie.” I hug her close to me.

“He said there’s a warrant out for his arrest. Maybe the police will find us, but he’s desperate, Ash.”

I kiss her forehead. “The club will find us before the police ever do, but we can’t count on that. We’re on our own, so I need you to be strong for me.”

I wait, hoping like hell she can find her inner courage. A few deep breaths later and she’s controlled her trembling. Good. I just need to keep her calm, and we’ll get through this.

“I have a feeling he’s going to try and separate us somehow. We have to try our best not to let that happen. If it does, and he sends you out there by yourself, run due north. Hopefully the sun will be up to guide you. I’ll find you either way. I promise.”

She nods against my chest.

“If he keeps me locked up, I’m going to try my hardest to escape. If I can’t, I need you to do whatever it takes to stay alive, even if that means surrendering to him.”

The sob that escapes her chest breaks my heart, but I need to play out all the possible scenarios.